Sehenswürdigkeiten in Köln

Gay attractions in Cologne take you to places that tell a lot about the city's queer history. On the banks of the Rhine near the Hohenzollern Bridge, the memorial for the gay and lesbian victims of National Socialism, often called the Pink Triangle Memorial, has stood since 1995. It commemorates the persecution of homosexuals during the Nazi era and is located in a prominent location directly on the water, with the cathedral in sight. If you want to delve deeper into history, the Center for Gay History, which has been working as an archive and research center of the gay movement in the Rhineland since 1984 and offers exhibitions and city tours, is the right place for you.

The actual center of today's scene can be explored on foot around Rudolfplatz and Schaafenstraße. History and the present are combined here in a small space. The highlight of the year is ColognePride: The big CSD parade starts in 2026 on Sunday, July 5, on the Deutzer Bridge and attracts several hundred thousand people every year. Cologne itself is also worth a visit, from the cathedral to the old town to the Rhine promenades. If you want to get to know the city off the beaten track, you will find your own approach through its queer history. The following places will take you to the most important stations.