Gay Cologne Travel Guide

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For upcoming parties in Cologne check also our Gay Clubs & Parties page.

|  16  –  22 February 2012
Cologne Street Carnival: The mad days in Cologne last for 6 days and start on ›Weiberfastnacht‹ – the Thursday before Carnival Monday. Streets, trains, trams and pubs are crowded with people – many of them with costumes – drinking, flirting, singing, swinging & swaying. Sunday afternoon sees the school group and borough parades, but the highlight of the Cologne Carnival is the kilometre-long procession on ›Rosenmontag‹ (Rose Monday). The Carnival ends in the night from Tuesday to Ash Wednesday when at midnight dolls called ›Nubbel‹ are burned all over the city – the Nubbel symbolizes the scapegoat responsible for all the sins commited during the Carnival days...
|  18 February 2012
Cock-Pit: large party for Bears and Wolf packs at the Carnival weekend.
With DJ Ricardo Osoloco (Paris) and DJ Rony (Cologne).
Entrance 16 € (13 € before 24:00 or in full carnival costume).
 From 22:00 @ Alter Wartesaal (Central Station) [ Map - Cock-Pit ]
-›  www.cock-pit.com

Video: Promo trailer Cock-Pit – Carnival Edition 2012 [open video][close video]

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|  19 February 2012
Greenkomm: Cologne’s top gay & straight-friendly After Hour party on Carnival Sunday. With DJ Ben Manson, Nicolas Nucci, Jon Doe & Mike Kelly. Entry 15–20 €.
From 06:00 @ Nachtflug (Hohenzollernring 89-93) [ Map - Greenkomm ]
-›  www.greenkomm.de
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|  19 February 2012
KitKatClub: Mixed fetish party for dancing & playing. 10–20% gay crowd. Strict dresscode: fetish, bizarre, fantasy. Most of the party crowd is dressed quite classy, and the atmosphere is very relaxed and party-like. To avoid men outnumbering women door policy often rejects single men – better come early and as a couple.
 From 21:00, 18 € @ Alter Wartesaal (Johannisstraße 11) [ Map - KitKatClub ]
-›  KitKatClub Website
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|  6  –  8 July 2012
Cologne Gay Pride 2012: with the parade on Sunday and the street festival from Friday till Sunday in the Old Town of Cologne
-›  Some photos
|  28 November  –  2 December 2012
International Bear Pride Cologne 2012: probably the most international bear’s meeting worldwide with bears from more than 50 countries. With dinners and buffets, Bears on Ice at the Xmas market, saunas, parties and the Mr. Bear Germany contest.
Cologne had already been a center for hairy guys in Germany long before ›Bears‹ became an international gay term. The parties, bars and even the street in front of the famous Cox Bar will be packed with Bears and Wolves during this weekend!

Video: Scenes from Bear Pride Cologne 2005 [open video][close video]

About Cologne and its gay life

Although situated in Germany's northern part, Cologne is sometimes called the ›most southern city of Germany‹. That is partly because the people in Cologne tend to be more easy-going and approachable than in other German cities. And they love to imitate the Southern European lifestyle – as soon as two sun-rays hit the city you will see some tables outside in front of many cafes and bars.

Cologne had been extensively destroyed during World War II. And the paradigm of the first after-war and ›Wirtschaftswunder‹ decades to replace everything old by something new unfortunately did the rest to prevent Cologne from becoming one of the most interesting and beautiful cities in Germany. For the sight-seeing traveller it hasn't much to offer besides the Cathedral, an UNESCO World Heritage site, a wide range of high quality art galleries and museums, and a few other attractions.

But Cologne covers this downside gracefully with its more friendly and easy-going atmosphere. As one result Cologne became the gay capital of the western part of Germany. Its big rival in the East, Berlin, is bigger, more dynamic and vibrant, which makes the Cologne gay scene look more provincial – but also more familiar and warmer.

Cologne Gay Maps: Overview, Rudolfplatz and Old Town. The maps show two major gay areas in Cologne. Many of the cafes, bars and clubs around Rudolfplatz have started during the last twenty years and have a rather modern style. Traditional pubs and bars for mixed ages are located mainly in the Old Town.

If you like your travel destinations crowded and with a million people partying on the streets and in the pubs then the Carnival in winter and the Cologne Gay Pride in summer are made for you. More information on these events on our Tips page.

Other popular annual gay highlights in Cologne are the Leather Pride week in May and the Bear Pride weekend in November. In summer 2010 Cologne hosted the VIII. Gay Games, the largest gay sports event in the world.