German course in Cologne

Why take a German language course in Cologne?

In all of Germany, Cologne is the city with the most pubs per person, meaning you’ll never be short of an opportunity to strike up a conversation with a friendly Colognian! Sip on a cold Kölsch (beer) and enjoy soaking up the atmosphere in one of the city’s many Brauhäuser. Cologne is the oldest of Germany’s big cities and has a history that spans more than 2000 years. Although Cologne was subjected to catastrophic bombing during WWII, many of the city’s historic monuments were painstakingly rebuilt, preserving architectural treasures for many years to come.

The most iconic of these buildings is Cologne Cathedral, the third tallest church in the world and Germany’s most visited landmark! Entrance is free, allowing you to admire the awe-inspiring interior and colourful stained glass windows at your leisure. There is a small entrance fee for anyone who wishes to visit the Cathedral Treasury, which houses precious artifacts from the 4th to the 20th century; or climb the 533 steps of the south tower, which leads to a 100-metre-high viewing platform that offers panoramic views of the city centre, the Rhine and the surrounding area. To view the cathedral from a different angle, cross the Rhine and head to KölnTriangle skyscraper. This modern glass building, which couldn’t be built too high due to the UNESCO World Heritage status of the cathedral, also offers a viewing platform, presenting an amazing vista of the cathedral’s twin spires, the Hohenzollern Bridge, the Old Town, and even Düsseldorf on a clear day!

Cologne is a cultural hub, with museums, exhibitions and attractions to suit all interests. There are at least 15 museums within a 30-minute walk of our language school, and many others accessible by public transport! Some of the most popular are the Ludwig Museum, which houses a sizeable collection of modern art; Duftmuseum im Farina Haus (fragrance museum), where you will learn about the creation of Eau de Cologne in the oldest intact perfume factory in the world; and the Chocolate Museum, where sensory exhibits teach visitors about the process of producing this popular confection.

If you overindulge at the Schokoladen Museum you might like to take a walk and get a breath of fresh air. A 3km stroll along the banks of the river and over the Hohenzollern Bridge (or the Deutz Bridge) will lead you to the Rheinpark, once voted Germany’s Most Beautiful Park. This popular city centre recreation ground boasts large green spaces, water features, a large variety of trees, flower beds, a playground, and even a narrow gauge railway! This isn’t the only mode of transportation departing from the Rheinpark though - from here you can also take a trip on the cable car that traverses the river and alight at Cologne Zoo, or travel back again.

Cologne has no fewer than eight universities, with the sizeable student population giving the city a youthful, vibrant atmosphere. For a night out visit the Belgian Quarter, one of Cologne’s trendiest neighbourhoods and home to many bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Germany knows how to party and many establishments stay open through the night! There are lots of lower-key options for those that prefer to be tucked up in bed by a decent hour as well though!

Cologne is a year-round destination, with each season offering something distinct and appealing. Spring sees flowers come into blossom in the city’s outside spaces and the opening of the beer gardens following winter closure; summer brings warmer temperatures and popular events like the Summerjam festival; autumn in Cologne is typically quieter with fewer tourists, making it an ideal season to enjoy the many popular attractions; and in winter the city is transformed into a fairy light-lit wonderland as the Christmas markets set up and offer their wares in pretty much every spare square foot! For a real culturally immersive experience visit Cologne in the ’fifth season’ - carnival time! The festival takes place every year in February/March and is one of the biggest celebrations in Germany, attracting millions of visitors from around the world. Expect costumes, music, dancing and colourful parades that fill the streets.

Our school in Cologne

In comparison to some of our other German schools, our school in Cologne is relatively small, but rest assured, it is perfectly formed to offer a friendly and rewarding immersive language experience! A member of respected governing bodies FDSV and IALC, the school in Cologne is part of an organisation that has been offering German language courses to speakers of other languages since 1984!

Language lessons in Cologne take place in a historic building, right in the centre of the city. The famous Gothic cathedral is less than 1.5km away, and the school is conveniently linked to all areas of the city by the easy-to-use public transport system.

The facility has seven well-equipped classrooms, a student break room with pool table, a kitchen where you can store and prepare snacks and lunch, free tea and coffee, and a balcony that looks out onto the street below - the ideal spot to enjoy a complimentary hot drink! You will also have access to a student library, where you can borrow various course materials (textbooks, novels and DVDs) to help elevate your German language learning. Furthermore, free Internet access is available to all students.

After your German lessons, you can socialise with other students in one of the inexpensive restaurants nearby or take a short stroll down to the banks of the Rhine.

Location of our school in Cologne

Accommodation options in Cologne

Available accommodation

Another way to dramatically improve your language skills is to live with a German host family whilst you learn German in Cologne. Local families (or single hosts) are carefully selected by our colleagues at the school and will only speak to you in German. Simply decide between a bed and breakfast or half board arrangement.

Want to have more time with your fellow students? Then choose to live in a shared apartment, where you’ll have a single room (or you can book a shared room if preferred) and share bathroom and kitchen facilities with other students. Cook for yourself and have a great time with students from all over the world! For those who prefer a little more comfort we also offer shared apartment plus accommodation, which offers the same facilities as a standard apartment but also includes a washing machine, dishwasher and WI-FI internet connection.

If you prefer to live independently and have your own space, a studio apartment would be a good choice. Studio apartments offer a small kitchen, WI-FI and private bathroom.

Available activities in Cologne

To make sure that you really enjoy your time in Cologne, our school arranges a wide variety of activities three times a week. Typical activities include guided sightseeing tours, museum visits, cultural attractions (festivals, theatre, concerts etc), school parties, German film evenings, international evenings, and visits to Cologne’s beach bars, pubs and discos! Our school also organises excursions to other historic cities.

How to get to our school in Cologne

If you fly into Cologne airport, we can arrange a private airport transfer to pick you up and take you directly to your accommodation upon arrival. Please note, however, that this service is not included in the price and will incur an additional fee.

School statistics

Student stories on our blog

The Rhine – Cologne’s wonderful waterway

Lake Toma, amongst the stunning mountains of Switzerland, is home to the source of the Rhine. Leaving here it continues its journey through to the Netherlands, where it flows into the North Sea. On its way the biggest city it crosses is cosmopolitan Cologne. Cologne would only be half as beautiful without this fantastic river running through it. The Rhine gives this city a unique and relaxed atmosphere. On its banks visitors to Cologne like to spend their time relaxing alongside the locals, known as ‘Kölner’! I am proud to call Cologne my home town and can speak to you at first-hand about life around this significant river of Europe. Hopefully I will also entice you to explore Cologne yourself! Read more...

 

Carnival in Cologne

Do you want to experience an important part of German culture and one of the country’s most incredible festivals? In that case you definitely shouldn't miss the Carnival in Cologne! The traditions connected to this 5000- year old festival are just as diverse as the places where it is celebrated and even within Germany you will find numerous different customs surrounding the February carnival week that marks the beginning of Lent. However, there is no region where carnival is as firmly anchored in the local culture as in Cologne – experiencing the celebrations in the German ‘capital of carnival’ is something you will never forget! Read more...

 

A bird’s eye view of Cologne!

After recently returning from a German course in Cologne, I am happy to tell you how surprising and fascinating this city was! As a person who travels a lot and been to Germany several times, I have been round various castles, churches and cathedrals, both in Germany and at home in Spain. But,  I’ve NEVER climbed up any historical building with a  view which can compare with the one you get from the Cologne Cathedral! Going to the top of the Cathedral really is worth it - the stunning views you have from the top are amazing, though climbing the hundreds of winding stairs can be a bit of a challenge! You have to go up 509 steps of the spiral staircase, and the same for down! ;) Read more...