Cologne: World Cup Host City
City facts: More than one million people call Cologne home. Germany's oldest city, it is known as the heart of the German economy. Cologne, or Köln, hosted Euro 1988.
How to get there/get around: The closest airport to Cologne is the Cologne/Bonn Konrad Adenauer Airport. To find the best flight deals, search our airfare engine. Keep in mind that the cheapest days to fly are Tuesday and Wednesday.
If you're coming overland, trains can be taken from Hamburg or Berlin. The best way to travel across Germany is the World Cup Eurail Pass. This pass allows you flexible days of travel within Germany. Youths under 26 and two or more adults traveling together can also save money. Advantages include not having to deal with traffic or signs in foreign languages, easier navigation from one city to another and increased socialization with other excited World Cup fans!
If you'd rather be on your own schedule, then hiring a car might be a better option. Renting a car in Germany allows you to get off the beaten path and explore more of Germany's varied countryside. Hitting the road can give you a much needed break from other sports enthusiasts and the chance to drive no-holds-barred on the Autobahn!
Trams and buses offer in-city transport.
Who's playing: Angola, Czech Republic, England, France, Ghana, Portugal, Sweden, Togo
What's the schedule:
Sunday, June 11: Angola vs. Portugal
Saturday, June 17: Czech Republic vs. Ghana
Tuesday, June 20: Sweden vs. England
Friday, June 23: Togo vs. France
Monday, June 26: Second Round TBD
Full World Cup Schedule
Stadium information: The FIFA World Cup Stadium Cologne is a remodeled stadium that seats almost 40,000 fans. Reworked for 119 million euro, the stadium re-opened in 2004.
Where to get tickets: You can get tickets to every match played in the World Cup through World Cup Blog! Find tickets by team, grouping, individual game or city. Buy World Cup tickets for matches in Cologne.
What else to do: If you need a break from the soccer madness, Cologne boasts a number of attractions including the twin-spired Cologne Cathedral, Eau de Cologne and Kölner Philharmonie. Downtown Cologne is the main shopping center. For those that just want to relax, Cologne is a place to start romantic cruises on the Rhine.
Where to stay: You can find accommodation throughout the country with World Cup Blog's hotel database. It allows you to search multiple sites at once for the best deals on rooms in Germany. Use the search box in the right column, or find hotel deals in Cologne. Hostels more your style? Check out these hostels in Cologne.
How to keep in touch: If you own a mobile phone with a removable SIM card, you can buy a pre-paid German SIM card. You can find out your local German number before you arrive, and get free incoming calls while in the country. If you don't have a phone that will work, look into renting a German cell phone, which costs less than you think!
Wireless hot-spots and internet cafes can be found around the city. Locations include Surf and Call Island, Giga-Byte, ViaPhone Internet and Callshop and Future Point.
How to protect yourself: Many insurance carriers do not provide coverage overseas. Beat the odds and make the most of your holidays with affordable travel health insurance. In case of trip cancellation, you can also recover your costs with trip protection insurance.
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