Cologne New Years Eve 2024

Things to do in Cologne on new years eve. Top fireworks, parties, hotels & restaurants for NYE 2023-2024

Cologne's New Years Eve celebrations offer visitors a fun and safe environment with some spectacular fireworks being the highlight of the festivities. The people of cologne have worked hard to ensure that there is not a repeat of the awful event that took place in 2015 and that safety is paramount.

Cologne is a beautiful historic city, the 4th largest in Germany, located on the banks of the river Rhine and watched over by the famous Cologne Catherdral, with a plethora of medieval churches and other structures to keep the visitor entertained while provided a uniquely atmospheric backdrop to your new year celebrations.

New Years Eve Fireworks

The fireworks over the Rhine at midnight are the highlight of the new years eve party in Cologne. For the best views try to secure yourself a spot on one of the bridges over the river or, failing that, along the river's banks.

If you don't mind heading a little further away there are also excellent fireworks views to be had from the city's Rheinpark, or you can avoid the heaviest crowds by heading across the river to the Deutz area, which also affords the best views of the city's historic centre, a perfect backdrop to the pyrotechnics.

Christmas Markets

If you are planning on heading to Cologne over the festive season then we can also heartily recommend the city's excellent Christmas markets, there are several in the city with the most popular located right in front of the cathedral and you will be treated to a full range of local festive treats, including of course the excellent German mulled wine, gluhwein (who doesn't love a mug of gluhwein!).

New Years Eve Hotels

Accommodation in Cologne is realtively reasonably priced compared to other large German cities, but does of course get more expensive over the festive season, so the usual caveat applies, book early!

For a highly rated hotel with an excellent location right by the cathedral and a private new year party with gourmet cuisine and live music we can recommend the Excelsior Hotel Ernst.

You can search for deals at these, and all of the most popular Cologne new years eve hotels here.

Restaurants

For your new years eve dining experience there are plenty of restaurants to choose from covering all tastes and cuisines, top rated eateries include Hanse-Stube, Gruber's, maiBeck, Le Moissonnier, La Societe and Glashaus Restaurant.

For vegan options check out Hans Im Gluck. You can see the full range of Cologne restaurants here.

NYE Live Stream

If you want to check in on the new years eve party in Cologne and maybe catch a look at the fireworks there are several live webcams worth checking out, including some excellent live stream camera views of the cathedral and the city skyline:

Cologne webcams

Latest NYE News

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