Indeed, the city at the river Rhine has been one of the most prominent German music cities since decades. Its music scene is massive, offering more live venues and record stores than you can shake a stick at.
Fancy a souvenir to take back home with you? Why don't gift yourself with some favourite new records. These are the best stores in the heart of Cologne. Perfect tour when combined with a little sightseeing just before heading to a live concert in the evening.
Read MoreLanxess Arena is the biggest venue in the city of Cologne when it comes to the major names in music business. Numerous big players from Rock and Pop have graced this stage in recent years.
Read More
If you are into tunes ranging from Indie and Alternative to Punk, Rock and Grunge - head to this charming bar in Cologne. Stereo Wonderland is for music lovers instead of hipsters.
Read More
subTOURING isn’t about mainstream sightseeing. It is travelling inspired by music. A hand-picked guide from passionate music lovers for enthusiasts of Rock, Indie, Metal, and Punk tunes. Offering a unique music travel experience in Cologne.
Get your authentic music experience in and around Cologne.
EXPLORE THE MUSIC MAPS
Up for a weekend trip with concert in Cologne? Check out the venue city guides focussing on before and after the concert. Get our best tips for accommodation and day activities including record stores as well as bars and restaurants.
Get the most music out of your trip. Hit the road. Follow your band.
GET YOUR GUIDESightseeing inspired by music
In Cologne, be prepared to be spoiled for the choice of live music nights. With small and intimate venues along with huge locations placed within throwing distance of each other, this city’s music scene welcomes the big names as well as newcomers. Be also thrilled by the amount of independent record stores in the heart of this vibrant city.
Explore hidden music gems when on tour. Discover music stories beyond the common sightseeing spots. Where history of Rock is revealed and brought to life again.
Fancy a souvenir to take back home with you? Why don't gift yourself with some favourite new records. These are the best stores in the heart of Cologne. Perfect tour when combined with a little sightseeing just before heading to a live concert in the evening.
EXPLOREGet your authentic music experience
Cologne is one of the major cities in Germany when it comes to huge concerts as well as intimate venues. The pulsing live music scene attracts not only world-class stars, but also creates an atmosphere for supporting newcomers.
Check out the venue and festival guide below to get our best tips for accomodation, day activities as well as bars and restaurants before and after the gig.
Get your authentic music experience in and around Cologne with subTOURING.
Use the map to discover the venues in Cologne with surrounding places to enjoy before and after the gig.
Music may not be on top of your list when visiting Cologne. Nevertheless, it plays an important role in the city at the river Rhine.
To see world-class performers, head to Lanxess Arena. For more intimate evenings, Palladium offers small but yet incomparable live acts. If you’re up for a giant outdoor Rock festival, why not spend one weekend in early summer at Rock am Ring Festival nearby.
For more live music experiences, explore our full list of venues and festivals.s
Blending Jazz, Blues, Pop & Rock
Around the 1920s, the Jazz style, which originated from the US southern states and afterwards blending with European music, found its way into the cathedral city.
An important figure in the Cologne history of Jazz in the Rhine city was Gigi Campi who brought numerous big players of the time such as Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, or Dizzy Gillespie to town in the 50s. Especially Cool Jazz was popular in Europe at this time.
Cologne is also rich of elements in Pop, Indie and Rock music history. Many national and international music labels ensure an international exchange of artists and fans. This also applies to developments in local music sung in dialect.
Seeing bands perform before they hit the big stages. Experience authentic live music in intimate venues. Meeting other fans. Being close to the artists. Music clubs are the perfect location for all that. Ever since, Cologne has offered a huge club scene consisting of most diverse, independent places playing any musical genre you can imagine. A scene also highly appreciated on an international basis. Even awarded several times. In some of the venues, music history has been written.
Be taken on a musical bus tour through Cologne with live music examples: try MusikKulTours to learn interesting facts about local music history as well as the respective places in the city. Or check out the sound and walks of #urbanana with interesting stories and facts around Cologne Pop and Rock history.
