Best areas for students in Cologne

Sülz

This is one of the best student neighbourhoods in Cologne. It's a residential area and quieter than the city centre. Although the prices may be higher than in other areas, many students choose to live here because of the quality of life and its proximity to the university.

Despite being a more residential area, it has a lot of restaurants, cafes, and bars. However, as far as the nightlife, it’s not one of the liveliest areas.

As cultural visits, some highlights are: the Zur Heiligen Familie Church, the beautiful Weißhaus castle (Wasserschloss) and the remains of the Roman aqueduct (Absetzbecken der römischen Wasserleitung in Sülz).

Among the green sites to enjoy the outdoors, the Beethoven park stands out. It consists of a large forest, spacious lawns for picnics, hiking and biking trails, and playgrounds.

From Sülz, you can get in about ten minutes by tram to the centre of Cologne. It’s also connected to the rest of the city by train and some bus lines.

Kwartier Latäng

Kwartier Latäng is the student and bohemian epicenter of Cologne. The atmosphere is alternative, liberal, and very lively. Its name is a play on words of the "Quartier Latin" from Paris.

This neighbourhood is very close to the University of Cologne, so it's a very convenient area to live if you're going to study there.

The streets of Kwartier Latäng are home to the largest number of bars, restaurants and pubs that are affordable for students. It also has a few nightclubs where you can party.

It has two squares that are a frequent meeting point for young people, Zülpicherplatz, and Rathenauplatz, especially in its beer garden on days when the weather is suitable for being outdoors. It’s also just minutes from one of the city's most beautiful parks, the Hiroshima-Nagasaki-Park with its lake, Aachener Weiher.

Kwartier Latäng is connected to the rest of the city mainly by tram, it has one of the main train stations of the city, Köln süd, and there are some stops of different bus lines close by.

Ehrenfeld

Ehrenfeld is another one of the best neighbourhoods for students in Cologne. It’s located northwest of the city centre, with an alternative and multicultural environment. The cost of rent in Ehrenfeld is usually a little more affordable than in more central areas, although they can be easily reached by public transport.

This neighbourhood is known for its nightlife. From nightclubs to bars with live music, there's something to do every day of the week and for every taste. In fact, here are the biggest nightclubs. It also has a variety of restaurants (with cuisines from different parts of the world) and coffee shops, located mainly on one of its most important streets, Venloer Straße.

From this neighbourhood you can access the large city park, Innerer Grüngürtel, which has trails for walking or exercising, large grassy areas for picnics, a small lake, and spaces for outdoor sports.

Ehrenfeld is connected to the rest of Cologne via train, tram and bus lines.

FAQ about neighbourhoods in Cologne