Photos: Dronepicr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 Dietmar Rabich, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: Dronepicr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 Dietmar Rabich, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kölsch and the old brewery taverns
Your local guide
Bettina Wirtz
View profile
Highlights
- A Köbes waiter's rounds, tray and tally
- Halve Hahn and Himmel un Ääd, explained
- Four Brauhaus taverns in the old town
- The Kölsch Convention, why it is brewed only here
- A few Cologne sayings worth remembering
About this tour
This session moves through Brauhaus taverns in Cologne's old town, following a Köbes waiter's rounds of small Kölsch glasses and the dishes with names that confuse most first-time visitors. The camera watches how the taverns actually run rather than just the drink itself. The guide explains the Kölsch Convention and a handful of local sayings along the way.
The call opens with a short sound check, then moves tavern to tavern as the evening goes on, with room for questions about anything unfamiliar on screen. A short list of the taverns and the dishes mentioned arrives by message once the call ends.
This suits anyone curious about Cologne's own beer culture and how it differs from the rest of Germany, whether planning a visit or simply interested from a distance. It also works for a relaxed evening watching someone else navigate the tally system.
Included
- Live video session with a local guide
- A close look at the dishes and where locals buy them
- A short list of places and dishes to try later
Not included
- Food and drinks shown on camera
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
-
Welcome and sound check 7 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Cologne before heading out.
-
Brauhaus tavern and the Köbes 21 min
Inside the first of four Brauhaus taverns, the camera follows a Köbes waiter carrying a tray of small Kölsch glasses, and the guide explains how he marks each round with a pencil line on a beer mat.
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Halve Hahn and Himmel un Ääd 21 min
At a second tavern, dishes with names that confuse most visitors sit on nearby tables, Halve Hahn and Himmel un Ääd among them, and the guide explains what is actually in each one.
-
Old town street 21 min
Back out on the old town street, the guide explains the Kölsch Convention, the local agreement that keeps Kölsch a beer brewed only within Cologne, and passes on a few Cologne sayings worth remembering.
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Your questions 14 min
Time to ask anything about Cologne: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 6 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Kölsch beer and Altstadt, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Berlin time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 12 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Cologne, showing you Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) and Hohenzollern Bridge live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk Cologne live with my phone and you ask anything as we go.
Times shown in Berlin time (CET)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Next: Wed 28 Oct · 12 seats left From 29,00 €
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