Am Rheinauhafen
20 euros and up
The main attraction of this comfortable hostel is its central location of the riverside promenade in the heart of the city. It has functional and colorful one- to six-bed rooms, showers and WC facilities on the landing.
›› Altstadt-Süd, Rheingasse 34-36, Tel. 02 21/23 02 47, www.am-rheinauhafen.de

Hotel Colette
35 euros and up
The bright single and double rooms have all the necessary furnishings. A large, varied breakfast is included in the room price. Cologne city center is 10 minutes away by underground train.
›› Sülz, Zülpicher Str. 339, Tel. 02 21/35 66 11 50, www.hotel-colette.de

Hotel Elite
45 euros and up
This city hotel is located in a quiet side street in the middle of the lively university district. The rooms have soundproof windows, bathrooms with a shower or bathtub as well as a TV, telephone and WiFi.
›› Neustadt-Süd, Meister-Gerhard-Str. 26, Tel. 02 21/31 06 92 20, www.hotel-elite.de

Hotel Heinzelmännchen
40 euros and up
This hotel, just south of Heumarkt, is named after a poem by German poet and painter August Kopisch. It’s nicely furnished in country house style and has a personal atmosphere.
››  Altstadt-Süd, Hohe Pforte 5-7, Tel. 02 21/21 12 17, www.hotel-heinzelmännchen.de

Hotel N8 34,90 euros and up
The freshly renovated rooms in this hotel all have bright, pretty bathrooms. Some also have kitchenettes for self catering, which you might need because the hotel has no restaurant and does not offer breakfast.
››  Müngersdorf, Widdersdorfer Str. 325-327, Tel. 02 21/990 19 98, www.hotel-n8.de

Motel One Köln-West 49 euros and up
Low-cost designer hotel chain with 30 hotels in all of Germany’s larger cities. All rooms are equipped with a double bed, air conditioning and a flat-screen TV, bathrooms have rainforest-style showers and hair dryers. The modern One Lounge is a combined lobby, breakfast restaurant and bar, offering free WiFi access and is open every day from 6 am to midnight. There is also a 24-hour reception and free parking.
››  Junkersdorf, Max-Planck-Str. 46, Tel. 0 22 34/20 01 34, www.motel-one.com

Station 17 euros and up
New, colorfully designed hostel 300 m from the Cathedral with one- to six-bed rooms, each with en suite facilities. Communal kitchen and 24-hour free Internet access.
››  Altstadt-Nord, Marzellen Str. 44-56, Tel. 02 21/9 12 53 01, www.hostel-cologne.de