The Kölnarena

Cologne's arena is the largest and most modern events hall in Ger- many. The multi-functional arena, with its 76m tall steel bow on top, has, since its opening in 1998, become a highlight and landmark of Cologne. Cologne's arena offers space for more than 18,000 viewers and is, therefore, also Europe's number one in its class. All of the largest events are held here lke live concerts of the world's most

famous musicians, TV shows, musicals and sport events. During the Karneval, this big temple of joy is hosts the show "Lachende (laughing) Kölnarena". On the removeable ice floor, the Kölner Eishockey-Club (KEC) (Cologne ice hockey club) receives their opponents. In the winter the ice skating

show "Holiday on Ice" is hosted here. During the year come boxing matches, basketball games from the arena's team "RheinEnergy Cologne". Additionally, you're sure to find handball games from the local team VfL Gummersbach. In the middle hangs a giant TV cube, showing the action on stage to those seated in the nose-bleed sec- tions. Service is found at the 60 newsstands, 400 seat restaurant, bistros and bars. Cologne's arena can be reached by bus, subway or train, which all halt at the station in Deutz. For car drivers there are over 3,000 parking spots.

Adress: Willy-Brandt-Platz at Köln-Deutz. Subway: Bahnhof Deutz/Kölnarena. Tickets are available in the Kölnarena ticket shop, tel. 80 20. Internet: www.koelnarena.de.

 

Hotel rooms in Cologne

HOTELS IN COLOGNE I. Using  internet booking machines it's very easy searching for a hotel room in Cologne. One of these special search engines is HRS - Hotel Reservation Service with its many offers. Click the logo for starting.
	HOTELS IN COLOGNE II: Looking for a hotel room in Germany there are some other good booking machines on the net such as HOTEL.de. They also often have some cheap offers given by good hotels in Cologne. Using the service is free, too.

Alter Wartesaal - a disco under rail tracks

One of the classics among Cologne’s bar scene is the Alte Wartesaal that is located under the tracks of Cologne’s main train station. Once it was here, from 1915, to serve as a fine-dining establishment for travellers and to wait for their trains. It was also belovedly visited by Cologne’s locals. Anybody who needed to be seen and had some

money to spend came here. Similarly, it has remained so on into its disco club business. So to swarm the young, well-dressed big tippers. It pays off for the club, however, as they have to care for a partly marbled floor and the well ambiented space. About 90 years ago Kaiser Wilhelm II honored the

grounds and drank tea while listening to classical or café house mu- sic, but since the time-honoring music tradition has changed a little bit. His majesty would probably not have liked to hear Funk, Dance/ Hip-Hop or Charts music. You’ll find prominent guests from film, radio and TV industries in the historic hall. The prominent presence in the Alter Wartesaal lies surely in the hands of the TV host Alfred Biolek, who has owned the old Lobby with Cologne’s prominent restaurant owner, Giggi Campi, since 1983.

Adress: Trankgasse, that is to the right of the main station's entrance "Domseite". For further info call tel. 912885-0 or visit the website at www.wartesaal.de.

Copyright 2005 - NICE CITY! Cologne

Good discos in the city

Alter Wartesaal 

House and Hip-Hop/ Dance music in the old train station’s lobby from 1915. Packed on week- ends. Chic crowd around. For more see article below.

Big Ben

The Big Ben has been there since 1967 and is, therefore, a classical among Cologne’s discos. DJ Rick handles the music until the morning hours, when the air’s already out anywhere else. Saturday, by the way, there is no beer served, only cocktails and hard drinks. Adress: 48 Im Klapperhof, phone 257 09 30.

Das Ding

Das Ding ("The Thing") is an authentic student disco, not just because the dance club is visited by academics. The "international student club" have, officially, guests whom can prove matriculation in a school, and it’s been that way since 1968. It’s also noticeable in its mode- rate drink prices. Who- ever expects a shack with a green touch be- hind the glass façade of the club with the culty Afri-Cola advertisement is sorely mistaken. You’ll bump into business, law and related fields majors. On the dance floor you’ll hear what many call "mainstream". Guaranteed to be amusing. Adress: 32 Hohenstaufenring, phone 24 63 48. more

Flanagans

Flanagan’s is definitely an important meeting spot for the small Anglo- phonic group inhabiting Cologne. It’s an Irish pub with a club. Adjacent the bar is a dance floor with colorful streamers hanging from the ceiling. The music is charts ori- ented and played from CDs. There’s a karaoke night and live fold. Next to Kölsch (beer) and soft drinks one can get a Guinness or Kilkenny from the tap. Adress: 36 Alter Markt, phone 257 06 74. more

Kauri Club

The Kauri is a small club in the Altstadt (old town) of Cologne and still a secret tip for friends of Rap, Dance and Soul in an authentic atmos- phere. This quite cool club is frequented by blacks who seem to feel home with the relaxed music played. The club is suitable for people over 30, who seem to repre- sent the majority here. Adress: 11 Auf dem Rothenberg, phone 25 77 922.

Klapsmühle

The name of this joint is program, because, here, there’s always something crazier going on as any- where else. In the CD player they spin German but also international hits which are often sung to by the crowd. That goes for Karneval music too, which is played year-round. The Klapsmühle is a mixture of disco and local bar spanning two floors. Downstairs on the dance floor, in a carousel cylinder, they play chart hits. Special programs include karaoke, men-strip and singles’ night. Adress: 39 Hohenzollern- ring, phone 257 12 27.

Lalic

The disco club was known as a meeting point for the dark dressed people of the 1980's, which one named Grufties. This genre is popular on Tuesdays and Wednes- days, otherwise there's Pop and Rock. On the program for the two floors of this little club are, among others, spe- cialties like the Classics from the Era of the New Deutsche Welle. Adress: 6 Rathenauplatz, phone 242675. more

Nachtflug

Together with the "Tie- fenrausch" (rapture of the depth) next door, Nachtflug (night flight) belongs to one of the most chic clubs in town, where that one meets a public on the same level. That means, without the right clothes, you're not getting in.  Downstairs on the dance floor, good looking people move to House beats, often Soul and Rhythm and Blues as well. Adress: 89 Hohenzollernring, phone. 510 22 29. more

Prime Club

The club and discotek is happily visited by the students and students to-be. Wednesday free beer is served for two hours. The music ranges from Charts on to Hip-Hop to Rhythm & Blues. There's often live con- certs. Adress: 40 Luxem- burger Str., phone 92 44 60. more