Fasching in Cologne

[MinnieMountain]

I've just realised that the weekend I've booked to go to Cologne is Fasching weekend. Will it be stupidly busy?

I'm staying in a hotel near the cathedral.

Honestly if you can I would rebook. I did this once and it was manic. Streets were packed with very drunk people most of the day.It is also very much for locals not tourists. Restaurants, museums etc were closed, facilities in hotel were reduced such as pool opening hours.

It was about 20 years ago so may have changed.

Rebook. Entire roads get blocked.

Unless of course you fancy the experience.

The Germans really really really go for Fasching- Cologne has one of the most amazing fancy dress shops I've ever seen, like a department store of costumes and masks!
It'll be a big pissed-up party time- I'd love to go but if you want a quiet time that won't be it!

It’s Karneval, not Fasching. I would say that it’s rather a German celebration, with lots of fancy dress, beer, loud parades and sweets being chucked into the crowds. The biggest moments are on the Thursday when things get started, following which there will be parades in villages on Saturday, towns on Sunday and Cologne city centre on Monday.
By comparison with Oktoberfest it feels more like a street party and less like an overgrown pub garden.

I thought as much.

I've got non-refundable trains, so I'm going further south to Baden-Baden instead.