Altstadt

Cologne's Altstadt is the city distilled to its essence. The colossal Gothic cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, towers over a warren of cobbled lanes, colourful gabled houses and squares that have been the city's centre for two thousand years. The Rhine runs along its eastern edge, where the Rheingarten and the promenade draw walkers, and the redeveloped Rheinauhafen has added striking modern architecture, including the landmark Kranhauser crane buildings, just to the south. Life in the old town is social and immersive. Traditional brewhouses such as Frueh am Dom and Peters Brauhaus pour the local Koelsch, museums like the Romano-Germanic and Ludwig anchor the cultural scene, and the Hohe Strasse and Schildergasse rank among Germany's busiest shopping streets. The trade-off is constant footfall and tourist energy rather than residential calm. For buyers who want to be at the centre of everything, or investors eyeing strong short-let demand, the Altstadt offers an unrivalled and instantly recognisable Cologne address.

Altstadt in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany