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 index

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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

4.4 /5

based on 12 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.3/5

Safety

4.6/5

Food

4.4/5

Budget-friendly

3.4/5
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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Solo travel

I had a great time during the visit, but the city was much less charming than I thought it would be (this does not mean that parts of the city are not charming!). There are many ugly, mismatched buildings filling it, which I guess are the result of damage to buildings suffered during World War II. I can't stop wondering how much character was lost and what it would look like today if it hadn't been bombed so heavily. Only when I left and reflected on the visit, I appreciated the city more. I will definitely go back there for Kolsch, which was one of the highlights of the visit!

Posted: August 31, 2022
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Is Cologne safe for women?

Safety index

3.9 /5

Based on 18 local experiences

Crime index

1.6 /5

Based on 18 local experiences

Liza

Liza

i never had any situations where i wasn’t safe or was in danger. But i wouldn’t recommend being alone at nights at train stations just in general. police is always train station security or police is always available ä

Posted: September 30, 2024
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Michelle

Michelle

I have walked alone alone at night and it was totally okay. Off course it is much better walking around when you can find some people still on the street but it is fine anyway. As I am from a country where it is not safe at all, I have this issue with safety and always avoid empty and to dark areas.

Posted: September 6, 2024
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Is Cologne safe right now?

Before your visit to Cologne, it's essential to check travel advisories for Germany, including your home country's official travel advisory. These advisories can provide up-to-date information on safety, health, and any specific considerations for travelers.
🇺🇸

United States Travel AdvisoryExercise a high degree of caution

The United States Government advises exercising increased caution in Germany due to terrorism. Check the full travel advisory.
Last updated: May 1, 2024
🇨🇦

Canada's Travel AdvisoryExercise a high degree of caution

The Canadian government advises to **exercise a high degree of caution** in Germany due to the threat of terrorism. Check the full travel advisory.
Last updated: September 20, 2024
🇦🇺

Australia's Travel AdvisoryExercise a high degree of caution

The Australian government advises exercising a high degree of caution in Germany due to the threat of terrorism. Check the full travel advisory.
Last updated: October 3, 2024

Meet locals in Cologne

Liza

Liza

About Me

iam 23 i love to do to arts and crafts and i am a cozy stay at home person so i don’t like to party or drink alcohol. iam always interested in meeting new people and improving my english. i never traveled in my childhood so iam trying to do as many trips as possible with a rly low budget.

Speaking

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Stay with locals in Cologne

Johanna

Johanna

Cologne

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hello 👋🏻 I'm Johanna, 28 years old and living in Cologne. I love traveling, especially taking road trips in my mini camper. I'm vegan and passionate about living a sustainable lifestyle. I'm also working on improving my English skills and excited to connect with others who share similar interests.

Speaking

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Adri

Adri

Cologne

Can host for:

3 days

About me

I would love to hang around and specially if there is a cultural activity or museums!

Speaking

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Safety in Germany