Living in Cologne

Cologne Pass

Cologne Pass

Explanation

The Köln-Pass is for people who have little money at their disposal. With the Köln-Pass you can get discounts on certain services or entrance fees in Cologne. In order to receive a Köln-Pass, you must fulfill certain requirements. For example, your main residence must be in Cologne. Some people have to apply for the Cologne Pass. And some people receive the Köln-Pass automatically.

You can read here whether you receive the pass automatically or have to apply for it: https://www.stadt-koeln.de/leben-in-koeln/soziales/koeln-pass/wer-bekommt-einen-koeln-pass

Do you want to apply for the Cologne Pass? There are three different ways to do this. You can send the application documents to the City of Cologne by post, fax or e-mail. You do not have to appear in person.

You can find all further information about the Cologne Pass and how to apply here: https://www.stadt-koeln.de/leben-in-koeln/soziales/koeln-pass/index.html

Out and about in Cologne by public transport

Out and about in Cologne by public transport

Explanation

The buses and streetcars in Cologne belong to the Kölner Verkehrs Betriebe. The abbreviation for this is KVB. You can buy tickets for a journey at various locations. For example, at the ticket machines on the bus, on the train or at many stops and in the KVB app.

The bus stops are generally wheelchair-accessible. At some stops, the next buses arriving are indicated by an electronic display.
There is a button on these displays. If you press this button, the next arriving buses will be announced acoustically.
At some bus stops there are only analog departure schedules. There are no acoustic announcements there either. Unfortunately, there is no overview of which bus stops have acoustic announcements and which do not.

KVB buses are wheelchair accessible. To be able to board a bus with a wheelchair, you should give the bus driver a sign when you arrive. There is a ramp at the second bus door. The ramp is unfolded by the bus staff or other people to allow access.
When the destination stop is announced, the button with the wheelchair symbol should be pressed on the bus. This lets the bus driver know that you want to get off at the next stop and that they need to unfold the ramp.

Not all buses announce the stops automatically. Do you need an acoustic announcement? Then let the bus driver know when you get on. And choose one of the front seats. The bus driver will then let you know when you need to get off.

Not all light rail stops are wheelchair-accessible. Some streetcars can only be reached via stairs and some underground stops do not have an elevator. There is a special route network map that shows all barrier-free stops. The map is called: Tours without stairs. It can be viewed on the KVB website and the KVB app. Or you can get it in paper form at one of the KVB customer centers.

Sometimes the elevators leading to the subways are out of service. You can check in the KVB app and on the KVB website: Is the elevator you want to use working? https://www.kvb.koeln/fahrtinfo/betriebslage/aufzuege/

At all light rail stops there are acoustic announcements of arriving trains. This happens automatically at the subway stops. There are buttons at the above-ground stops. Press the buttons. You will then be informed of the arriving trains.

Some elevators have tactile buttons. And there is usually an acoustic floor announcement if the technology in the elevator is not outdated.

There are display boards at all light rail stops that provide information about arriving trains.

The next stop is announced acoustically in all light rail vehicles.

Information about the next stop is also provided on display boards in the train.

All KVB information on accessibility can be found here: https://www.kvb.koeln/service/barrierefreiheit.html#ohnetreppen

Carnival

Carnival

Explanation

Carnival in Cologne is also known as the fifth season. This time is very important in Cologne. It begins every November 11 at 11:11 am and ends on Ash Wednesday. The most important holidays of the Cologne carnival are November 11 and the carnival week, which begins on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, the so-called Weiberfastnacht, culminates on Rosenmontag and ends on Veilchendienstag. So that everything is over on Ash Wednesday. On these days, carnival is celebrated in pubs and on the streets all over the city. Everywhere you go, you see people dressed up, greeting each other with “Kölle Alaaf” and giving each other “Bützchen”. “Kölle Alaaf” replaces ‘Hallo’ during this time and means ‘Cologne above all’. “Bützchen” are kisses on the cheek with which the people of Cologne express their joy on these days. People sway to carnival music. Swaying means swaying back and forth in a group of people with arms hooked underneath each other to the rhythm of the music. Carnival music is often songs in the Cologne language that sing about the carnival or the city of Cologne. Well-known carnival bands are the Höhner (e.g. with their song Viva Colonia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bUMMAhYsk8), Brings (e.g. with their song Kölsche Jung https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bUMMAhYsk8) and Kasalla (e.g. with their song Alle Jläser Huh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S2QB1emWZo). On Rose Monday, a large carnival parade takes place in which many different groups walk through the city on a specific route and throw sweets, which they call Kamelle, and bouquets of flowers, which they call Strüssjer, around. The people of Cologne stand along the carnival procession and catch the sweets and bouquets to take them home with them. They are all dressed up and shout “Kölle Alaaf”.

Kölsch

Kölsch

Explanation

Kölsch is both a type of beer and the language of the people of Cologne.
Kölsch beer is traditionally drunk in a tall, narrow glass. The glass is called a Kölsch glass or Kölsch bar. The glass holds 0.2 liters.

The Kölsch language is a German dialect. It is mainly spoken in Cologne and the surrounding area. Most Cologne carnival songs are in the Kölsch language. You don’t have to learn the language, but sometimes it can be helpful to know a few Kölsch words.
So here is a selection of Cologne words and their translations:

KioskBüdchen
(City) districtVeedel
Beer waiterKöbes
Storytellingverzählen
Kiss, little kissBützje
A person who talks a lotSchwaatlappe
being on the road, travelingop Jöck
crazyjeck
Black puddingFlönz
a 10-liter Kölsch kegPittermännchen
People who were not
born in Cologne,
but now live in Cologne
Imi
Scaredy-catBangedresser
Person who is constantly in a bad moodDröövsack
Show-offStrunzbüggel
PukesKotzkümpsche
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