Cologne — the German city Nicola called home
This isn't just another city break in our collection. In 2015, Nicola moved to Cologne to work in a school for a year — and it changed everything. She learned German properly during her time there, adding it to her growing repertoire of languages alongside French, and fell completely in love with the city and its people. Everything on this page comes from that year, not a weekend visit.
The city that got under Nicola's skin
The Kölners have a reputation throughout Germany for being warm, laid-back and welcoming — and every bit of that reputation is earned. Cologne has a distinct identity and a fierce civic pride that you feel as soon as you arrive, and a year living there was more than enough time for Nicola to feel like a local rather than a visitor.
Working in a school gave her a rhythm to the city that most travellers never get — the everyday version of Cologne, not just the postcard one. And the German she picked up during that year has stuck with her ever since.
Köln — the city that became home for a year ✨
The Kölner Dom
Cologne Cathedral — the Dom — is one of the great Gothic buildings in Europe. It dominates the skyline from every angle, and up close it is genuinely awe-inspiring. The detail in the stonework, the sheer scale, the centuries of history embedded in every wall — it is unmissable, and Nicola never tired of walking past it.
The Chocolate Museum
The Schokoladenmuseum is brilliant fun — the story of chocolate from bean to bar, a chocolate fountain you can dip a wafer into, and more tastings than you can handle. Perfect for a rainy afternoon on the Rhine.
4711 on Glockengasse
The 4711 shop is a Cologne institution — home of Eau de Cologne, the original fragrance that gave a whole category of perfume its name. The beautiful historic shop and free spritz at the door are part of the experience.
The Rhine
The Rhine promenade is one of the best things about the city — a proper stretch of riverside life running right through central Cologne and an easy place to simply wander.
A little bit of Ireland
Cologne's warm Irish pub scene became something of a home away from home during Nicola's year there. The friendliness of the Kölners and the familiarity of a good Irish pub proved a very good combination.
Take a virtual drive through Cologne
Cologne is the German city Nicola knows best after living here for a year. If you'd like to get a feel for the city before you visit — or simply revisit Köln from your sofa — you can explore it virtually with Drive From Home.
Berlin
History you can feel on every street — from the 2005 interrail trip.
Explore Berlin →Munich
Biergartens, Bavaria and a visit to the Dachau Memorial Site.
Explore Munich →Heidelberg
Fairytale Germany on the river Neckar.
Explore Heidelberg →Frankfurt
One night in Germany's skyline city.
Explore Frankfurt →A little glimpse of Cologne
See Cologne through our own footage — a quick look at the German city that became home for a year and still holds a very special place in Nicola's travel story.