Spring and Autumn can be a bit hit or miss in Cologne as they can in so many other European cities. You could just as easily get a gloriously crisp, sunny day, perfect for exploring the Botanic Gardens or strolling around the shops, as you could a day or driving wind and rain! If you are unlucky with the weather, there is still plenty to see and do so don’t fret. Fortunately Cologne is a major arts and culture hub with over 30 musuems and hundred of art galleries. The spectacular gothic Cathedral, Kolner Don, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is open for visits too. Popkomm takes place in september and is an event aimed both at music lovers and professionals in the field. The “Tolle Tags” (crazy days) begin with the Cologne Carnival which gets off the ground on November 11th; Germans know how to put on a good street festival and this is no exception. Spring also sees the arrival of Art Cologne, the International Fair for Modern and Contemporary Art.

The Summer is a wonderful time to visit Cologne, or Koln as it’s known locally. The average temperature in July is a very pleasant 22ºc and the River Rhine becomes the main focus of summer activities and events during the sunny season and this is when the pleasant riverside beer gardens do the majority of their business. A cruise down the rhine is always popular with tourists too. A Reggae festival called Summerjam also takes place in Cologne, attracting thousands of fans to the streets of Cologne and filling the city with a great, chilled out summer vibe. Cologne Lights is a special celebration which takes place in the summer and involves a firework display, the illumination of the Cathedral by night and a ship parade down the Rhine.

Although it rarely snows in Cologne, you can still get your dose of winter magic here by visiting one of the seven Christmas market, includig one at Cologne Cathedral, on the Rudolfplatz, the Alter Markt and on the Neumarkt. Another nice winter activity if you are a chocoholic like me, is to visit the Chocolate Museum and indulge in a cup of the finest hot chocolate; there really is nothing better on a cold day!

There is no shortage of budget hotels, hostels, B&B’s and apartments in Cologne, you just need to do your homework before booking and bare in mind how the events mentioned above may effect room rates and availability.