Cologne's status quo as "center of Scene" in Germany has been lost when the government decided to move from nearby Bonn to Berlin, but, with the exception of mentioned new capital,  there´s still no doubt that it outguns every other city by lenghts. It even makes you wonder if there´s more gay people downtown than straights.

The most obvious points to start a night from are right downtown or nearby (10mins walk) Rudolfplatz (including legendary Schaafenstrasse). Especially Schaafestrasse queues up one venue next to another, and being extremely mainstream, you´ll find every category of person that left and burnt the closet years ago, and they come in all the different shapes and sizes the scene has to offer. Downtown, you´ll find three more quite interesting hot spots: „Alter Markt“, which is repleted with escort bars; „Pipinstrasse”, which is heaven for bearded guys and “Matthiasstrasse” for all the leather lovers, who enjoy enjoy whipping more when it´s not about baking.

The last real guy-only club, legendary „Lulu“, closed 15years ago leaving no successor. The “Venue” and “Clip” offer queer clubbing on most weekends. The “Exile” bar at Schaafenstrasse is probably the busiest place in town, leaving you with no space to even nod your head sometimes. Real estate does not come cheap in Cologne.
Anyways, there are still some real big events that attract international audience from all over the world on a regular basis, and should not be missed out on a real international gay clubbers schedule. You´ll find them right here, in your AboutAdam Event Atlas.

The biggest party in town happens every year in early July: The Cologne Pride attracts roundabout  a million visitors every year making it the Germany´s busiest “CSD” festival. (Probably the only one as well having it´s parade on a Sunday)  Carneval is, too, a huge gay-tourist magnet, thriving almost as much gay audience into town as the pride itself. Start is on the 11th Nov and it ends only 40days before Good Friday. If you´re in town by then, remember to greet “sisters” with “Kölle Aloha” and buddies with “Kölle Alaaf”.