If you’re an avid gamer looking for somewhere to visit, or a parent who struggles to find holiday destinations that your moody teenage children will enjoy, then you may want to book a break to the beautiful German city of Cologne.
Cologne is famous for its stunning architecture, particularly its imposing cathedral that’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Standing at an impressive 157.2 metres (516ft), Cologne’s magnificent Gothic cathedral is the biggest cathedral in the world and the third biggest church, behind only Ulm Minster and Basilica of Our Lady of Peace.
Cologne is also host to Gamescom, which is the world’s biggest video game expo, attracting hundreds of thousands of gaming fans every August.
This year’s Gamescom event is happening right as we speak, but the event will be back in 2026, no doubt with even more exhibits and games to sample. We’ll update this article with a link when next year’s dates are announced and tickets go on sale.
Companies like Xbox and Nintendo are mainstays at Gamescom, alongside big publishers like SEGA, Bethesda, Bandai Namco and Capcom. This means you can play demos of new and upcoming PlayStation, Xbox, PC and Nintendo Switch games before they are released.
There are also Cosplay competitions, special concerts and lots of other events taking place throughout the event, which runs from Wednesday to Sunday depending on your ticket type.
Day tickets cost around 30 Euros per person, although there are also weekend bundles, family tickets and even Superfan tickets with overnight camping.
As an added bonus, each Gamescom ticket comes with a travel pass for free access to public transport in the local area.
Children over the age of 12 are free to attend the event without adult supervision, which means parents can explore other parts of Cologne.
And whether it’s taking in the history, exploring the art scene or nightlife, there’s plenty of things to do in Cologne.
Cologne Cathedral is the obvious starting point, but it’s also worth checking out the historic Old Town area, not to mention the Botanical Garden and the Rheinhau Harbour.
There’s a Chocolate Museum for anybody with a sweet tooth, as well as Museum Ludwig, which boasts the biggest Pop Art collection outside of the USA, not to mention the world’s third-largest Picasso collection.
Football fans can potentially check out an FC Köln game, while the Stadtgarten hosts hundreds of concerts throughout the year.