Cologne Pub Crawl Review: Free Shots & Insider Guide

Cologne, very know for its amazing cathedral and relaxed vibe, it too almost seems to have a nightlife scene that could be just what you’re after. A pub crawl is arguably a great way to get to experience it. That being said, it is, perhaps, very tricky to decide which one provides an actually good time and offers your money’s worth. I went on a Cologne Private Pub Crawl with Insider Guide and Free Shots, and that I thought I’d give a completely honest review.

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First Impressions and Booking

Booking the tour was actually easy enough via one of the several popular tour websites. The listing, I’d say, was simple and clearly stated exactly what you would expect: a guided tour of local places in Cologne, some shots, and maybe even a local to show you around. There were options available to select the date, the size of the group and a choice to make it specifically private to the group, too. So it would, maybe, suit couples, a small group of friends, or maybe even colleagues wanting a relaxed time out of the office. Communicating with the organizers apparently didn’t pose any difficulty; responses were usually very prompt and helpful. Instructions on where exactly to meet were seemingly precise. Meeting location? That, I think, was easily found as the location was very central. It was, you know, outside a rather impressive building – easy to locate.

The Guide and Group Dynamic

Our guide, actually, was an energetic local who seemed to just love Cologne’s nightlife. Right from the very start, you could say that he was enthusiastic about showing us about, which immediately sets a nice tone for the evening. In our group there seemed to be a pretty good mix of people, mostly travellers, a few expats, as well as others new to the town. He took time, in a way, to actually make sure that people got introduced and were chatting. He actually made efforts so that people bonded with each other, too. He had an ability, seemingly, to create quite an inviting, inclusive group atmosphere.

The Pubs and Atmosphere

The crawl, arguably, included a good selection of places, from local haunts seemingly overflowing with personality to modern, chic bars. You’ll, you know, go to pubs that a tourist just doesn’t ever know existed. The first spot apparently had an easygoing atmosphere and we were seemingly all trying different sorts of local beers, actually. We all got a free shot. Each spot, it seemed, gave its own sort of vibe, and you could find the atmosphere in each totally different. Something, that is, to satisfy any preference, apparently. So, in some respects, the guide knew what he was doing and had an apparent ability to adjust the plans around our groups liking. Apparently a certain charm about the tour came with wandering Cologne’s charming streets from pub to pub, getting to feel a great impression about the city.

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Drinks and Free Shots

The “free shots” part? I think, very much part of the appeal for this crawl, yet in actual fact is a very relative idea. Some of the beverages which were provided at no cost could, just a little, be described as “questionable.” Of course, maybe that’s seemingly part of the enjoyment, getting a chance to try weird drinks, you might just think you will never try otherwise! However, it may depend if something like that sounds appealing. Regardless, a round seemingly will not be missed during the whole night!

Value for Money

As to the price, so I think this experience is quite a reasonable deal for what it comes with. Considering a guided tour, a handful of complimentary drinks and entry to several pubs; you’re arguably getting quite a lot of value. I also, I feel, gained experience through seeing parts of the city which I didn’t know – so more value added. Especially in case that you’re travelling on your own or are new to Cologne, that it just might actually be worth your investment in time and money as an introduction. You may think its a brilliant start to a extended period of time exploring.