Cologne City Break
Trip Highlights:
- Travel from London to Cologne in just 4.5 hours (or a little longer from elsewhere!)
- Visit the world famous cathedral
- Indulge in classic German treats - natrually washed down with Kölsch - and immerse yourself in Brauhaus culture.
- Hop over to other cities in the Rhine area including Dusseldorf or Bonn, which both have even more galleries and museums to explore.
- Enjoy long, flat river-side cycles along the Rhine
- Take some time out in Konigsforest - a nature reserve on the edge of the city but big enough to get lost in.
Trip Overview:
Cologne is a big city with a village feel and a big student population. Often associated with Christmas Markets and boozy weekends, there's plenty more to explore. In just 4.5 hours by train from London you can be exploring its medieval streets, making it the perfect sustainable getaway.
The perfect Autumn or Winter break, Cologne is a city with buckets of historical and cultural charm. Classic tourist attractions include the world-famous Cathedral and (even more famous?) breweries, but beyond this you'll also find a variety of more esoteric finds. With its large student population the city is unsurprisingly a centre for off-beat art and theatre, and a multicultural population means you'll find food from all corners of the world.
Accomodation:
Enjoy accommodation in 3-4* hotels or equivalent with breakfast included wherever available. We look specifically for comfortable, independently owned accommodation that meets our sustainability criteria. While the exact practices may vary from accommodation to accommodation, we prioritise finding places to stay which value their local environment, invest in local produce and generate local employment.
Cologne -
Cologne, Germany
Day 1 London-Cologne:
Kick off your short break by rail with a morning Eurostar, departing around 8am. Enjoy a quick ride to Brussels, taking in under 2 hours and arriving just in time for a leisurely lunch.
There's no need to change stations in Brussels - simply disembark the Eurostar and you're ready to board your onward train towards Cologne. It's up to you whether you continue immediately to your destination, or spend a little time in the Belgian capital en-route.
The speedy inter-city train to Cologne covers the (almost) 500km in just over 3 hours, with charming views of Belgian towns before you glide into Germany. Arrive in Cologne mid-afternoon and transfer to your hotel before exploring the city.
Day 2 & 3 Cologne:
Explore the city and surrounding area on your own terms, or contact us to book additional activities. We are always happy to arrange bespoke activities for you on the ground. Whatever your interest, contact us after booking and let us know what you'd like to do.
Day 4 Cologne-London:
On your return back to the UK you'll take the same journey in reverse, leaving at around 11am to be back in the UK at around 4pm.
Start your journey at St Pancras Station, or your closest UK station to connect with the Eurostar terminal.
Before you depart for Germany, ensure you've filled out a digital registration certificate here: https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de/#/
- All rail transport from London
- All accommodation
- Breakfast each morning
- Optional extra: activities to book in Cologne
Example accomodation:
- Lindner Dom Residence
- Haus Am Dom
- Public Transport in city
- Food & drink where not specified
Carbon Emissions*: 93% less carbon emissions than flying
- Transport C02 emissions for this trip: 11.61kg/0.01 tonnes
- Transport C02 emissions from an equivalent return flight: 160kg/0.16 tonnes
*Data sourced from an independent report carried out by RJ Sustainability Consultancy.
20% deposit payable at the time of booking
Remaining balance payable 6 weeks before travel
Cancellation:
Reschedule your trip free of charge up to 14 days before you travel
Cancel your trip free of charge up to 6 weeks before you travel