Cologne where to stay

[lulubelle1977]

Can you give some recommendations on where, which areas to stay in Cologne. Just after Christmas.

Depends on your budget. There are lots in the old town or near the Hauptbahnhof. I've stayed in the Ibis right next to the station before which was cheap and fine - just on a shopping trip. My favourite that I recall was the Mondial, between the Cathedral and the river. Quiet side street but right near the old town.

Mid-range. Not on a tight budget, but not luxury. I'm just not sure of the areas- so is old town a good place to look? Where are the shops, museums, restaurants? Food food not chains.

Motel One in Messe-Deutz, just over the bridge from Central Station.

Close to the train station, the cathedral and the Old Town is :
Mondial or maritim which is right on the river. Also we have hesrd good things about the art Hotel further south , still on the river.

Wouldn't recommend Deutz really, not a great location. Also in the sud stadt is the Mercure. Also a premier Inn and a motel one

We stayed in an apartment about 10 mins walk north of the Cathedral and main station.

It was a good location as there were shops, bars, restaurants and another station right outside the apartment, it was another 10 mins walk through a park to the river and most of the walk from the Cathedral was pedestrianised. Also if you walked back to the Cathedral area along the river, there were loads of street food cabins and you could get on the river cruises in the same area (we went in summer though so I'm not sure how much of this you'd do in winter).