Hi,

Im moving to Germany soon to work with GKN in Lohmar. Its pretty much between Bonn and Cologne and I was wondering where would be better to live? Is the traffic terrible around Cologne on the A3 or would it be Ok cause I'd be going against it? Are these cities car friendly?I want to live in a good city that has good nightlife/places to eat etc...

Any advice you have is much appreciated- by the way i have not a word of German :-/

Ta

Good nightlife = Cologne. Bonn is a nice little place but its nightlife doesn't extend much beyond the Irish pub.

No idea about driving; there's plenty of trains and buses and trams and U-Bahns and bike lanes etc etc.

cologne

The A3 can be a pig during the rush hour between Leverkusen and the A4 junction (Olpe/Köln) so as long as you don't join it at Mülheim or Delbrück you should be OK. On the way home due to the roadworks on the same stretch it can be quite slow, but it is still not too bad.

I lived in Bonn for six months as part of my year abroad for uni and I thought it was fab! It's small and friendly with a lovely Innenstadt (town centre) but I always went into Cologne for the nightlife - train connections between the two are good even at 5am! However I now live in Cologne and it's probably definitely better for what you're looking for. You pretty much don't need a car to get around Cologne as the tram network (U-Bahn if it's underground, Strassenbahn if it's over ground!) is very extensive and in my opinion not too bad pricewise - in comparison with England that is! I also think accommodation is slightly cheaper in Cologne than in Bonn.

I hope this post isn't coming too late - I'm new to the forum and was just having a look around... Seriously though Cologne rocks, you'll love it! =)

Go with Cologne. Bonn is too sleepy.

Total no brainer.. Cologne of course.. Unless you're 84 and like a totally sleepy life... apols to my friends in Bonn

I agree with everyone, Cologne is the choice for night life, but the property rentals are more expensive. I live near Lohmar and I do go to Cologne regularly, it is not far at all

Have lived in both and like both but like Cologne far more.

ok great im gonna live in cologne! thanks for makin the decision easy- can anyone suggest a website for looking for an apartment in cologne please??? i have been using e-rent.de but i think its corporate lettings cause it seems quite expensive... ill be moving over at the end of March. any help is greatly appreciated!

lived in Bonn for 5 months, and now i live in Cologne

housing is more expensive in Bonn
u will get fed up with it after 1 month max. because its small place and has no nightlife activities, they all go to cologne for that.
u will see mostly old people.
people in Cologne are friendlier.

i would go for Cologne

for a long stay i would recommend immobilienscout, the most popular in germany

www.studenten-wg.de
www.wg-gesucht.de
www.immobilienscout.de (Markler Provision!!)
www.ohneprovision.de
www.wohnung-jetzt.de
www.immowelt.de
www.onlinemarkt-koeln.de
www.studenten-wohnung.de
www.wgfuerdich.de
www.wg-welt.de

enjoy

I've not been/lived in Bonn, but Cologne!

Worked in Bonn for three years and lived there for a short while. Now working and living in Cologne. For me there's no comparison - Cologne wins every time! Bonn is nice if you like a quiet life.

Bonn is a has-been city, chosen after WWII as the West German capital because it hadn't been "tainted." Köln is much more beautiful and interesting.