Behind closed doors: Indoor action in Cologne

When the sky over Cologne is grey and wet or a long, empty Sunday afternoon stretches ahead, it’s time for some indoor entertainment. I checked out some of Cologne’s coolest places for it:

Surely all outdoor games work indoors too, right? Right, and crazy golf is no exception. But Glowing Rooms in Ehrenfeld go a step further: this is 3D crazy golf in the dark with UV lighting. And that’s an interesting experiment. For a full experience, players should wear 3D glasses (younger kids can go without). Slots at the Glowing Rooms MUST be booked online and tend to fill up fast, especially at the weekends. If you want to go as a family, make sure you read the relevant information on the website carefully.

Glowing Rooms Köln
Address: Venloer Straße 383, 50825 Cologne
Web: www.glowingrooms.com/koeln/en/

Jump until your legs give out – and do it at Jump House, the biggest trampoline centre in North Rhine-Westphalia. There’s a choice of 120 trampolines in various “action areas” for both kids and adults. Highlight: the Ninja Box, where you have to get from one end to another of various obstacle courses, Ninja Warrior-style. Jump House only opened a few months ago but is already a resounding success, at least in terms of booking figures: turning up on a weekend without a reservation is not advisable. Definitely book your trampolining slot online ahead of time!
One hour of open jumping is EUR 12,00,- (or EUR 18,00,- for 90 minutes), plus there’s a one-off charge for the socks you are required to wear on the trampolines.

Jump House Köln
Address: Köhlstraße 10, 50827 Cologne
Web: www.jumphouse.de/koeln

Laser tag is a trendy recreational sport from the US. Players carry infrared guns and move through darkened labyrinthine areas to hunt and tag fellow players by firing lasers at their sensor-equipped vests. The game requires tactical thinking, quick reactions and stamina. Depending on where the laser hits, players get points that are added up by a computer.
Again, be sure to book a slot well ahead of time on the centre’s website. A game lasts 20 minutes and costs from EUR 5,00,- per person. Flat rates are available for sessions after 8 pm on Sundays.

LaserTag Köln
Address: Wilhelm-Mauser-Straße 14–16, 50827 Cologne
Web: www.lasertag-deutschland.com/koeln

The weather is entirely irrelevant here: this 400-metre stretch of racetrack, Cologne’s longest karting circuit, never gets wet. Le Mans Karting in Ossendorf is a great place for adults and children wanting to put their foot to the floor. On Sundays and bank holidays, the track is reserved for training for kids aged seven and up; at any other time, a standard eight-minute session costs EUR 8,00,- per person, with books of ten tickets available for EUR 70,00,-. You can also rent the whole track by the hour.

Le Mans Karting
Address: Köhlstraße 37, 50827 Cologne
Web: www.le-mans-karting.de

A bowling session is a fun way to while away the hours. West Bowling Köln in Ehrenfeld is perfect for a family afternoon or an evening session with friends. The centre’s 20 lanes accommodate up to eight players each. Families can book a family package or even a flat rate on Sundays after midday. There’s an online booking facility; however, be sure to work your way through the various pricing options and special timeslot offers BEFORE you make your final choice.

West Bowling Köln
Address: Melatengürtel 21, 50933 Cologne
Web: www.westbowling.de

Cologne Cue Club in Riehl is great for chilling for a few hours with friends or on Sunday afternoon with kids and families. Cologne’s largest billiards hall has a great atmosphere, not least due to its moderate prices. On a Sunday afternoon I and the kids were welcome at the billiards tables; they definitely enjoyed this new-found game, although they were even more enthusiastic about the electronic and classic darts games. By the way, the food is great, including the stone-oven pizzas.

Cologne Cue Club
Address: Barbarastraße 3–9, 50735 Cologne
Web: www.facebook.com/Cologne-Cue-Club-109556505774703/

Four cool outdoor spots and things to do in and around Cologne: Outdoor locations in cologne