Please note, we will not be running trips to Cologne Carnival in 2010

• Click here for our 5 day/4 night itinerary

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

	IS IT OKAY IF I TRAVEL ALONE? Yes! Lots of our travellers travel alone, so don’t be afraid to turn up solo – you will certainly leave with a stack of new-found friends. We will match you up with other travellers on the trip so that you won’t get nabbed with that unwelcome, pesky ‘single-supplement’ to pay!
	what is the accommodation like? Our quality hostel is in the city centre so you will be right where the action is! All rooms have private en-suites. Breakfast is included and there is a guest kitchen, so that you can prepare some meals for yourself should you wish.
	ARE MEALS INCLUDED? Breakfast is included and then you can explore the variety of snack bars and restaurants in Cologne! See below for some info on the local foods.
	DOES GOBUS CHARGE A LOCAL PAYMENT? No.
	how much money should i budget for? €50-€60 per day - no less, a tight budget can easily blow-out in Germany!
	what shall i bring? Carnival in Cologne is above all a festival of fancy dress. There are no limits to the imagination. The motto is: the brighter the better. Carnival costumes don't have to be "elegant", the important thing is to show your good intentions and to feel comfortable. It gets chilly in February so wear something warm underneath. If you don't have time to get something before you go, you'll find costumes and make-up in many shops in the city centre.
	when & how should i book my cologne tour? As soon as possible! We have limited spaces on this trip so if you don’t want to miss out then get your name down and your seat secured!
	ARE MY FLiGHTS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE? No, but cheap flights from Europe can be found online and you can also get to the city by Eurostar

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

• VISA - Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada can stay in Germany for up to 90-days without a visa. South Africans must obtain a visa in advance.
• VOLTAGE - Standard voltage is 220V AC, 50 Hz. Sockets require European plug with a small diameter prong (two round pins). Pack a power adaptor.
• MONEY – Germany use the EURO
• TIME – Like most European countries Germany is 1 hour ahead of GMT
• HEALTH ADVICE – there are no recommended vaccinations for Germany.
• CLIMATE – Variable during Sept/Oct.
• FOOD - You certainly won’t go hungry in Cologne- breaded schnitzel burgers will feature heavily on all snack-bar menu’s, along with lots of other interesting choices such as rosti, dumplings, chicken, spiced sausage, spare ribs, pork & veal cutlets and mixed grills. Germany is a real meat-and-potato kind of country and lunch is the main meal of the day. There are some pretty unique local dishes including "Himmel un Ääd" which means "heaven and earth"  and is actually mashed potatoes with apple mash, blood sausage(!), onions and sometimes bacon. The people of Cologne love their "Rievkoche". Although available everywhere in Germany, this potato pancake smells and tastes by far the best in Cologne. Traditionally, it is enjoyed sweet with apple mash. Röggelchen is a special bread roll. Its dough is made of rye and it is eaten with cheese and mustard, known as "Halver Hahn".
  

ABOUT THE CARNIVAL

The Cologne carnival is a carnival that takes place every year in Cologne, Germany. Traditionally, the "fifth season" (carnival season) is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of November. The Carnival spirit is then temporarily suspended during the Advent and Christmas period, and picks up again in earnest in the New Year. The time of merrymaking in the streets is officially declared open at Alter Markt on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. Street carnival, a week-long street festival, also called "the crazy days", takes places between the Thursday (Women’s Carnival Day) before Rose Monday and ends on Ash Wednesday. The highlight of the carnival is Rosenmontag, which takes place on the Monday. The typical cry during the festival is "Kölle Alaaf!", a Kölsch phrase which can be roughly translated as "Long live Cologne!"

Every year there are 3 people (the Dreigestirn) who are granted the titles of Jungfrau, Prinz, and Bauer (virgin, prince and farmer), who pay a large sum of money for their privileges. The carnival prince is deemed to be the highest representative of the festivities, leading the main parades throughout the week. Traditionally, the Jungfrau is male.

The official carnival with its parades and stage shows (Sitzungen) is run by the Festkomitee Kölner Karneval (Cologne Carnival Celebration Committee), which was founded in 1823. Alongside there are many autonomous carnival events throughout the city's bars, clubs and local communities, including "Stunk-Sitzung", a leftist comedy show caricaturing official carnival Sitzungen in style and poking fun at both traditional, conservative carnival as well as local and national politics.

As there have been continuously more than one million spectators on the streets for the Rose Monday parade every year Cologne carnival is one of the largest street festivals in Europe.

SOUNDS GOOD?

Then click here for our 5 day/4 night itinerary