Is Cologne Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Cologne is generally a safe city for solo female travelers. There is a low crime rate and the residents are friendly and open-minded. Public transportation is safe and efficient, even during evenings. There are also plenty of open areas and popular sites to visit where there are always other people around. However, like any big city, there might be pickpocketing and it is advised to stay alert especially in crowded places and during famous events like the Carnaval. Always keep an eye on your belongings.

Safety rating

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How safe is Cologne?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Safe

Cologne is generally a safe city, even at night. As with any urban areas, it is advised to stay in well-lit and populated areas. There may be some areas where extra caution should be exercised, but crime rate is relatively low. Public transportation is reliable and secure too. Being mindful of your surroundings and personal belongings would further ensure your safety.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Safe

Public transportation in Cologne, is generally reliable and safe. The city has an efficient network of trams, buses and trains operated by KVB (Kölner Verkehrsbetriebe) that run regularly, even during the night. Security personnel are often visible and emergency protocols are robust. However, like anywhere, you should remain vigilant, especially late in the evening. Avoid empty compartments and always keep your belongings close.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Low

Cologne is generally considered a safe city for solo female travelers. Street harassment is not a widespread issue and instances of this are relatively low. It is heavily populated with a diverse mix of people, including many international students and tourists. Furthermore, most of the locals maintain a respectful demeanor. However, like everywhere, it's always advised to stay cautious and aware of your surroundings, especially during the night and in less crowded areas.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Low

Cologne has an overall low risk for petty crimes such as pickpocketing and purse snatching. Main hotspots are the more touristy areas and public transportation where crimes of opportunity have a slightly higher chance of occurring. However, by remaining vigilant and keeping personal belongings secure, you can significantly reduce your risk.

Is Cologne worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.5 /5

based on 13 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.3/5

Safety

4.6/5

Food

4.3/5

Budget-friendly

3.3/5

Solo travel

I felt really safe in Cologne, maybe because I travel in the day time :) But overall it's very lively in the city, there lots of people, lots of events going on, lots of cafes, especially with ice cream

Posted: October 11, 2024Experienced: August, 2024
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Priyanshi

Priyanshi

India

Solo travel

Yes, it was a nice experience. I lived in Bonn, but I used to travel to Cologne. It was for a trip, and I visited the harbor bridge. It was already quite nice and had a lot of restaurants that matched my taste, so I very much loved the food. I really liked it, and I look forward to visiting it again officially. It was an unplanned trip because it was due to business. I had one more day, which I used to explore Cologne.

Posted: September 6, 2024Experienced: September, 2023
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Solo travel

I had a good time in Cologne with a lot of vegan food and nice people. The restaurant Zarathustra was really great experience and I would recommend it to everyone who visits the city. They also have a place which sells vegan spaghetti ice cream which is want to try the next time staying there.

Posted: August 5, 2024
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Dana

Dana

Mexico

Family travel

I went to Cologne during Christmas with my best friend and her dad, I had the best time! I felt completely safe at all times (even when we were walking during the night, I started feeling scared because it was getting dark but everyone was minding their own business) Definitely go inside the Cathedral and climb the stairs, though it is a bit tiring to do so, it's so worth it once you see the view of all of Cologne!! I stayed in the Novum Hotel Mariella Airport and it was pretty nice, the breakfast was delicious, it wasn't so expensive, the only con is that they didn't clean my room during my whole stay, but overall it's a great hotel. It is a few minutes away from the Köln Porz Markt station. I got around the city through public transportation, it is real easy to use and economical (you can buy a 24 - 72 hr pass I believe).

Posted: June 13, 2024Experienced: December, 2023
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Muriel

Muriel

Germany

Solo travel

I was travelling for work and I was hosted in a teacher’s house which was a very interesting experience since I got to exchange views about art and education. The city although not too big I think it has a great public transportation and a lot of cultural events going on. Not too expensive and very calm!

Posted: February 26, 2024
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Bridget

Bridget

Germany

Solo travel

Cologne was one of my favourite cities that I’ve visited so far in Germany. Not only was it extremely safe, but the architecture and food scene was out of this world. I had great kölsch and the best schnitzel I’ve ever had in my life there. Furthermore, as a Catholic, the church in front of the train station is a must see.

Posted: February 7, 2024
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Couple travel

Quite nice and safe place to visit. The Colonge Cathedral - my absolute love. There was a lot of visitors on weekends, but still such a good experience. Highly recommend to climb the Cathedral tower. Amazing views!

Posted: December 2, 2023Experienced: September, 2023
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Solo travel

Cologne is a really beautiful place to visit, very safe for people traveling alone, at least according to my experience, and most Germans know at least a bit of English. Nearby there is also another city, Aachen, which is also worth visiting.

Posted: November 2, 2022
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Group travel

I stayed at the 25 Hours Hotel The Circle, it was amazing! I definitely recommend visiting the Kölner Dom cathedral - you can go all the way to the top (we didn't go because we were there during the New Year and I misread the opening hours of the tower, oops), be sure to check out the crane houses (Kranhäuser) by the river, really cool buildings. Kölntriangle offers stunning city views, and if you cross the Hohenzollern Bridge, you can check another sightseeing point off your list. It's also worth mentioning that Cologne is not too far from Bonn or Düsseldorf by train, so it's worth going there if you can, to see more.

Posted: October 27, 2022
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Solo travel

Go to the Lindt Chocolate Museum in Cologne, and then hop over to Bonn to visit Beethoven's house! I definitely recommend stopping by the Cologne Cathedral.

Posted: October 19, 2022
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Is Cologne safe for women?

Safety index

3.8 /5

Based on 24 local experiences

Crime index

1.8 /5

Based on 24 local experiences

Sarah

Sarah

as in every city there are good and bad spots. In general it’s quiet safe, there arent many pickpockets and since its a busy city even at night you barely ever feel alone in a situation. But that mostly refers to the inner city (although there are also spots with sktechy people), idk a lot about the outer parts, where it might be more lonely on the streets and therefore more dangerous.

Posted: December 25, 2024
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Silva

Silva

I would say Cologne is very safe because no matter where you go, there are always other people, so you are never alone. Even if no one is around me, I feel safe. Some parts of the city are maybe scary, like Kalk, but you don’t have to go there.

Posted: December 24, 2024
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Meet locals in Cologne

Green_Anna

Green_Anna

About Me

Very interested in History, philosophy and politics. I speak german, russian and english. Would especially love to go to gothic stores or metal concerts.

Speaking

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Stay with locals in Cologne

Diana

Diana

Cologne

Can host for:

3 days

About me

My name is Diana and I love travelling, exploring the world, hiking, meeting new people, drinking beer, carneval in Cologne, music festivals (rock, metal, techno), yoga ...

Speaking

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Lisa

Lisa

Cologne

Can host for:

3 days

About me

hey! I'm Lisa, a sport student from Cologne (germany) who loves to solo travel around Europe :)

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Safety in Germany