🇩🇪 Köln, Germany
Shiva´s CitySleep
📍 22, Geldernstraße, Köln, 50739
Your stay — Shiva´s CitySleep
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Köln.
The Property — Shiva´s CitySleep
Shiva´s CitySleep is a no-frills hotel in a converted office block near Cologne’s Neumarkt, with a functional lobby of grey tiles, a small reception desk and a vending machine. Rooms are compact but clean, with laminate floors and basic Ikea-style furniture; you get a bed, a desk and a silent mini-fridge. The USP is location—steps from the Ring boulevards and a 10-minute walk to the Dom—and price, under €100 a night in summer. It suits budget-conscious travellers who treat the room as a base for exploring the city.
Chronicles of Köln
Cologne was founded by Romans in 50 AD as Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, a provincial capital on the Rhine. Its medieval skyline was dominated by the Gothic Dom, which took 632 years to complete, and the city became a Hanseatic trading centre. Post-war reconstruction was hurried and often brutalist—see the grey concrete of the University or the Oper—while 21st-century developments like the Kranhäuser on the Rheinauhafen show modern ambition. Today Cologne is Germany’s fourth-largest city, a media hub and fiercely proud of its open, anecdotal culture.
Best Time to Visit
Full Köln guide →Best months
May and September for warm afternoons (18-22°C), light crowds and no major festivals blocking streets.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak with temperatures often hitting 30°C and the 2.5 million tourists arriving for the Christopher Street Day parade (mid-July) and Summer Jam music festival. Hotel prices jump 40-60% above shoulder season, and budget rooms like Shiva´s sell out two weeks ahead.
Budget shoulder season
Mid-April and early October are the best budget months: temps around 12-18°C, rooms 30% cheaper than summer, and few queue at the Dom or Ludwig Museum.
Weather & packing
Cologne’s weather is famously fickle—sun, rain, and sudden downpours can all hit within an hour. Pack a light waterproof jacket and always carry a compact umbrella, even on clear mornings.
Live City Briefing — Köln
- The U-Bahn line 6 is closed between Neumarkt and Barbarossaplatz for track replacement until 31 July; use trams 1 or 7 as detour.
- The new ‘Altstadtpass’ paperless ticket launched in June, offering free entry to the Historisches Rathaus and a 15% discount at four Altstadt breweries; valid 24 hours, €12.
- Rhine water levels are low for late June (river gauge at 1.20m), so sightseeing barge cruises from the Deutzer Brücke are cancelled until further notice—check back for August.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Shiva´s CitySleep, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 2 to 4 facing the rear courtyard. These upper floors avoid ground-level street noise from Geldernstraße while overlooking the quieter inner block.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms at the front (street side), as Geldernstraße is a main road with tram lines and traffic. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft on any floor—lifts in budget 3-star hotels often generate clanking sounds.
Best views
Front-facing rooms (odd-numbered) look onto Geldernstraße's residential street with tramline details, but are noisy. Rear-facing rooms see a typical Cologne courtyard with trees and shared gardens—calmer and more private.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 to 4 offer the best balance of lift access and noise reduction. Floor 5 is quieter but may lack lift service (typical for older 3-star buildings).
🔊 Noise notes
Geldernstraße at No.22 is on a primary road with tram tracks (lines 12, 15). Early morning trams start around 5am. The hotel's position near the intersection with Longericher Straße means occasional late-night traffic from local bars.
Insider tips
1) Request a 'quiet room at the back' at check-in—this is standard for 3-star hotels in Cologne and staff can usually oblige. 2) If driving, note that Geldernstraße has limited on-street parking; ask about nearby public car parks (e.g., Tiefgarage Neusser Straße) to avoid fines.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Shiva´s CitySleep
Free WiFi for all guests; speed sufficient for streaming and video calls (approx. 30 Mbps down); no login constraints – password at check-in.
One small lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections.
No physical newspapers; a tablet at the lobby offers free access to the digital newsstand PressReader.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 09:00 at reception with no fee. Late check-out until 12:00 costs €15.
Free baggage storage at reception on both check-in and check-out days.
Step-free access via a side ramp; lift to all floors; room doors standard width – may not suit large wheelchairs.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is 'Parkhaus Köln-Chorweiler' on Pariser Platz, 5 min walk, €12 per night. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (Köln does not charge a city tax for business or tourist stays; no resort fee)
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit required; a €50 incidental hold on a credit or debit card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: St. Joseph (560 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Nathanaelkirche (867 m · ~11 min walk)
- Church: Lutherkirche Nippes (874 m · ~11 min walk)
- Church: Mariensaal (1.2 km · ~14 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Lohsepark — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Bunkermuseum RAW Nippes — 650 m · ~8 min walk
Alte Wursterei, disdance project — 801 m · ~10 min walk
Spielplatz Blücherpark IV/Am Sportplatz 1 — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 282 m · ~4 min walk
Germania Apotheke — 751 m · ~9 min walk
Almeida Supermercado — 849 m · ~11 min walk
Köln-Nippes — 193 m · ~2 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs inside banks or Sparkasse/Deutsche Bank branches for the best rates; avoid tourist exchange bureaux near the main station and airport as they charge poor rates and high fees.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in supermarkets, restaurants, and shops – contactless and mobile pay (Apple Pay/Google Pay) work in most terminals. Smaller bakeries/kiosks often prefer cash.
Round up the bill or leave 5-10% in restaurants – say 'stimmt so' to tip. Taxis: round up to the nearest euro or add 1-2€. Hotel staff: €1-2 per bag, €1-2 per night for housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Filter coffee or an espresso from a bakery or corner café: around €2-2.50.
Döner kebab or pizza slice from a takeaway: €5-7. Supermarket salad/baguette: €4-5.
Pasta or schnitzel at a budget-friendly restaurant: €9-13 for a main.
The area around Neumarkt/Zülpicher Platz has cheap döner, currywurst, and falafel stands; also the weekly market at Aachener Weiher (Sat 9-2) for fresh, affordable eats.
Aldi, Lidl, Netto, and Rewe – all within walking distance or a short tram ride.
C&A and H&M at Schildergasse; also the flea market at Aachener Weiher (Sat) for budget second-hand finds.
Single trip €3.10 (short hop €2.10) or a day ticket KVB €8.60 for zones 1b/1c covering the city centre and airport. From the airport take the S-Bahn S13 or S19 to Köln Hbf – around €3.10 single.
Buy a Kölner Tageskarte if you plan multiple trips; bring a reusable water bottle – tap water is safe and free. Eat at the self-service counters at Rewe or Aldi for a cheap lunch.
Good to know — Köln
Type C/F · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
KölnFor non-urgent police matters in Köln, dial 0221 2290. For medical advice outside emergencies, call 116117. The European emergency number 112 works for ambulance and fire across Germany.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Köln, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Shiva´s CitySleep
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 282 m · ~4 min walk — pharmacy · Germania Apotheke — 751 m · ~9 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN) – Hauptbahnhof (Hbf) → Köln Hauptbahnhof + Tram 5
💡 From Hbf, take tram 5 (direction Butzweilerhof) 2 stops to 'Ebertplatz' – hotel is a 2-min walk north. Single ticket covers both legs.
Neumarkt (lines 1, 3, 4, 7, 9) → Hotel Chelsea (stop: 'Ebertplatz' – tram 5 only)
💡 Buy a 24-hour 'KölnTicket' (8.30 €) if you’ll use trams all day – covers all zones within city limits. Hotel is 2 min north of Ebertplatz stop.
Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) → Köln Hbf (main train station)
💡 Buy a Kurzstrecke ticket if only going to the city centre (zone 1b).
Köln Hbf (Breslauer Platz stop) → Severinstraße (direct stop at hotel)
💡 This bus runs along the Ring — quicker than tram if traffic is light but avoid peak hours.
Köln Hbf (Breslauer Platz/Hauptbahnhof stop) → Severinstraße (stop on Severinstraße, 5 min walk to hotel)
💡 Tickets are validated on platform — stamp before boarding. Day pass saves money if taking multiple trips.
Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN) – Arrivals → Hotel Chelsea, Jülicher Straße 1–7
💡 Fixed fare to city centre? Ask driver for 'Festpreis Köln Innenstadt' – usually 30–35 €. No extra charge for luggage.
Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) → Accent Severin Hotel, Severinstraße 199
💡 Use the mytaxi app for a fixed quote. Avoid unofficial drivers in arrivals hall.
Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN) Terminal 1 → Hotel Chelsea (direct stop: 'Neumarkt')
💡 Buy ticket at KVB machine before boarding – cash or card. Neumarkt stop is a 5-min walk east to Hotel Chelsea along Ehrenstraße.
Breslauer Platz/Heumarkt (Köln Hbf area) → Hotel Mado (stop: Breslauer Platz/Hbf)
💡 Hotel Mado is steps from Breslauer Platz tram stop. Buy a 24-hour ticket (€7.50) if planning more than 3 trips that day.
Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) → Köln Messe/Deutz or Köln Hauptbahnhof
💡 Buy a ticket from the machine at platform 1 before boarding. Validate it with the blue stamp. Change to tram line 3 or 4 at Heumarkt for Hotel Mado (stop: Breslauer Platz/Hbf).
Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) → Hotel Mado, Köln
💡 Taxis queue outside arrivals; avoid unofficial drivers. For a fixed price, pre-book via Taxi Köln app.
Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) → Köln Breslauer Platz/Hbf
💡 This bus runs direct to the station, then it's a 5-minute walk to Hotel Mado. Less frequent on Sundays.
About Köln
Wikipedia ↗
Cologne ( kə-LOHN; German: Köln [kœln] ; Kölsch: Kölle [ˈkœ̂lə] ) is the fourth-most populous city of Germany and the largest city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and over 3.1 million people in the Cologne Bonn urban region. Colog...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Shiva´s CitySleep?
Request a room on floors 2 to 4 facing the rear courtyard. These upper floors avoid ground-level street noise from Geldernstraße while overlooking the quieter inner block.
Which rooms should I avoid at Shiva´s CitySleep?
Avoid ground-floor rooms at the front (street side), as Geldernstraße is a main road with tram lines and traffic. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft on any floor—lifts in budget 3-star hotels often generate clanking sounds.
Is Shiva´s CitySleep noisy?
Geldernstraße at No.22 is on a primary road with tram tracks (lines 12, 15). Early morning trams start around 5am. The hotel's position near the intersection with Longericher Straße means occasional late-night traffic from local bars.
Which rooms have the best views at Shiva´s CitySleep?
Front-facing rooms (odd-numbered) look onto Geldernstraße's residential street with tramline details, but are noisy. Rear-facing rooms see a typical Cologne courtyard with trees and shared gardens—calmer and more private.
What are insider tips for staying at Shiva´s CitySleep?
1) Request a 'quiet room at the back' at check-in—this is standard for 3-star hotels in Cologne and staff can usually oblige. 2) If driving, note that Geldernstraße has limited on-street parking; ask about nearby public car parks (e.g., Tiefgarage Neusser Straße) to avoid fines.
What time is check-in at Shiva´s CitySleep?
Check-in at Shiva´s CitySleep is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Shiva´s CitySleep have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi for all guests; speed sufficient for streaming and video calls (approx. 30 Mbps down); no login constraints – password at check-in.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Shiva´s CitySleep?
None (Köln does not charge a city tax for business or tourist stays; no resort fee)
Where can I eat cheaply near Shiva´s CitySleep?
Döner kebab or pizza slice from a takeaway: €5-7. Supermarket salad/baguette: €4-5.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Shiva´s CitySleep?
Single trip €3.10 (short hop €2.10) or a day ticket KVB €8.60 for zones 1b/1c covering the city centre and airport. From the airport take the S-Bahn S13 or S19 to Köln Hbf – around €3.10 single.
When is the best time to visit Köln?
May and September for warm afternoons (18-22°C), light crowds and no major festivals blocking streets.
Top Attractions in Köln
💡 Free entry on first Thursday of each month. Check the Roman harbour remains outside the museum—they're always accessible.
💡 Free entry is limited to certain days—check the museum website for current free days (often first Thursday). Otherwise €9. Allow 1 hour.
💡 Look for the tiny figures hidden in the details. Best visited late evening when the square is quiet and lit.
💡 Hit the free Thursday evening slot – it's less crowded than Sunday and you can see the Pop Art collection properly. Check for temporary exhibitions that may have a fee.
💡 Free entry for under-18s. Free on first Thursday of the month after 5pm. Otherwise, €9 standard (or ask about the KölnTicket which covers multiple museums).
💡 Go on a Saturday morning when the farmers' market is busiest – you can sample fresh produce for free. The Rathaus tower tour costs a few euros but the courtyard is free.
💡 The best free view of the cathedral is from the Deutzer Brücke footpath just before the park. Bring a blanket and buy a beer from a kiosk; locals gather here on sunny evenings.
💡 Go early at 8am to avoid crowds. The treasury (paid) has medieval relics worth seeing if you have time.