Leave Your Hearts at Love Locks Bridge in Cologne

Leave your hearts at love locks bridge in Cologne. But let me be clear: the bridge’s name is not Love Locks. I’m referring to Hohenzollern Bridge which crosses through the Rhine River. The bridge railings are fully adorned with love locks from the locals, but mainly from the tourists.

Hohenzollern Bridge is for train and pedestrian traffic only.

The bridge is the most heavily-used rail track in Germany, with 1,200 trains daily.

You’ll find love locks in different shapes, colors, designs, and sizes.

Some love locks have specific designs and engravings of their names, dates, and cheesy love quotes.

Fortunately for the lovers, the German Rail allows them to fasten their love padlocks as long as they don’t pose risks to rail traffic.

Unfortunately, the practice of throwing the keys to the Rhine River is not something I don’t approve.

The German Rail should provide locked dispensers where lovers can drop their keys.

Standing on the bridge, I can say that it’s a romantic place (if you’re attached) and a great place to be – if you’re single. 😀 The views of Cologne Cathedral from across the river are stunning!

The German Rail removes these padlocks every few years because they add weight to the bridge.

It is estimated that there are around 40,000 – 50,000 padlocks attached here. These love padlocks could weigh from 2-4 tonnes combined.

Hostel / Hotel in Cologne

I stayed at Hostel die Wohngemeinschaft. You can book it via Booking.com, Expedia, and HostelWorld. 

Though it is around 30-40 minutes walk to the Cathedral, I love it here because the beds are comfortable. Each bunk had its own curtains so you could have your own privacy. It’s clean, and the staff members are friendly. I was even allowed to check in early because the bed/room was already available. Or maybe, they just saw my tired eyes, and I really needed a rest. 😀 Since the hostel is around the university area, cheap bars are on every corner. There are a host of restaurants and grocery stores, too.