Fun activities for a teenager in Cologne

Hello again,

We are planning on moving to Köln and our 15-year-old is not at all happy about moving from Zurich, where we currently live. We have only just told her and she has yet to visit. Knowing the things she likes (multicultural places, hiphop, non-snobby people), I honestly think she would love it there. But she needs to give it a chance, which is hard since she is rebellious in general and especially about a move (even though she has not been very happy here). So, I need any tips and tricks and advice out there, please!! For example, if I bring her for a few days to visit Köln in a few weeks, where would be the cool and happening places to bring her? This would include places were young people go out, shopping for clothes, music scene, etc. (you know -- all those kinds of things that teenagers and students like!). ;-)

You could shop til you drop in Cologne! There are loads of shops in the centre and many are geared towards youngsters. She'll love it there even just for that. Don't know about the other stuff as I'm a bit too old to :-(

I've never met a teenager who looks forward to moving. I think the fear of being friendless in a strange place is just too much for them.

Our teenage babysitters always go to Köln to shop. Get off the tram at Neumarkt and walk towards the Hauptbahnhof.

The English shop next to Kaufhof has a noticeboard with some useful local expat contacts.

Don`t worry. This city really lives and your daughter will find out soon and meet nice people. For the beginning you should just stroll with her around the rhine and the old part on the city. On a nice day there will already be so many young people and skaters right close to the cathedral (Dom). And then you can go to the chocolate or the sports and olympic museum. Both of them just at the rhine very close to Heumarkt. They are very nice and modern and I think, interesting for people of all ages. There are also many sport facilities in Cologne, many pools, many big events. Enjoy your time...

And I forgot: Visit: www.koeln.de
Perhaps it might help you...

Depending on what music she likes there are always loads of English bands coming over to play in Köln or Düsseldorf. I live in Düss but regularly travel to Köln for gigs...infact I am going there tonight!
www.eventim.de has ticket listings.
Shopping is good in Köln too, however I tend to stay in Düss only because my friends are here. Hope that helped a bit?!

Are you going to see The Shins at the LMH tonight?

Thanks everyone! She loves hiphop and Latin music and is definitely NOT into skaters... Before we moved to Switzerland, she was into so many different things, especially learning about other cultures and art. But then adolescence combined with a move to a conservative (especially compared to the very open-minded city we come from originally) and not particularly welcoming place changed her dramatically... I am hoping that a move to a more laid-back and "colorful" city will reawaken some of those very cool things inside her!

No I saw MCR at the Palladium...