Exploring Cologne: Safe To Walk And Discover?

Cologne is considered a safe city to walk in, even at night. However, as with any urban area, it is recommended to stay in well-lit and populated areas. The crime rate in Cologne is relatively low, and the city has been ranked highly on safety indexes. Public transportation is also considered safe and reliable. Nevertheless, it is always important to stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded places and during events such as the Carnaval.

Cologne's neighbourhoods

Cologne is considered a safe city to walk in, even at night. However, as with any urban area, it is recommended to stay in well-lit and populated areas. There are some neighbourhoods that are considered less safe than others, but the crime rate in Cologne is relatively low.

The neighbourhoods of Chorweiler and Meschenich are mentioned by several sources as areas to avoid due to higher crime rates. One source also mentions that the Ringe on weekend nights can be risky, and another mentions Ebertplatz as a place to avoid under any circumstances.

However, one source mentions that there are no unsafe areas in Cologne, and another states that Cologne doesn't have any no-go areas.

• Be aware of your surroundings and avoid sketchy situations.
• Avoid walking alone at night if possible, and use well-lit and busy streets.
• Don't accept food or drinks from strangers, and don't leave your drink unattended.
• Be cautious of groups of people who try to involve you in conversations, as this can be a tactic for pickpocketing.
• Use public transportation or a taxi if you feel uncomfortable walking.

Public transport

Cologne's public transport system is considered safe and reliable. The system is also foreigner-friendly, with English being a standard language. The public transport system is called KVB, and it includes trains, trams, subways, buses, and the suburban railway. The trains in the city centre are called "U-Bahn" or "Hochbahn", and "S-Bahn", with the latter running faster and stopping at the main train stations. The U-Bahn and S-Bahn are collectively referred to as the Stadtbahnlinien, or city train lines, and are numbered from 1 to 18. The bus system consists of roughly 76 lines, and they carry the numbers 120 to 196.

The frequency of the trains and buses depends on the time of day. During rush hours, trains run every 5 minutes and buses every 10 minutes. At other times, they run at least every 20 minutes until very late at night, thinning out to 30 to 40 minutes. In the early morning, trains and buses are available every 10 minutes.

Tickets can be purchased online, via app, at ticket machines, or from the driver. The ticket system is organised by distance, with different zones defined by bright colour codes. The basic tariff for those living within the city limits is the "1b" Cityticket. The weekly and monthly tickets are also available, as well as the Formel9 Ticket, which can be used by multiple people after 9 am.

Street harassment

Cologne is generally considered a safe city to walk in, even at night. However, as with any urban area, it is recommended to stay in well-lit and populated areas, and to follow local advice and warnings. There are some neighbourhoods, such as Chorweiler and Meschenich, that are best avoided due to higher crime rates. Public transportation is also considered reliable and secure.

When it comes to street harassment, there have been several reports and incidents of women being harassed and sexually assaulted in Cologne, particularly during the New Year's Eve celebrations in 2015-2016. On that night, a large group of about 1000 young men, mostly of North African or Arab origin, gathered outside the city's main train station and cathedral. The situation escalated, with fireworks being pointed at people, passers-by being harassed, and cell phones and wallets being stolen. The police were overwhelmed, and there were reports of women being groped, robbed, and sexually assaulted. In the following days, a total of 1210 criminal complaints were made, with 511 of them involving sexual assaults, and 28 involving rape or attempted rape. Similar incidents also occurred in other German cities like Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Hanover, but on a smaller scale.

In the aftermath of these events, there was a lot of criticism of the police and media for their handling of the situation. The police were accused of not intervening quickly enough and for downplaying the severity of the incidents in their initial reports. There was also criticism of the media for not adequately reporting the events and for avoiding mentioning the ethnicity of the suspects, which some attributed to a fear of encouraging anti-immigrant sentiments. As a result of these incidents, Germany tightened its laws on asylum and sexual assault, making it easier to deport foreigners who commit crimes. The definition of sexual assault was expanded, and the principle of "no means no" was adopted.

While these incidents were a shocking exception, it's important to note that Cologne is still considered a relatively safe city, and most people's experiences of walking in the city have been positive. However, as a solo traveller, it is always advisable to take precautions such as avoiding walking alone at night and staying in well-lit, busy areas.

Safety at night

Cologne is generally a safe city to walk in at night. However, as with any urban area, it is recommended to stay in well-lit and populated areas, and to be aware of your surroundings.

Some neighbourhoods, such as Chorweiler and Meschenich, are best avoided due to higher crime rates. The Aringe area can also be a little crowded at the weekend, and the area around the Ringe Road and the backyard of the central station (Breslauer Platz) are best avoided late at night.

Public transport is reliable and safe, and it is advised to use this or a taxi to get around at night if you are unsure of the area.

Some people have reported feeling unsafe walking alone at night, especially as a woman, but others have said they feel perfectly safe. It is always best to be cautious, but Cologne is certainly not a city where you need to be afraid to walk at night.

Safety for women

Cologne is considered a safe city for women to walk in, even at night. The city has a low crime rate and friendly, open-minded residents. However, it is important to stay alert, especially in crowded places and during events like the Carnaval, as pickpocketing may occur. Public transportation is also safe and reliable, with security personnel often visible.

Some women may feel uncomfortable with the presence of homeless people and drug addicts in certain areas of the city, particularly around train and subway stations. It is advised to stay in well-lit and populated areas at night and avoid certain neighbourhoods such as Chorweiler and Meschenich, which have higher crime rates.

Instances of street harassment are considered relatively low in Cologne, and the diverse population includes many international students and tourists. Women are advised to remain cautious and aware of their surroundings, especially at night and in less crowded areas.

Overall, Cologne is ranked highly for women's safety, with a rating of 3.9 out of 5 for safety and 1.7 out of 5 for the low crime rate. Women can walk alone at night and use public transportation without much worry, but it is always good to be cautious and keep an eye on your belongings.

Frequently asked questions