Where should I stay in Bonn or Cologne?
I need to be in Bonn for business, but figure I can get the train from Cologne.
I'll have time spare in the evening before the work, and the afternoon and evening after the work.
tbh Bonn looks a bit dead... so I'm very tempted by Cologne.
Is there a queer part of town where I should look for a hotel? Anyone have a hotel recommendation? Restaurant recommendation (I'm gluten free)?
@dee cologne is pretty queer-friendly I'd say, I wouldn't expect issues anywhere.
I've had a nice gf burger at "Freddy Schilling" in Eigelstein a while ago, it's next to the Central station. "mama trattoria" is another chain restaurant with gf pizza and pasta.
@manawyrm I went to mama trattoria last time I was in Cologne and enjoyed the food, also stayed in an interesting water tower hotel in Cologne but "interesting" I think isn't what I needed from that hotel... so I'll likely just pick a Hilton for the free upgrade they give me.
I've found a place or two to dance in Cologne, so Cologne it is.
thanks for replying with the Freddie Schiller tip ❤️
@dee I don't know for sure about other times in the year, but we stay on or near the Alter Markt when we're in Köln for Amphi Festival in July. Plenty of pride flags hanging from the windows around the square, and it's easy walking distance from the Hbf.
We used to stay in the CityClass Hotel Alter Markt, but they started hiking their prices last year. We stayed at the Hotel Mondial instead: distinctly nicer, and even closer to the station.
Lots of restaurants around that square, and further down towards the river, but I've no idea what your chances are in terms of gluten-free dining, sorry.
Köln's queer area seems to be around the west edge of the Altstadt (I saw lots of rainbow flags and murals when I last visited!), but I'm not sure about Bonn. Bonn's definitely not dead, but it is a lot more muted than other cities.
If you do choose to stay in Köln, a word of warning about the public transport: although the train service to Bonn has a very high frequency and is pretty fast, it's also very unreliable. If I needed to make a meeting in Bonn, I would leave an extra half an hour just in case there are lots of cancellations. If you stayed near the Köln Süd station, you could also choose to walk to Barborassaplatz and get the number 18 tram instead, which takes double the time that the train does, but is a lot less likely to be disrupted.
Hope this helps, and enjoy your time in NRW :)
Dee in London
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