Summer in Germany – Part 1: Cologne

The days are longer again, the sun is out. ☀️ Especially now, many people prefer to spend their time outdoors. We want to show you some of the best places to spend your summer days and nights at our German locations. We start with the city that is also home to our company headquarters – Cologne.

With over one million inhabitants and an area of 405 m², Cologne has a lot to offer. We will tell you which spots are particularly popular with the people of Cologne during summer.

Bathing lakes – around Cologne 🌊

A day at the lake often feels like a short holiday. In and around Cologne there are numerous beautiful lakes. In summer, you can spend the whole day bathing. However, the lakes can be very crowded – especially at the Weekend. So getting there early is advisable.

1.    “Fühlinger See” 
The Lake “Fühlinger See” in Cologne is known for its lido ("Black Foot Beach") and as an event location, for example for the annual "Summerjam Festival". It also has a high ropes course for all adventure seekers.

2.    “Escher See”
The “Escher See” in the middle of Cologne's Esch/Auweiler district has a lido with a sandy beach, parasols and deckchairs. However, bathing is prohibited outside the lido.

3.    "Otto-Maigler-See"
Another popular bathing spot just outside Cologne is the lake “Otto-Maigler-See” in Hürth. It is known for its fine sandy beach and good water quality.

If you get bored of sunbathing, some of the lakes also offer a variety of water sports activities – whether canoeing and stand-up paddling at “Black Foot Beach” or rowing, surfing and sailing at “Otto-Maigler-See”.

Beer gardens – eating and drinking in a cosy atmosphere 🍻

Sit together with friends and eat and drink together. In summer you can spend nice, long evenings in Cologne's beer gardens – and there are several of them.

1.    “Stadtgarten”
The “Stadtgarten” offers a beautiful beer garden in the middle of the greenery. Guests are welcomed here daily from 12 noon. In the evening, the beer garden is illuminated with fairy lights, creating a particularly pleasant atmosphere.

2.    “Rhein-Terrassen”
The “Rhein-Terrassen” in the district Deutz have a beautiful beer garden, right next to the River Rhine with a view of the cathedral. In addition to beer benches, there are beach chairs and sand here – for a bit of that beach feeling in the middle of the big city.

3.    "Zündorfer Groov"
In the south of Cologne is the leisure island "Groov", accessible by tram line 7. Around the market square next to the water are numerous restaurants with outdoor catering. The "Groov" offers a little time out from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Open-air cinemas in Cologne – Movies under a sky full of stars 📽️

In Cologne, you have the opportunity to experience a movie night under the open sky all summer long. A very special cinema experience and a great idea for a balmy summer evening.

1.    “Sion Sommer Kino” Rheinauhafen 
From June to September, the Sion Summer Cinema shows blockbusters, arthouse films or documentaries. The cinema starts at sunset – providing that the weather plays along. The cinema is located directly at the harbour, the screen is above the water and the audience can take a seat on the steps of the harbor. We recommend that you bring your own cushions and blankets, catering is available on site. Before the film, the summer cinema offers a supporting programme with changing local artists.

2.    Cinenova Open-Air
The Cinenova in Ehrenfeld district turns its courtyard into an open-air cinema in summer. It shows current films on the big screen, and tables and chairs are set up in the courtyard. Food and drinks are provided by the close-by beer garden. It's worth getting there early, because there's free seating here, too.

Cologne parks – off into the green 🌳

Even though Cologne is not known for being a particularly green city, there are some beautiful green spaces that offer a shady spot in summer.

1.    The “Volksgarten”
The “Volksgarten” is very popular with the people of Cologne because of its versatility. The park directly on the water offers table tennis tables, a playground, a beer garden and a pedal boat rental.

2.    The “Rheinpark”
The Rheinpark is located between the districts Deutz and Mülheim. It runs along the banks of the Rhine and offers an unobstructed view of Cologne Cathedral. There is a park café, an adventure playground and a skate park.

3.    Lindenthal Zoo
For animal lovers, a trip to the Lindenthal Zoo is worthwhile. There, in addition to a walk, donkeys, goats or deer can be fed and also stroked.

Learning German at the Carl Duisberg Centrum Cologne is more than just attending a language course. Get to know the lively city of Cologne with its diverse cultural and leisure activities together with the other participants. The Carl Duisberg Centrum Cologne organizes a programme that changes every week. There are for example, joint barbecue evenings in the park, sports activities, city tours or other excursions – the offers are varied. 😊

Would you like to learn German and experience the summer months in a great city like Cologne? Find out now about our current course offers for this summer.