Cologne Travel Forum

hi.my husband and i are visiting cologne in the 1st week of Feb.i would to know where we can find some cheap winter clothing.we r coming from south india where the climate is very hot and these clothes will not be useful for us in future.please help

In general, anywhere in the city centre, just walk along the maior shopping mall and look at the stores.

First week of February means, however, that you'll be there during carnival (are you going because of that?), which is an entirely different story. On Monday Feb 4 the whole city will close down and go crazy. Not sure about the other days.

If you have no problems with baggage allowances for your flights, you might check to see if there are online outlets for such clothing in your country. You will want to have warm, waterproof shoes, or boots, warm gloves, a woolen cap, possibly a scarf, a sweater or two, and a coat for both of you. You might be a bit chilly if you show up in Germany, and then try to shop. You definitely would over-pay if you purchased anything at the airport. Gary

I think that is a much, much better idea than trying desperately to find cheap clothing when you're freezing! At least get coat/hat/scarf/gloves/warm socks sorted before you arrive.

hehe, I sincerely hope you indeed will be here *for* Carneval!!! At any rate, expect some VERY STRANGE THINGS going on Monday and Tuesday and lots of ill tempered, hangovered people on wedesday LOL It's not such a good time for shopping but apart from Monday 4th shops and stores will generally be open. For emergency shopping when everything else is closed, do head for the central station (hauptbahnhof) -- the stores are bigger and more numerous than at the airport and prices are less abusive. Note: lots of ppl will be thinly clad in their costumes but usually they will be drunk and not feel the cold for the momemt -- hence the usual pattern is that ppl are drunk and absent from work from Monday-Wednesday and absent due to the flu/cold for the rest of the week... ;)

Have fun!
Win, fleeing to orderly Prussian Berlin during Carnival

thanks guys.we r indeed coming there for the carnival.heard its a must-see if u r around at that time of the year! the info is very helpful.....now i know wat to buy;)
also,we r planning to go to amsterdam on 5th....could u suggest the best way to get there.thanks again

best way should be a fast ICE train directly linking Cologne with Amsterdam. Check for times and fares at www.bahn.de

Do you have ebay in India? If so you may be able to buy cheaper clothing on there, you will need the coats and warm shoes before you arrive in Germany but I see your problem if you will never use the clothes again. Do you know anyone living in cooler areas of India who could lend you something? My German coat has travelled to Europe much more than I have, it gets loaned out all the time as such a warm coat is not necessary in Australia.
If you could read German you could buy something from Germany on their ebay. If all else fails take at least a warm jacket and head into the city of Cologne as soon as you arrive and buy warmer things as previous posters mentioned, C + A is a department store with less expensive clothes. The Airport and the trains wil be heated but once you venture outside you would be very cold. All shops and so on are also heated.