Cologne’s Old Town was the center of the gay scene for a long time. Here the fetish scene had its stronghold. The Old Town still offers a big variety of approximately 40 bars: dance and cruise at Chains, flirt on the terrace of the Verquer, at the Heumarkt meet bears in the Cox and Zipp’s and get to know the leather and fetish bars Station2b, Boners and Deck 5. If you don’t feel like experiencing all 40 bars stay local at Heumarkt and Pipinstrasse and join grey gays “Bei Udo”, fetish men at “Stiefelknecht” and drag queens at the Timp.
Since the beginning of the 90s the Bermuda-Triangle experienced a boom with many new bars and shops opening. Enjoy a coffee at the Barflo or Era, a great meal at the Brennerei Weiss, as well as great music at the Chicos y Mas and Marsil. Younger gays prefer the Clip. If you are looking for a great party visit the Ex-Corner and Schampanja. You’ll also find two great gay saunas in the Bermuda-Dreieck: Faun and Phoenix Sauna.
In the beautiful lesbian club Blue Lounge in the middle of the gay Old Town gays and lesbians party together with their heterosexual friends. Men are also welcome in the neat lesbian restaurant Gezeiten. Enjoy great cocktails at the Iron bar and get together with your friends at the Besser bar & lounge.
The Aachener Weiher, close to the Bermuda Triangle, offers a great location for sunbathing in the summer. On warm days gays get together to get tanned, flirt and enjoy barbecues. Cologne’s creative trends can be seen in the numerous small designer boutiques, for example those in the “Belgian Quarter”. Alongside the popular shopping street “Schildergasse”, a diverse assortment is also available in the smaller boulevards. The most extravagant or exclusive desires can be fulfilled here.

Rather close to each other three locations invite you to commemorate. At the Hohenzollernbrücke directly at the Rhine there is a memorial remembering gay and lesbian victims during the Nazi-regime which was a present made by gay and lesbian initiatives. At the Markmannsgasse close to the Rhine, Tom Fecht’s installation “Namen und Steine” (Names and Stones) reminds of the people who died of Aids. Another installation dedicated to them is located in the Lichhof of the church St. Maria im Kapitol.

Please click here to download Cologne’s gay and lesbian guide ‘Out in Cologne 2008’ with adresses, websites and detailed information about Cologne’s hotspots and more!