Disabled Access in Cologne by RhineRoll
Disabled visitors to Cologne should be warned that this city, given its size and importance, is surprisingly poorly prepaired for people with disabilities. A big annoyance also to the local disabled community is the greatly restricted access to the public transport system. Especially tram and subway stations are predominantly INACCESSIBLE, even the important hubs in the inner city. Apart from the f....ing transport system, it is a relatively safe assumption that recently constructed buildings are more or less accessible.Here's a list of accessible places in Cologne (from the top of my head):
1. Frueh Brewery House
-- fully accessible, though often very crowded
2. Koelnarena
-- decent disabled access if car park is used (free for blue badge holders)
3. Stadtgarten Concert Venue and Bar
-- ramped access to bar and concert hall -- I don't know if they also have an accessible loo. The bar seems to be a good place to hang out
4. Cinedom (Multiplex Cinema)
-- relatively good access to most of the cinemas. When I go to the movies, I nearly always go here. Parking is in a huge subterranean car park with different sections, some of which close at 10 PM. Make sure you're not using one of these!!!
5. Cafe Maybach
-- in Maybach Street, close to the Cinedom. Disabled loo available, nice beer garden, but an annoyingly posh place, very untypical for Cologne. Overpriced Food.
6. Deutz Youth Hostel
-- just reopened, serveral accessible rooms available
7. Stollwerck Chocolate Museum/Sports Museum
-- with special thanks to Orlikins :-) -- New and very interesting museums right next to the Rhine river. Parking is a bit of a problem, but that's true for many places in Cologne-- The Capercaillie Concert at Cologne Stadtgarten -- too bad they rarely play in Germany!!!
-- drinking a hot pot of Coffee at Frueh's Brewery House during near blizzard conditions in the streets (December 2003)
