Cologne is upside down: CSD weekend brings massive road closures!

Cologne is upside down: CSD weekend brings massive road closures!

Something is happening in Cologne! On Sunday, July 6, 2025, the populous city will once again be the venue for the annual Christopher Street Day (CSD). This year's event has the motto "For Queer Rights - Many. Together. Strong!", and this not only attracts visitors from all over the region, but also results in some changes to traffic flow.

The CSD starts with a colorful parade that begins at 11:30 a.m. Preparations for this will begin on Friday, July 4th, with the first road closures lasting until Monday morning, July 7th. Gürzenichstrasse, Heumarkt, Alter Markt and the adjacent old town alleys are particularly affected. And that's just the beginning!

Details about the road closures

The closures will come into effect from 6am on Thursday, July 3rd. The following streets are specifically affected:

• Gürzenichstraße (zwischen Quatermarkt und Heumarkt)
• Heumarkt
• Alter Markt
• Pipinstraße (ab Elogiusplatz in Fahrtrichtung Deutzer Brücke)

What is particularly noteworthy is that the Deutzer Bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic from Saturday, July 5th, at 4 p.m. So if you are traveling by car, you should be prepared for detours that are well signposted and it is best to switch to public transport straight away. Because this weekend the old town will be completely inaccessible to vehicles over 10 meters long.

Traffic adjustments and recommendations

The journey to the Cologne Philharmonic and the old town should come from the north via Trankgasse, Am Domhof and Kurt-Hackenberg-Platz. If the streets are closed due to the high volume of traffic, access to the city center also remains blocked. A clear message: If you want to take part in the CSD, you should rely on public transport.

Visitors to the main train station also have to be prepared for the parade Sunday (July 6th), because from 1:30 p.m. it can only be reached via Breslauer Platz. During the parade, light rail traffic will also be increased, especially on line 1 between “Junkersdorf” and “Bahnhof Deutz/Messe”, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every 15 minutes.

And if you think that all this just brings chaos, you're wrong! Under the motto "For Queer Rights - Many. Together. Strong!" is not only celebrated, but also draws attention to important social issues. The Cologne Philharmonic does not miss the opportunity to support this spirit and encourage participation, as it emphasizes on its website Cologne Philharmonic.

Whether you come to celebrate or to support the queer community - the CSD in Cologne will be an event not to be missed. Don't forget to keep an eye on the closures and diversions that will come into force over the next few days; The first closure begins on Friday, July 4th, reports Express. Furthermore, Koeln.de provides information about the exact traffic disruptions and gives valuable tips on how to get there.

Here's to a colorful and varied weekend in Cologne, which not only gives the streets a bit of freedom, but also the hearts of all citizens!