The carnival season is finally approaching – on November 11, Cologne will once again be transformed into the most colorful city in Germany. From morning until late at night, you can celebrate the start of carnival almost everywhere. We have listed the best parties in the city for you. But the organization also has to be right on the eleventh in eleven so that we can celebrate without worries. The city has put some restrictions in place for the carnival.
This is how the KVB trains run during carnival
While the major renovation work at Cologne Central Station from November 14 is already bringing us some – too many – restrictions, there will also be changes on 11.11. The KVB streetcars will be running differently to mark the start of the season.
- Line 5: The biggest restrictions will be at Heumarkt and Alter Markt. The “Rathaus” stop will no longer be served from 7 a.m.; instead, the streetcars will run without intermediate stops.
- Due to the closure of Zülpicher Straße, line 9 will be diverted in both directions via Aachener Straße and the Gürtel route until around 6 a.m. the following day.
diverted. - Lines 12 and 15 will not stop at the “Zülpicher Platz” stop from around 9 a.m. until the end of service
- Lines 16 and 17 will run to the “Ubierring” stop and back after 10 a.m. until the end of service
- From 8.30 a.m. until the end of service, the streetcars on line 18 will run separately between the “Barbarossaplatz” and “Weißhausstraße” stops. A shuttle bus service will be set up between the “Weißhausstraße” and “Ulrepforte” stops.
- An additional platform will be set up at the “Barbarossaplatz” stop for trains on lines 16 and 18.
These streets will be closed
Zülpicher Straße is a party magnet on 11.11. So there are also some restrictions for the carnival: access is only possible at two points: at the university canteen and at the corner of Roonstraße and Beethovenstraße. It is important to know that both entrances are only open as long as Zülpicher Straße is not overcrowded. Otherwise you will be directed to the Uni-Wiese . From Roonstraße, take Lindenstraße and Bachemer Straße in the direction of Uni-Wiese.
Special entrances are provided for residents, tradespeople and their employees. This also applies to guests of closed parties in the pubs and bars if they present their admission ticket. If you are throwing a private party on Zülpicher Straße, you should pick up your guests at one of the entry points – you will need to show your ID card to prove that you really live there.
As the official session opening takes place at Alter Markt and Heumarkt, Deutzer Brücke towards the city center as well as Augustinerstraße and Markmannsgasse will also be closed to traffic from 6 am to 10 pm. However, you can reach the Old Town on foot via the Hohenzollern Bridge.
Closure of other streets and road sections:
- Am Hof between Kurt-Hackenberg-Platz and Unter Goldschmied
- Am Domhof from the direction of Trankgasse
- Bechergasse in the direction of Alter Markt
- Unter Goldschmied between Kleine Budengasse and Am Hof
- Kleine Budengasse
- Obenmarspforten between Quatermarkt and Martinstraße
- Große Sandkaul from the direction of Cäcilienstraße
- Quatermarkt from the direction of Gürzenichstraße.
Glass ban at the start of carnival
Other restrictions for the carnival include a ban on glass. You are allowed to bring food and drinks to Zülpicher Straße, but glass bottles and glasses are prohibited. This ban on glass at carnival applies in the Old Town, the Zülpicher Viertel and the Severinsviertel. However, PET bottles, plastic cups and beer cans may be used.
The ban applies from November 11 (from 8 a.m.) to November 12 (8 a.m.). Stalls and snack bars in the restricted zone are also not allowed to sell drinks in glasses. Before entering the glass-free zones, you can dispose of anything made of glass in garbage cans. Incidentally, the glass ban is monitored by the police and public order office. And it’s not only worth sticking to it for your own safety, but also for your wallet: anyone who brings glass into the restricted zones faces a fine of up to 60 euros.