Louez une voiture à Cologne entre particuliers

Rent a car to visit Cologne

Cologne is the largest city of North Rhine-Westphalia and the fourth most populous city in Germany. It is also one of the oldest large German cities: founded more than 2000 years ago by the Romans, this city of Catholic traditions has an extraordinary historical heritage and and is now considered a leading industrial, commercial and political center in Europe.

Undoubtedly, public transportation can be inconvenient and unreliable when it comes to arriving in a foreign city. So driving makes sense even if you’ve never driven on the right-hand side of the road before.

Renting a car is the perfect way to take in the astonishing grand sights this city has to offer. Cologne isn’t exactly considered to be a magnificent city. It is a cool city with a unique vibe. Therefore, renting a car will allow you to explore Cologne more independently, see things you would otherwise have missed.

People travel to Cologne for different reasons. Some travel for leisure and some for business. One of the most visited sites in this city is the Cologne Cathedral. Its jaw-dropping architecture has a few contenders in the country. For some shopping, people head to Schildergasse. This shopping street is well-known for its pocket-friendly shopping options.

Additionally, the biggest, most cheerful, and snazziest carnival parades and parties take place in Cologne. If you end up there, expect work-of-art floats, hilarious costumes, utter madness, hundreds of revelers, and merry dancing in the streets.

Driving and parking in Cologne

You should know that car hire in Cologne is a great way to discover the city and its surroundings as driving there is an enjoyable experience. You will find that the roads are well-maintained and offer scenic views.

German relies on international road signs which means that many of them will be obvious to you. Also, the Autobahn is this country’s excellent freeway system. Most of the Autobahn sections have no posted speed limit. According to the Law, speeds must be adapted to the weather conditions, personal characteristics, road, visibility, traffic, and characteristics of the load and vehicle.

Driving within the city centre can be a nightmare during peak hour due to heavy traffic. Peak hour may be 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. and 16:00 to 20:00, especially during weekdays. You will have to drive slower in town.

Finding adequate parking in this city’s busy downtown can easily become a hectic experience. However, it is possible to find on-street parking garages. All you need is to look for signs with a ‘big P.’ On the street, you will find a central ticket dispensing machine - you might not find meters. Pay with card or coins and put the ticket on the dash.

Business travel in Cologne

The main train station is situated in the heart of Cologne, right next to the Cathedral. It will take you about 7 minutes to get to the city center, which is the leading business center of Cologne. A drive to the city center from Cologne Bonn Airport would take about 20 minutes.

Innenstadt, one of the central business districts, is well served by a number of highways and railway stations. Köln Hauptbahnhof is the largest train station there, and others include Köln Messe, Köln Süd station, Köln Hansaring, and Köln West. Driving from Köln Hauptbahnhof to Innenstadt is about a minute.

Additional tips

Travel insurance is essential, as it will cover you against any mishaps, which might befall you during your trip, like lost luggage, delayed\cancelled flight. Make sure you have it for your trip.

Choose annual multi-trip travel insurance if you are likely to do more traveling throughout the year. If this trip is likely to be your only traveling of the year, consider choosing single trip travel.

Fun fact: Cologne is the city with the most pubs per person in Germany. Also, try a Kölsch beer (only brewed in Cologne) and take pleasure in the charms of this old town with its incredible old buildings, fountains and many restaurants.