Best of Cologne Pride 2025: Our favorite moments of the CSD in Köln
Karl Krause GERMANY: Colorful, political, emotional: Here’s our favorite moments from Cologne Pride 2025 (CSD Köln) including parade highlights, photos, and queer travel tips. The post Best of Cologne Pride 2025: Our favorite moments of the CSD in Köln appeared first on Gay Travel Blog - Couple of Men.
Mark
Cologne Pride is one of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations, taking place in 2025 from July 4 to 6 with the main Christopher Street Day (CSD) demonstration on Sunday, July 6. With over 1.1 million visitors, a powerful political message, and joyful queer celebration, the event transformed Cologne into a radiant, rainbow-colored queer hub of unity. As a gay couple of men, Cologne was always on our travel bucket list — welcoming, colorful, and fiercely political. This year’s motto, “Für Queerrechte – Viele. Gemeinsam. Stark!” (“For queer rights – Many. United. Strong!”), captured the spirit of the weekend perfectly. This Pride left us moved, energized, and deeply grateful. Here are our favorite moments from the Cologne Pride weekend in Germany – a celebration of queer life, love, and visibility.
– in partnership with the Cologne Tourist Board –
Cologne Pride 2025 quick facts
- Main demonstration (CSD demo): Sunday, July 6, 2025
- ColognePride Beach & Village: June 21 – July 6, 2025, at Elogiusplatz
- Cultural & Political Highlights:
- WeArtHere! Art Show (July 5)
- Lights Against Forgetting (July 5)
- Naughty Closing Party (July 6)
- Babylon Pool Party (July 7)
- Pride Street Festival: Friday, July 4 to Sunday, July 6, 2025
- Festival Opening Hours:
- Friday: 15:00–23:00
- Saturday: 11:00–23:00
- Sunday: 11:00–20:00
- Festival Opening Hours:
- Location: Cologne city center – Heumarkt, Alter Markt, Gürzenichstraße
- Theme/Motto: Für Queerrechte – Viele. Gemeinsam. Stark! (“For queer rights – Many. United. Strong!”)
- Expected Visitors: 1 to 1.5 million people
Recommended reading: A detailed look at LGBTQ+ Pride history
Advertisement
KLM Flight Offers
Fly with our partner airline, the gay-friendly KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and its partners Air France and Delta Air Lines in Economy, Premium Comfort and Business Class to LGBTQ+ welcoming destinations worldwide.
Why Cologne Pride is one of the most beloved LGBTQ+ events in Europe
There’s something uniquely powerful about Cologne Pride. Maybe it’s the way the city embraces diversity at every corner. Maybe it’s the mix of political determination and celebratory joy that pulses through the streets all weekend long. Or maybe it’s the way people from all walks of life come together to stand up for love, rights, and identity.
We’ve celebrated Pride in many cities around the world, but we’ve never attended Cologne Pride before. But as the biggest LGBTQ+ Pride event in Germany, it was naturally on our Pride bucket list. Cologne’s reputation as one of Germany’s most LGBTQ+ friendly cities is also reflected in its exceptionally diverse Pride program. The Pride Street Festival at Heumarkt and Alter Markt transforms the historic city center into a queer utopia. You’ll find LGBTQ+ organizations, live acts, drag performers, DJs, and community groups taking over the stage. The vibe is open, proud, and deeply rooted in activism.
This year’s event was also more inclusive than ever. With sign language interpretation at the main stage, barrier-free access, gender-neutral toilets, and designated youth and family zones near Gürzenichstraße, Cologne Pride 2025 sent a clear message: Pride is for everyone.
Beyond the music and glitter, CSD Köln is grounded in a history of protest. It’s a direct descendant of the Stonewall Riots, and every year, the organizers emphasize that visibility, political participation, and intersectionality still matter. It’s a celebration, yes. But it’s also a demand for dignity, safety, and equality for all queer lives.
Cologne Pride is about connection, while dancing at a Pride party, listening to a trans rights activist speak, or watching queer families celebrate freedom together. It’s a weekend where we feel seen, heard, and empowered to be our most whole selves.
Advertisement
Order our book now!
The perfect present to inspire (German-speaking) LGBTQ+ travelers and their allies to travel the world open-minded, respectfully, and with a happy heart.
Order our book online or purchase it in bookstores in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Highlights from the CSD Cologne Parade 2025
The heart of Cologne Pride is the Christopher Street Day demonstration. This year’s march, scheduled for Sunday, July 6, 2025, was nothing short of extraordinary. With over 1.5 million people lining the streets, the energy was overwhelmingly powerful from start to finish. We joined the demonstration at midday together with our friends Sion (he/him), the Globetrotterguy, and a lesbian couple, Cora (she/they) and Carina (she/her), surrounded by rainbow flags, political placards, and a sea of smiling faces.
The parade route stretched from the inner-city past Friesenplatz and Hohenzollernring to the iconic Dom and across the Deutzer Brücke. Marching alongside community groups, queer youth, drag queens, and queer parents with their kids, we felt the strength of solidarity. Every block seemed to host its celebration – a protest rave here, a spoken word performance there, spontaneous kisses everywhere.
Some floats blasted techno, while others stayed silent, focusing instead on visibility and human rights messaging. One of our favorite moments? A group of queer refugees dancing joyfully behind a float calling for asylum justice. Their presence was a powerful reminder of why Pride still matters.
From creative slogans like “No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us” to outfits that reimagined queer futurism, the diversity, and imagination on display was breathtaking. People of all ages and backgrounds came together to say: we are here, we are proud, and we won’t be silenced.
Gay Travel Guides 2025
Where to go on vacation this year? Is it safe to go there with my boyfriend? Or with my husband? Or with my rainbow family? These are just a few examples of questions we’re hearing from our readers, followers, friends and family members who are planning an LGBTQ+ and gay-friendly vacation in 2023.
The party side of Cologne Pride
Beyond the powerful parade and political messages, Cologne Pride 2025 offered a weekend-long street festival full of queer joy, community spirit, and unforgettable nightlife. From Friday to Sunday, the ColognePride Street Festival transformed Heumarkt, Alter Markt, and the surroundings into a celebration zone with three major stages.
The main stage on Heumarkt featured live acts, queer performers, speeches, and the official opening and closing ceremonies. Performers ranged from local queer talents to national stars and international allies, including DJs, drag artists, and singers who kept the crowd dancing late into the night.
Meanwhile, at the stage at Alter Markt, the atmophere is much more political. Voices of lesbian, queer-feminist, and FLINTA* folks were front and center – a safe, celebratory space that honored diverse expressions and intersectional identities. We especially loved how the atmosphere there felt simultaneously empowering and intimate, perfect for dancing and connecting.
The third stage at Gürzenichstraße created a vibrant open dance floor with non-stop DJ sets and community representation. Queer clubs, LGBTQ+ associations, and youth groups all had the chance to share space and sound, adding to the diversity of beats and vibes.
We wandered from stage to stage, trying local Kölsch beer, chatting with queer travelers, and dancing to bass-heavy beats under the rainbow-lit sky. The city itself felt transformed: colorful, electric, and unapologetically queer.
And of course, Cologne’s legendary nightlife scene didn’t disappoint. Many LGBTQ+ bars and clubs hosted their Pride parties – from rooftop drag shows to sweaty techno raves. Some of our favorite hangouts like ExCorner, Phoenix Sauna, and Bogen 2 were packed with Pride energy.
Gay Travel Index 2025
The Berlin-based Spartacus informs LGBTQ+ and queer travelers about how gay-friendly a holiday destination is according to several ranking factors and criteria.
Which country ranks first? Where is it safe to travel to as a gay and LGBTQ+ traveler?
You can use the GTI to prepare for your gaycation and as a guide when choosing a holiday destination.
Our favorite personal moments from CSD Köln 2025
We kicked off our Pride weekend on Friday by checking into our LGBTQ+ friendly hotel, the Koncept Hotel International. After a quick fresh-up, we were off to our first dinner at the Balinese restaurant Warung Bayu, where we joined our fellow LGBTQ+ traveler, Sion, and enjoyed a warm welcome from our hosts at VisitKöln.
Saturday started with culture and queer visibility. We visited the Galerie Biesenbach to explore LIFE SEX LOVE, a special Pride exhibition featuring queer contemporary art. Around midday, we wandered through the Belgian Quarter before joining the Warme Meilen Tour – a queer history walking tour that provided us with a new perspective on Cologne’s activist past and vibrant community landmarks.
On Saturday afternoon, we stepped away from the buzz of the street festival to check out one of this year’s most exciting additions: the ColognePride Beach & Village. Set up in the heart of Cologne at Elogiusplatz, this brand-new Pride Village ran for over two full weeks — from June 21 to July 6 — transforming an urban square into a relaxed, queer-friendly oasis.
We kicked back in lounge chairs under swaying pride flags, feet dipped in the cooling water basin, chilled drink in hand. Around us, people from all corners of the queer community relaxed, recharged, flirted, and chatted in the sand while soft Ibiza-style beats floated through the air. For us, it was the perfect contrast to the intensity of the parade and nightlife — a calm, sunny gathering space that felt both festive and inclusive.
That evening, we returned to the city’s FLINTA* scene for the WeArtHere! CSD Special at Comedia Theater – a live art and performance showcase centering queer voices of color. It was emotional, raw, and deeply inspiring. As midnight approached, we gathered at Heumarkt for one of the most touching moments of the weekend: the Lights Against Forgetting memorial. As candles were lit and music faded, the crowd stood in silence to honor those we’ve lost to HIV/AIDS. It was a reminder that Pride is joy and remembrance.
Sunday brought the main event – the CSD demo. But even after the sun set, the celebration wasn’t over. We ended our Pride weekend with dancing and connection at the Naughty Party at Club Nachtflug. This was a sweaty, glitter-drenched closing party that captured everything Cologne Pride stands for: love, freedom, and unapologetic queerness.
On Monday, we wrapped up our stay with a sunny visit to the Babylon Pool Party – a more relaxed day of lounging, swimming, and chatting with locals and other LGBTQ+ travelers. Pride may have officially ended, but the community spirit lingered. These personal moments – full of music, art, protest, and connection – made Cologne Pride 2025 one of our most meaningful Pride weekends yet.
Opening hours of the ColognePride Beach & Village:
- Monday to Thursday: 4 pm – 10 pm
- Friday & Saturday: 2 pm – midnight
- Sunday: 2 pm – 10 pm
Reading tip: International Press coverage Article
Gay Germany Travel Guide
Castles, sausages, beer, and, of course, cars. The Federal Republic of Germany, with its 16 federal states, can be considered the geographical center of Europe. According to the Spartacus Gay Travel Index, Germany ranks among the top LGBTQ+ welcoming countries in the world.
Tips for visiting Cologne Pride
Thinking about joining Cologne Pride in the future? Here are a few helpful tips based on our own experience:
- Plan more than just the parade: Cultural events like the WeArtHere! art show and walking tours such as the Warme Meilen queer history tour offer more profound insight into Cologne’s LGBTQ+ community.
- Don’t miss the evening memorials: The Lights Against Forgetting at Heumarkt is one of the most emotional moments of the weekend.
- End with a splash: Extend your trip with Monday’s Babylon Pool Party – a sunny, queer-friendly cooldown after the main weekend.
- Book early: Hotels in Cologne fill up quickly during Pride weekend. Hotels in the Altstadt and Ehrenfeld sell out quickly.
- Plan your transport: Use the KVB (local public transit) and walk when possible. The city center is very pedestrian-friendly. We used our Interrail ticket, which provided us with a convenient direct connection between Amsterdam and Cologne.
- Stay hydrated and wear sunscreen: You’ll be outside for hours, and summer sun can be intense.
- Pack glitter but don’t litter: Bring your reusable water bottle and biodegradable glitter if you’re dressing up.
- Respect everyone’s space: Cologne Pride is an inclusive, body-positive event, from twinks to bear, and all queer folks of our proud and colorful LGBTQ+ community. Embrace the surrounding diversity!
- Visit the ColognePride Beach & Village: It’s the perfect place for a chill break from the busy streets.
- Explore queer Cologne: Extend your stay and check out the city’s LGBTQ+ history, saunas, and nightlife.
More information about traveling in Cologne & Germany:
- LGBT Rights in Germany: Wikipedia
- Cologne Tourism Board: cologne-tourism.com/lgbtqia
- Tourism Germany: germany.travel
Interesting Posts for Your Pride Travels
- Read all about our Gay Pride Trips around the world >
- All about our Gay Travels around the world as an openly Gay Couple >
- Information tips for cruising experiences worldwide >
- List of some of the best gay saunas and bath houses in Europe >
- Reviews of Hotels around the globe: Gay-friendly tested Hotels >
Thank you, Cologne Pride 2025 – see you next year!
Cologne Pride 2025 reminded us once again why this city holds a special place in our hearts. From powerful protests to joyful kisses, sweaty dance floors to quiet river moments, it was a weekend made by and for the LGBTQ+ community that gave us hope, laughter, and the courage to keep going.
To everyone we met, danced with, hugged, kissed, photographed, and stood beside in the streets — thank you. We’ll be back in Cologne next year!
Karl & Daan.
Do you like it? Pin it!
Would you like to learn more about us gay travel bloggers and experience our queer adventures together with us? Then stay tuned and follow us on Facebook, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram! See you soon again in Scotland, Glasgow, or on one of our next Gay Pride trips worldwide!
The post Best of Cologne Pride 2025: Our favorite moments of the CSD in Köln appeared first on Gay Travel Blog - Couple of Men.
