Life in Düsseldorf and Cologne

I was just curious if anyone could shed light on what life is like in Düsseldorf or Cologne?

I've heard the people are generally friendlier, and more open, than the Hanseatics of Hamburg.

Any impressions, experiences, or insights would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Cologne is known as the gay hub of Germany ... sorry, that`s all I can add to this conversation!

Düsseldorf is great fun. The Altstadt is a fun place, and they drink no less beer there than in Munich, except it's that dark stuff that comes in an 0.2l glass, so you'll need about 30 of those. It's a bit of a schicki-micki place (e.g. Karl Lagerfeld, Claudia Schiffer are from the Düsseldorf scene), but people there are indeed friendly and funny, e.g. it's quite possible you'll be greeted with a joke or funny remark already when walking into a shop or gas station.

I used to live just over the river from Düsseldorf but spent most of my drinking time in either Düs or Köller. They are both great places to live but very different from one another.

Cologne is very scene-oriented. The pub scene is not really concentrated in one particular area but spread out over the whole city, each area being different to te next. Yes, Cologne has a very large gay community which influences many thigns in the city but this not everything. People are open and easier to get to know than here in Munich. In the summer months Cologne has an artificial beach by the river for sun-bathing and drinking the day away. The main drink in Cologne is Kölsch, which is served in 0,2l glasses which they keep coming till you stay stop. It just flows down your throat.

Düsseldorf's nightlife is really concentrated around the Altstadt with one pub or bar next to the other and the Imbisse squeezed inbetween. The range of fast foods available at night is far better than here in Munich. The town centre and the city residential areas are far dirtier than here and you see many more people begging with scraggy dog in tow. Düs, imho, is also a far bit un-safer at night than Munich. Shopping on the Kö is fantastic, this is where all the schicki micki promis also go. In the summer, drinking a beer on the promenade by the river is fantastic. And Düs is not all Altbier, although that is the traditional drink. You will see your fair share of Pils and in one or two bars also Kölsch but a real Düsseldorfer would never touch something from Cologne. McClaughlin's (sp?) is the Irish bar of choice in Düs.

For me Cologne is the best city in Germany for partying and having a goods time.

I would say the people are frendlier than in Munich and as stated before there are many different scenes.
I used to live in Sülz which is near to the university so there was a lot going on every night.
Although the nightlife is spread around the city. The actual area of the cioty is smaller than Munich so is quicker to get from one place to another.

I have been to Düsseldorf several times but always prefered Cologne. Irish bar of choice Jamesons!

Thanks for your thoughts guys.

I also got the feeling that Cologne (never been to Duesseldorf) is a lot more "multi culti" friendly than other parts of Germany.

I don't know why I feel this way. But it's just a feeling. Does that sound right to you guys?

Additionally, would you say Duesseldorf or Cologne has quite a bit of English-speaking people (whether Germans or foreigners)?

Yes Cologne is way more open to foreigners and different peoples of all types and there is a real blend of charachters from your traditional old colognes, your modern hip trendy people, to your small-brained car tuning obsessed proles and on and on.

There are loads of English speaking people in the area. And if you have the right connections you can shop in (or have the stuff bought for you) in the NAAFI in Rheindalen, if you ever need a taste of home that is.

Cologne has a good rugby club with loads of expats (and a baseball team if thats what you like. Düsseldorf has the Rhein Fire European NFL franchise as well).

Thanks Owain!

I can't wait to pay both cities a visit very soon.

For an original and great Düsseldorf Beer I recommend Uerige and Schumacher, and don´t lose your beer Deckel!

http://www.uerige.de/index.html
http://www.schumacher-alt.de

Can you guys recommend which neighborhood is fairly central (i.e. right near a tram or subway), has a lot of students about, and is lively at night with bars/pubs/clubs?

You'll find a lot of students in DUS-Bilk and there are quite a few bars/restaurants in the revamped harbour area.

There's a pretty good weekend jazz festival in Düsseldorf - this year 2-4th June. They also held an International Bocce competition when I was there. All in all with the "Längste Theka der Welt" it was a good cultural and drinking experience. Good airport connection too.

In Cologne the neighbourhood "Sülz" is one of the most popluar ones, cause it's central, hip and full of students as it's close to the Uni. Check Wohnen in Köln

hi just thought id add my thoughts on koln, i lived there for 2 years n loved it infact im back in the uk now n im longing to return.

the people i met in koln were friendly and interested in talking to us brits,had one bad experience where i got thrown out of a pub 4 bein english and got called a prostitute for havin painted nails but the rast of the time i found everbody really welcoming n you get bad people everywhere so it wouldnt put me off...

i loved the fact that i could walk into a bar on my own (bein female i wouldnt usually do this in the uk) n people would talk to me n b polite without hassalin me its a different lifestyle altogether!!!

Duesseldorf offers a lot as far as the nightlife goes. I've only been here a few months though. As far as other english speakers the only ones I've bumped into are bar people that I annoy every week or so.