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 16 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.2/5

Safety

4.5/5

Food

3.9/5

Budget-friendly

3.2/5

Solo travel

I felt safe. You can see the churches around, there are 12 of them. It's nice to see the botanical garden, grab some Kölsch and stroll around the river. I stayed at Novo Hotel. I walked mostly on foot but it's easier if you rent a bike or go by bus.

Posted: March 10, 2025Experienced: February, 2025
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Gülsüm

Gülsüm

Turkey

Solo travel

It was my first time doing a solo trip. I felt pretty safe considering the fact that the city itself has free wifi and you can find an english speaker everywhere in the city. The only thing that out me off was the food options. Maybe I couldn't find something good but everything was pretty bland, especially after trying amazing food all around in my Paris trip.

Posted: February 10, 2025Experienced: November, 2024
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Solo travel

my experience cologne was really nice, i went for the concert there, and felt quite safe throughout the day, though maybe not as much during the night time. the transportation was okay, though there were some problems with bus, which made me amost miss my train

Posted: January 4, 2025Experienced: September, 2024
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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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Is Cologne safe for women?

Safety index

3.9 /5

Based on 49 local experiences

Crime index

1.8 /5

Based on 49 local experiences

The city of Cologne is, in my opinion, quite safe. I'm more familiar with the left side of the Rhine, and I've never really felt in danger. I know that sometimes the area around the train station can be intimidating, but there are always law enforcement officers, so there's nothing to worry about :). I would just suggest maybe avoiding certain neighborhoods like Kalk.

Posted: March 28, 2025
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Savanna

Savanna

Cologne is overall pretty safe, normal precautions are advised. But, I have only rarely experienced trouble in the last 8 years of living here. Germans rarely catcall, if ever. Typically only during Karneval and generally while partying are the men more sexually aggressive.

Posted: March 26, 2025
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Meet locals in Cologne

Natália

Natália

About Me

Hello ☀️ I'm Natália, I'm from Brazil but am currently living in Cologne, Germany 😊 I've also lived in Canada, Italy and Spain :)) I speak portuguese, german, french and english fluently and am learning italian, spanish and catalan :) I love doing language exchange with others, as I study languages myself! My dream would be to travel the world and visit as many places as I can, to meet people and get to know cultures from all over the world 🌍☺️ I'm happy to show anyone around my city, and am looking into potentially hosting (living in a shared apartment, so I need to clear it up with my roomies first)

Speaking

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Maria

Maria

About Me

Hey there:) I am Maria, 19 and I love to see the world^^ I am going on my first ever Solo Trip around Europe and it's exciting - aaah:) I love any kind of deep conversations whether they are about serious topics or the most unreasonable things xD I am looking forward to meeting new people and seeing places I haven't before :) Instagram: yovrl0c41m0m

Speaking

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Stay with locals in Cologne

Natália

Natália

Cologne

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hello ☀️ I'm Natália, I'm from Brazil but am currently living in Cologne, Germany 😊 I've also lived in Canada, Italy and Spain :)) I speak portuguese, german, french and english fluently and am learning italian, spanish and catalan :) I love doing language exchange with others, as I study languages myself! My dream would be to travel the world and visit as many places as I can, to meet people and get to know cultures from all over the world 🌍☺️ I'm happy to show anyone around my city, and am looking into potentially hosting (living in a shared apartment, so I need to clear it up with my roomies first)

Speaking

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Inas

Inas

Cologne

Can host for:

7 days

About me

Hi, my name's Inas. I'm 21 years old and currently live in Cologne, where I'm pursuing a law degree at the University of Cologne. I'm yazidi, originally from Northern Iraq, so I speak Kurdish as my mother tongue. I grew up in a community-centric society, so I appreciate community values a lot, which for me basically means taking care of each other. That's what this app is promoting, so that along with my wish to see new places and meet new people is why I'm on it. I'm very social and get along with most people. It's important to me though that the people around me are open-minded and tolerant, especially when it comes to human rights (which include the right of immigrants and LGBTQIA+). Right now, I live in a shared apartment at the heart of Cologne (Germany). Unfortunately, my room (and my bed) are quite small but if you feel comfortable enough sleeping on a mattress in my room, then you're welcome to stay over.

Speaking

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Upcoming visitors to Cologne

Seda

Seda

About Me

Hello. I am Seda, currently a ESC volunteer in Latvia : ) Very interested in discovering new cities and befriending new people : )

Speaking

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Alex

Alex

About Me

I am a person who likes everyone to be safe and happy. Just here to get the world a step forward to it😄.

Speaking

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Safety in Germany