Hohe Straße, Shopping street in Altstadt-Nord and Altstadt-Süd, Germany

Hohe Straße is a pedestrian shopping street in Cologne's old town, stretching through its northern and southern districts. Along the route are many shops, department stores, and boutiques offering shopping options for all kinds of needs.

In ancient times, this street served as the main thoroughfare of the Roman city Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium. It was not only a trade route but also the location of temples, administrative buildings, and military facilities of the occupiers.

The name Hohe Straße comes not from "height" but from the Hohe Pforte, the High Gate at its southern end, recorded when Ferdinand Franz Wallraf surveyed Cologne's streets during the French period (1795–1814). Locals call it Huhstroß in Kölsch, stress the first syllable, and leave the name uninflected. Since the Middle Ages the street has been a trading address: the goldsmith family Glesch held houses 77–79 from 1377 to 1525.

The zone is easy to explore since it is entirely walkable and has no barriers for visitors of different mobility. Best visited during daytime to enjoy the full selection of open shops and walk through without crowding.

The street's name is not inflected in local usage and is stressed on "Hohe". In 2023 it ranked eighth among Germany's most frequented shopping streets. Its course follows the Roman cardo maximus, and the width of that road was seven to eight metres.