Hi!

I have just fell upon this site by accident, and although I am unable to answer all of your questions I hope i can help a little as I am sat in Koeln (Cologne) as I write this!! I am a Brit that has been living in Cologne for 4,5 years.

The Intercontinental Hotel is situated right in the centre of the city, next to all the shops and very near a tram stop, from where you can travel all around Cologne very easily. If you take the train, from the airport, to the main train station in Cologne, the hotel is a 5 minute walk from there. You could also take a bus or Taxi. The Train is about ���2, the bus about ���5 (per person) or a taxi is about ���30. It is a very nice, new hotel and really is in a great location. I, myself have been fooled in the past into thinking that a hotel is in a great location, only to find that it is, in fact, in the middle of nowhere! I can assure you that The Intercontinental is in a geat location.

There are many historical sites within Cologne to visit, and there are walking tours in English, as most of the main attractions are all within a short walk of eachother. I actually live looking over the Dom, and after travelling all over the world, I still think that it is one of the most amazing buildings I have ever seen.

If you would like to hire a car, the normal companies are all at the airport, or I believe there is a Hertz centre at the main train station.

I am not sure about a guide for you, if you are only here for 3 days, I would suggest that you do not need a car. The trams, trains and busses are all very reliable and easy to navigate. Most ticket machines have an English speaking option. With all the museums, churches, shops and not forgetting the enchanting Christmas markets, I am sure there is enough here to keep you all entertained for 3 days without even leaving the city centre!!

A lot of the city was flattened in the war and there are many "new" buildings. You should really take a walk around the Altstadt (old town), which is very close to the Dom. With cobbled, narrow, streets and old buildings, it is a perfect example of "old Germany". An insiders tip would be to take a trip to the other side of the river to the "Rheine terrasse". This is the best kept secret in Cologne. In the summer there is a large terrase looking over the city. However, there is a very nice restaurant with a great night time view of the Dom and City. the Dom is especially magical at night when lit up.

I hope that this has been of some help to you. Your son might be interested to know that the legal age for drinking beer over here is 16! The local beer "Koelsch" is very nice and what all local Germans drink.

I hope that this has been of some help, and you and your family have a wonderful stay in this amazing city!

Emma Holloway

Hi!

I have just fell upon this site by accident, and although I am unable to answer all of your questions I hope i can help a little as I am sat in Koeln (Cologne) as I write this!! I am a Brit that has been living in Cologne for 4,5 years.

The Intercontinental Hotel is situated right in the centre of the city, next to all the shops and very near a tram stop, from where you can travel all around Cologne very easily. If you take the train, from the airport, to the main train station in Cologne, the hotel is a 5 minute walk from there. You could also take a bus or Taxi. The Train is about ���2, the bus about ���5 (per person) or a taxi is about ���30. It is a very nice, new hotel and really is in a great location. I, myself have been fooled in the past into thinking that a hotel is in a great location, only to find that it is, in fact, in the middle of nowhere! I can assure you that The Intercontinental is in a geat location.

There are many historical sites within Cologne to visit, and there are walking tours in English, as most of the main attractions are all within a short walk of eachother. I actually live looking over the Dom, and after travelling all over the world, I still think that it is one of the most amazing buildings I have ever seen.

If you would like to hire a car, the normal companies are all at the airport, or I believe there is a Hertz centre at the main train station.

I am not sure about a guide for you, if you are only here for 3 days, I would suggest that you do not need a car. The trams, trains and busses are all very reliable and easy to navigate. Most ticket machines have an English speaking option. With all the museums, churches, shops and not forgetting the enchanting Christmas markets, I am sure there is enough here to keep you all entertained for 3 days without even leaving the city centre!!

A lot of the city was flattened in the war and there are many "new" buildings. You should really take a walk around the Altstadt (old town), which is very close to the Dom. With cobbled, narrow, streets and old buildings, it is a perfect example of "old Germany". An insiders tip would be to take a trip to the other side of the river to the "Rheine terrasse". This is the best kept secret in Cologne. In the summer there is a large terrase looking over the city. However, there is a very nice restaurant with a great night time view of the Dom and City. the Dom is especially magical at night when lit up.

I hope that this has been of some help to you. Your son might be interested to know that the legal age for drinking beer over here is 16! The local beer "Koelsch" is very nice and what all local Germans drink.

I hope that this has been of some help, and you and your family have a wonderful stay in this amazing city!

Emma Holloway

Hi!

I have just fell upon this site by accident, and although I am unable to answer all of your questions I hope i can help a little as I am sat in Koeln (Cologne) as I write this!! I am a Brit that has been living in Cologne for 4,5 years.

The Intercontinental Hotel is situated right in the centre of the city, next to all the shops and very near a tram stop, from where you can travel all around Cologne very easily. If you take the train, from the airport, to the main train station in Cologne, the hotel is a 5 minute walk from there. You could also take a bus or Taxi. The Train is about ���2, the bus about ���5 (per person) or a taxi is about ���30. It is a very nice, new hotel and really is in a great location. I, myself have been fooled in the past into thinking that a hotel is in a great location, only to find that it is, in fact, in the middle of nowhere! I can assure you that The Intercontinental is in a geat location.

There are many historical sites within Cologne to visit, and there are walking tours in English, as most of the main attractions are all within a short walk of eachother. I actually live looking over the Dom, and after travelling all over the world, I still think that it is one of the most amazing buildings I have ever seen.

If you would like to hire a car, the normal companies are all at the airport, or I believe there is a Hertz centre at the main train station.

I am not sure about a guide for you, if you are only here for 3 days, I would suggest that you do not need a car. The trams, trains and busses are all very reliable and easy to navigate. Most ticket machines have an English speaking option. With all the museums, churches, shops and not forgetting the enchanting Christmas markets, I am sure there is enough here to keep you all entertained for 3 days without even leaving the city centre!!

A lot of the city was flattened in the war and there are many "new" buildings. You should really take a walk around the Altstadt (old town), which is very close to the Dom. With cobbled, narrow, streets and old buildings, it is a perfect example of "old Germany". An insiders tip would be to take a trip to the other side of the river to the "Rheine terrasse". This is the best kept secret in Cologne. In the summer there is a large terrase looking over the city. However, there is a very nice restaurant with a great night time view of the Dom and City. the Dom is especially magical at night when lit up.

I hope that this has been of some help to you. Your son might be interested to know that the legal age for drinking beer over here is 16! The local beer "Koelsch" is very nice and what all local Germans drink.

I hope that this has been of some help, and you and your family have a wonderful stay in this amazing city!

Emma Holloway

Emma,

Thank you for taking the time to reply. That is all very helpful. We will take your advice and stay in town for the 3 days. It sounds like you quite enjoy your adopted city.

Best Regards,

Katherine

Washington, DC

There won't be much going on outside the cities at that time of year. But I would suggest that you hop on a train and head south along the Rhine to Braubach - just south of Koblenz - for a tour of Marksburg Castle, the only original, tourable medieval castle on the river. It's open all year save a couple of days around Christmas.

www.roadstoruins.com/marksburg.htm

If you'll be there prior to Christmas you ought to check out the Christmas markets in the region. I saw the ones in Ruedesheim and Mainz last year - especially nice; I don't know about Cologne's.

Aachen is Cultural and Histrorical. Was Charlemangne's Home Base. See comments to earlier posting where someone asked for AAchen info.

Check out the Michelin Green Guide "Germany" which may be in your local library. It gives a good review of the history and features of many places, including Koln. Don't forget that the Romans settled Colonia (now Koln/Cologne) and the place is loaded with relics of their occupation. There is a great mueum of Roman antiquities near the Dom, if you are interested.

If you have a day available for travel outside the city, a drive up the Mosel valley to Eltz will get you to a fanatstic castle, Burg Eltz. It's in the woods and a guided tour is available (but described in German, so an English speaking friend would be a great help) The castle resembles Neuschwanstein in Bavaria and is (was) on the back of the 500-mark note. The Mosel is one of the great wine regions of Germany and a drive there will show you vinyards all along the route.

If you are in Cologne you have to visit these attractions:

1. Schokoladenmuseum (Chocolate museum!!!!)

2. The K��lner Dom ( you have to go upstairs!!!)

3. Rhine River Tour (perhaps in the afternoon/night)

4. Perhaps you would like to go to a Germany TV Show ( There are a lot in Cologne! ( but you have to plan 1-3 hours)

(Free Tickets are often possible...)

5. R��misch Germanisches Museum (perhaps)

6. Or you can visit Phantasialand in Br��hl in the near of Cologne

( It��s like Disneyland- a big Park- but you need 1 full day)

7. Or you can visit some other Cities in the near

(D��sseldorf- 1 hour away- Wuppertal 45 Minutes away... in this town you can drive with the "Schwebebahn" - a hanging railway.

Or you can drive to the Netherlands... the border is not far away... or to the Ruhrgebiet (with coal mines... perhaps to Bochum... ca 1h 30 minutes away)