Quick answerCologne is a city in Germany, with 1,025,523 people inside the city limits in 2025. The wider metropolitan area had about 8.7 million people in 2025. It is best known for the Cologne Cathedral, the Carnival and the Kölsch beer. Its official language is German, and its currency is the Euro.
Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany, with about 1.0 million people inside the city limits and about 8.7 million in the wider Rhineland metropolitan region (2025). It stands on the River Rhine in western Germany and is famous for its cathedral.
Key facts
| Country | Germany |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 1,025,523 (2025) |
| Population (metro) | 8,711,712 (2025) · Rhineland metropolitan region (Metropolregion Rheinland) |
| Elevation | 37 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Europe/Berlin |
| Language | German |
| Currency | Euro (EUR, €) |
| Coordinates | 50.9364° N, 6.9528° E |
Overview
Cologne stands on the River Rhine in western Germany, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. With 1,025,523 residents at the end of 2025, it is Germany's fourth-largest city, and the wider Rhineland metropolitan region holds 8,711,712 people. The city covers 405 square kilometres and is one of the oldest cities in Germany, founded by the Romans in the 1st century AD.
Cologne is best known for its cathedral, the Kölner Dom, a Gothic masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage site that took more than 600 years to complete. The city is also famous for its carnival, one of the largest street festivals in Europe, for its beer, Kölsch, served in small glasses, and for its Roman and medieval history. Cologne is a major media and trade-fair city and a transport hub on the Rhine.
What Cologne is known for
- Cologne Cathedral
- Carnival
- Kölsch beer
- Roman history
- Rhine promenade
Landmarks
- Cologne Cathedral
- Hohenzollern Bridge
- Old Town (Altstadt)
- Roman-Germanic Museum
- Cologne Chocolate Museum
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Cologne?
Cologne had 1,025,523 residents inside the city limits at the end of 2025, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), making it the fourth-largest city in Germany. The wider Rhineland metropolitan region had 8,711,712 people. The city covers 405 square kilometres on the River Rhine.
Where is Cologne and what is it known for?
Cologne is in western Germany, on the River Rhine, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is known for its Gothic cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site, for its carnival, and for Kölsch, the pale beer served in small glasses. The city was founded by the Romans.
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Keep exploring
- Germany — the country Cologne is in
- Berlin — another city in Germany
- Hamburg — another city in Germany
- Munich — another city in Germany
- Albert Einstein — German science figure
- Ludwig van Beethoven — German music figure
- All cities in Germany
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.