Last updated: 01/11/2019
Discover the beautiful city of Cologne in Germany, famous for its carnival, beer, one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world and the Lindt Chocolate Museum.
THE CITY OF COLOGNE
Cologne (Cologne in English; Köln in German) is the largest city in the German region of North Rhine-Westphalia and the fourth largest city in Germany (after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich). It is located in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan area, one of the main metropolitan areas in Europe and the largest in Germany, with more than ten million inhabitants (the city of Cologne alone has just over 1 million inhabitants). The city is a cultural center that is home to dozens of museums and hundreds of art galleries.
A little of history…
The city was founded by the Germanic tribe of the Ubians, in the 1st century AD It functioned as the capital of the Roman province of Germania Inferior and as the headquarters of the Roman army in the region until occupied by the Franks in 462. During the Middle Ages, it was a one of the most important trade routes between eastern and western Europe. Cologne was one of the largest cities north of the Alps in Medieval and Renaissance times. Cologne was one of the most heavily bombed cities in Germany during World War II, with almost 35 tons of bombs dropped on its territory. The bombing reduced the population by 95%, mainly due to the evacuation and destruction of almost the entire city. With the intention of restoring as many historic buildings as possible, the post-war reconstruction was successful, resulting in a very mixed and unique urban landscape.
COLOGNE CARNIVAL
Cologne Carnival is one of the biggest street festivals in Europe. Carnival officially starts in November 11 at 11:11 am and continues until Ash Wednesday (yes, the same celebrated in Brazil around February or March, depending on the year). Zülpicher Strasse and its surroundings, Neumarkt Square, Heumarkt and all the bars and pubs in the city are packed with costumed people dancing and drinking in the streets. About a million people celebrate Carnival in the city's streets. It is worth reading more details about the Cologne Carnival in this KeViagem blog post, by Damares Lombardo.
KÖLSCH – THE COLOGNE BEER
One of the things Paulo wanted to do the most on our travels around Cologne was to find a place to have a Kölsch! Kölsch is a Cologne-brewed beer with a bright, straw-yellow hue similar to a standard German pale lager. Of course, following the German tradition, there is no such thing as a small glass for beer, is there? The taste is a little more bitter than we are used to.
HOW TO GET AROUND IN COLOGNE
The city of Cologne is large and has an excellent public transport network with many underground (U-Bahn) and train (S-Bahn) stations. However, the main tourist attractions are very close to each other and it is super easy to get to know the city on foot. We stayed in a hotel next to the Hauptbahnof (Main Station) and we didn't need to take transport during our visit to Cologne! If you need public transport information, the best source is city transport official website.
HOW MANY DAYS IN COLOGNE
As Cologne is a compact city for tourist attractions, it is possible to have a good idea of the city in 1 day and seeing a lot in 2 days. We arrived in the morning from Nuremberg and took a night train the next day and were able to visit several attractions in the city with tranquility, seeing the Cologne Cathedral both day and night, all lit up.
WHAT TO DO IN COLOGNE
We've separated 15 attractions in Cologne and put them all on the interactive map below to make it easier to find and plan. Check out the tips below!
1. cologne cathedral (Kölner Dom)
Cologne Cathedral is one of the most incredible churches in the world and the tallest in the world (157 meters high). In Gothic style, the church took 632 years to build and holds relics of the Three Wise Men! Marvel at the more than 10,000 m² of colorful stained glass windows.
- Address: Domkloster 4, 50667 Cologne, Germany
- Schedules: daily
- November to April: from 6 am to 7:30 pm
- from May to October: from 6 am to 9 pm
- Treasure Chamber: visit this link for more information
- Entrance:
- Cathedral: free
- Treasury Chamber: 8 euros
Read more: Germany: Cologne Cathedral and the 3 Magi
2. Romano-Germanic Museum
Located right next to Cologne Cathedral, the Roman-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum) is an archaeological museum containing a large collection of Roman artifacts from the time of the Roman settlement in the city.
- Address: Roncalliplatz 4, 50667 Cologne, Germany
- Schedules: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm (until 10pm every first Thursday of each month) / closed on Mondays
- Entrance: 6 euros
3. Ludwig Museum
Close to Cologne Cathedral, the Ludwig Museum houses a varied collection of modern art. It includes works from Pop Art, Abstract Art and Surrealism, and has one of the largest Picasso collections in Europe. It also has many works by American artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.
- Address: Heinrich-Böll-Platz, 50667 Cologne, Germany
- Schedules: Tuesday to Sunday and holidays from 10:00 to 18:00 (until 22:00 every first Thursday of each month) / closed on Mondays
- Entrance: 13 euros
4. Nazi Documentation Center
The NS-Dokumentationszentrum der Stadt Köln is the largest memorial in all of Germany for the victims of the Nazis. The Center was founded in 1979 and, for many years, the center's activities were restricted to research and academics. In 1987, a resolution was passed calling for openness to the public, and the center gradually became the global institution it is today. The location that houses the Documentation Center is the former headquarters of the Gestapo, the Nazi secret police.
Surprisingly, the building survived bombing during World War II. After the bombings, the building's basements, which had been used as cells and torture rooms for forced laborers and political enemies, were used to store wartime files and paperwork. The inscriptions made on the walls of prison cells by inmates can still be seen. The building was the site of many executions, as well as deaths due to overcrowding and poor hygiene.
- Address: Appellhofplatz 23-25 (EL-DE building) 50667 Cologne, Germany
- Schedules: Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm / Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm / every first Thursday of the month from 10 am to 10 pm / closed on Mondays and during Carnival
- Entrance: 4.50 euros
5. 4711 - Eau de Cologne
Surely you've heard of "Cologne Water" right? Well, there is so much fight behind this whole story that you can't even imagine! One of the stories is that Eau de Cologne was created in 1792 by perfumer Wilhelm Mülhens. And he baptized the perfume with the number 4711 because the city was occupied by French people who changed the house number. Mülhens' became 4711. Thus, 4711 is a cologne watermark. The brand has been expanded to other perfumes and products in addition to the original. Echt Kölnisch Wasser, which has used the same formula for over 200 years. Today, the famous store has become a tourist attraction.
- Address: Glockengasse 4, 50667 Cologne, Germany
- Schedules: Monday to Friday 9:30am to 6:30pm / Saturday 9:30am to 6pm / closed on Sundays
6. Perfume Museum at Casa Farina
This is another version of the creation of Eau de Cologne. The story goes that it all started in the early 18th century when Johann Maria Farina, an Italian who lived in Cologne, created a fragrance in 1709. He called it Eau de Cologne ("Cologne Water") in honor of the city where he lived. resided. It was the Cologne created by this Italian, which made the city known worldwide as the “city of perfume”. According to the version of the Farina family, in the 18th century copyright did not yet exist, so many people began to copy the invention from Italian. The former factory (which is the oldest perfume factory in the world) now houses the Perfume Museum, in which the visitor can smell several different perfumes.
- Address: Obenmarspforten 21, 50667 Cologne, Germany
- Schedules: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm / Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm
- Entrance: 5 euros (guided tour in Portuguese) – book your time in this link
7. Praetorium (Archaeological Zone)
Located near Cologne Town Hall is the Praetorium, which are excavations of the ruins of an old town hall from the time when the Romans ruled the city. These ruins were discovered after the Second World War, when the city of Cologne underwent a reconstruction process.
- Address: Kleine Budengasse 2, 50667 Cologne, Germany
- Schedules: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm / closed on Mondays
- Entrance: 3.50 euros / ticket with tour with expert guide
8. Cologne City Hall
Cologne's Rathaus (city hall) is located in a historic building with a history that goes back 900 years! Today's building complex consists of several structures, which were successively added in different architectural styles: they include the 14th-century main hall, a 15th-century Gothic tower, the 16th-century Renaissance-style courtyard and the 16th-century atrium. XX. It is in this building that the mayor's office is located.
- Address: Rathausplatz, 50667 Cologne, Germany
- Schedules: Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm
9. Alter Market
The Alter Markt is Cologne's largest square. We love this square because it is very wide and full of restaurants, shops and colorful buildings.
10. Gross Sankt Martin
This is an amazing church, built in the 12th century, with imposing architecture dedicated to Saint Martin. It is 50 meters tall, but appears to be super tall as it is located in an elevated area. This Catholic church has in its foundations the remains of a Roman chapel, built on what was then an island in the River Rhine. The church was later turned into a Benedictine monastery. The church was badly damaged in World War II, with restoration work completed in 1985. We entered the church and a religious ceremony was taking place with the performance of a simply moving lyrical choir!
- Address: Am Gross St.Martin, 50667 Cologne, Germany
- Schedules: Tuesday to Friday from 9 am to 7:30 pm / Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 7:30 pm / closed on Mondays
11. Fischmarkt
This was, without a doubt, the region that we liked the most in the city of Cologne. We had lunch in this charming little square that is on the banks of the River Rhine and offers beautiful views! The square is formed by colorful and similar houses that were built “glued” together. Here you will find several restaurants and bars, being an excellent option to taste a legitimate Kölsch, the Cologne beer! We couldn't resist and had lunch at a restaurant right there with tables in the square! All the best!
- Address: Am Leystapel, 50667 Cologne, Germany
12. Heumarkt
In this nice square that was the center of the “old city” of Cologne. stands a large statue of King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia on horseback. In addition to the statue, there are several breweries and shops. We weren't there at this time, but we heard that during Christmas, this square is filled with Christmas Market stalls and an ice skating rink.
13. Chocolate Museum (Lindt)
Oh, what a loss this place is! Opened in 1993, the Chocolate Museum showcase the entire history of chocolate, from its beginnings with the Olmecs, Mayans and Aztecs to contemporary products and production methods. It is possible to taste chocolate, see the chocolate being produced, order a customized bar with the ingredients you want, visit a mini rainforest. There are almost 700 thousand visitors every year who will enjoy the delights of this magical museum. Without a doubt, the part we liked the most was the 3 meter high chocolate fountain where an employee dips wafers in liquid chocolate and hands them out to visitors! Take the opportunity to go out with a bag full of chocolates passing by Lindt's shop inside the museum.
- Address: Am Schokoladenmuseum 1A, 50678 Cologne, Germany
- Schedules: Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm / Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm / closed on Mondays
- Entrance: 9 euros
Read more: Germany: Chocolate Museum in Cologne
14. Hohenzollernbrücke Bridge
Cologne's most famous bridge could not be left out of this list! The Hohenzollernbrücke is 409 meters long that crosses the River Rhine and had to be rebuilt after the Second World War. The access ramps have statues of German emperors and the bridge is covered with colorful padlocks of couples in love! Cross the bridge for the postcard view of Cologne with the bridge in the foreground and the back of Cologne Cathedral in the background.
15. KölnTriangle Observatory
Enjoy that you crossed the bridge and go to the Köln Triangle, a building 103 meters high. The site is the headquarters of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The upper floor and roof house a public access observation deck with a 360º panoramic view of the city! As the protection is all transparent glass, the photos look very good from up there.
- Address: Ottoplatz 1, 50679 Cologne, Germany
- Schedules:
- October to April: Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 20:00 / Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 10:00 to 20:00
- May to September: Monday to Friday from 11 am to 11 pm / Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 10 am to 11 pm
- Entrance: 3 euros
BOAT TOUR ON THE RIVER RHINE
A very common tour for those visiting Cologne is to take a boat ride on the River Rhine. There are very economical options and some of the tours even include a meal on the boat. See some options:
ECONOMY TIP: KÖLN CARD
An economy tip for visiting Cologne is the city's discount card in 24h and 48h versions. In addition to including discounts at several attractions, it includes free public transportation and discounts at shops and restaurants. Check out what's included in the card and get yours in this link:
- Free travel on buses and trains
- Up to 50% off attractions and museums
- Up to 50% off guided tours
- Up to 20% discount at restaurants
- Up to 15% off purchases
NICE TOURS AND EXCURSIONS IN COLOGNE
Those who have more time in the city can include other types of tours on foot, by bus, or by bicycle. There are also several beer tour options focusing on the local beer, Kölsch.
TOURS THROUGH THE CITY
- Cologne: Tourist Bus + Boat Trip
- cologne 3hour guided bike tour
- City tour: Cologne for beginners with Brauhaus and Kölsch
- Guided tour of the Underground Colony
- cologne private tour with a local
- Colonia Highlights: Private 2 Hour Walking Tour
- Cologne: Street Art bike tour
- Cologne: East to West and KölnTriangle Walking Tour
BREWER TOURS
- Cologne Breweries Tour: Kölsch Secrets
- Cologne Cathedral and Old Town Tour with 1 Kölsch
- Cologne: 2hour Kölsch Beer and Brew House Tour
- Brunch-Brauhaus Tour Cologne: beer, drinks, snacks
ACCOMMODATION TIP IN COLOGNE
We recommend you to stay in the city center because you can walk a lot and reach the main attractions on foot. We stayed at the hotel Wyndham Köln, located next to Cologne Cathedral (tested and approved by us!). Check out this and other accommodation options in Cologne.
BOOK NOW your hotel and save up to 50%. Travelers readers are with a SUPER DISCOUNT! And the best, with FREE CANCELLATION*!
*check the hotels with free cancellation on the website
Read more: Germany: Accommodation tip in Cologne
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Read more about Germany:
- Germany: The amazing Romantic Road
- Germany: Cologne Cathedral and the 3 Magi
- Germany: Neuschwanstein Castle
- Germany: What to do in Berlin
- Germany: How to visit the amazing Nuremberg Castle
- Germany: 10 attractions in Frankfurt
I would like permission to use two photos from your website. Could you contact me via email? I thank.
Hello Decio
Please send an email to viajonarios@viajonarios.com with your request.
Hugs
Your website is pretty cool. Congratulations.
One question: where does the one-hour Rhine Cruise depart from? Is it close to the Train Station?
Hello Maurilio!
Thank you for your question and we are happy to be able to help you plan your trip!
Cruises generally depart close to the Köln Hauptbahnhof (Cologne's main train station). However, like many companies that offer the Rhine cruise service, it is difficult to say exactly where they depart. Look in this link several cruise options. You can get more information by clicking on each one of them and checking the “Meeting Point”.
For example, the tour Cologne: Top Sights on the Rhine River Cruise, boarding is at “Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer, pier no. 10, alongside Musical Dome and Goldgasse.” In this case, the departures are very close to the station and the famous Hohenzollern bridge.
We hope this helps and we wish you an amazing trip!
Hugs 🙂
Hi, I loved the tips, I'm going to Germany in September.
In the post you say you arrived in the morning and then took a night train..where did you leave your bags?
Hello Natalia,
We left at the hotel. We stayed at Wyndham Köln hotel which is close to the main train station.
Hugs and a great trip to you! 🙂
Hello
If you arrive at the hotel before check-in time, is it possible to leave your bags at the hotel? Would there be a service similar to luggage storage?
Hello, Julio!
Most hotels allow guests to store their luggage even before check-in.
If you have any questions, we recommend that you contact the hotel you wish to make the reservation directly for clarification.
Hugs and have a great trip! 🙂
good morning….I would like to visit colonia…..
what is the best time?
Hi Mauro,
It really depends on what you're looking for. In terms of weather, spring (April to June) and autumn (September and October) are the best times.
But, if you are interested in discovering the incredible Christmas markets in Germany, going at the end of the year is a good option, despite the cold. If you want to participate in the famous Cologne Carnival, you will have to go in November or February (or March, depending on the year). View the 2020 schedule here.
I just don't recommend the height of summer because everything is more expensive because of the school holidays and the high temperatures can get in the way a little.
Hugs and have a great trip! 🙂
Can you advise me on traveling to Cologne? I go alone…how to book a hotel….schedule visits in some places….do you welcome people at the airport?…we can communicate through watzap….brasil/SP
Hi Mauro,
We have changed your comment to preserve your privacy. We are a travel blog that tells experiences and gives tips around the world. We do not live in Cologne and do not provide personalized customer service.
Anything you want to know, you can ask questions here and we will be happy to answer.
Hugs
I'm Marcos Antonio de Oliveira, I plan on visiting Colônia with my family next year, I was very satisfied with the information collected on your website. Congratulations for the work and a lot. thanks. A fraternal hug and all the happiness to you.
Hi Marcos,
We are very happy to know that our content has helped in the elaboration of your script!
We wish you an amazing trip for the whole family!
Hugs 🙂
[…] Germany: What to do in Cologne – 1 or 2 day itinerary – Travelers 24/07/2018 at 14:01 […]
[…] COLOGNE: Germany: Things to do in Cologne […]
[…] COLOGNE: Germany: What to do in Cologne – 1 or 2 day itinerary […]
Goodnight. We've just arrived from Cologne and yes, in Heumarkt, this Christmas season, they have a skating rink and they have the Christmas Market too. Very beautiful, with a bridge above the skating rink. If you want, give me a link and I'll send you the photos that tirwnka. abs
At first it is said to be in the eastern part of Germany, but Cologne is in the western part.
[…] Germany: Things to do in Cologne […]
[…] COLOGNE: Germany: What to do in Cologne – 1 or 2 day itinerary […]
[…] COLOGNE: Germany: What to do in Cologne – 1 or 2 day itinerary […]
Good Morning. What time of year did you go to Cologne? My wife and I are going in September/2018. And possibly we will make the script exposed here by you.
Hug.
Hi Pedro! We went in September too. It was already chilly, but nothing too much trouble.
Glad to hear you liked our script! We are very happy to help!
We wish you an amazing trip!
Hugs 🙂
Hello, we are in Colonia and your blog has guided us a lot, we are even staying at the Hotel you indicated.
Thank you
Hello Susana! How nice to read your comment! I am very happy to know that the blog Viajonários has helped you on your trip! May they be amazing days and full of unforgettable experiences!
Hugs and thanks a lot!
Cologne is a very nice city. It is considered the most Latin city in Germany, not only because it was colonized by the Romans, but also because the people are very happy and love a little party…lol.
I loved having lived in Cologne for 3 years.
From my point of view, it's worth staying 2 full days in the city.
Thanks for sharing my post about the carnival.
Hugs and success to the Travelers!
damaris
Thank you so much for the comment Damares! Your post about Carnaval is excellent and I couldn't help but mention it.
Hugs and much success to KeViagem! 🙂
Your website is amazing! Congratulations !! I'm going from Holland to Switzerland and I'll have a day and a half available. In your opinion which place would you choose Cologne or Frankfurt? Thank you and congratulations again!
Hi Rafael! Thank you so much for the compliment. Between Frankfurt or Cologne, stay with Cologne!
Hugs and a great trip to you! 🙂
Did you do this itinerary in 1 day?
Hi Jeane! We did it in 2 days. As we know that some people do not like museums very much, we believe that it is possible to make a nice itinerary in 1 day, removing some activities that you may consider less interesting in your case.
We hope we helped and we wish you an amazing trip. 🙂
Thank you for the informations!!!! Very complete website. Could you give me tips on the restaurants you went to? I'm going now in November and I know it will be very cold. I don't think I'll be able to enjoy the outdoor restaurants much. Thanks!!!
Hi Aline, glad you liked the information!
The regions we liked to eat the most were at Fischmarkt and Alter Markt. Both have many dining options!
An excellent trip to you! 🙂
Hugs
Your website is very cool! They are very complete tips and accurate information. I really liked! I always like to read travelers' experiences and place tips before going on my trips. Can I give just one tip that would improve the site experience? As I really like to take notes of tips and information about my destinations, I usually make a file with the most pertinent information and the fact that the site doesn't let me use the famous Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V makes me feel discouraged. Other than that, keep reporting the trips! Very well written, clear and with lots of pertinent information. =)
Nilton, thank you so much for your comment! Very nice to know that Viajonários has been helping you.
Super cool your feedback about Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V. It's something we're reviewing even on the site because we know how important it is to our readers. Our intention is to help by providing relevant information and making life easier for travelers! So this improvement is something that is already on the priority list!
We wish you many amazing trips! 🙂
Your website was one of the best I found, in the various cities I researched and I am one of those that I read a lot before building my personal travel itinerary. Exactly for this reason, it is a pity that you do not allow gnt to paste and copy the texts. I understand the issue of copyright protection, but for us tourists looking for information, it is a negative point in relation to other sites (yours was the only one), because we have to type the information and sometimes names in German, addresses, hours, It makes copying and pasting much easier. I don't know if this protection is so important to you guys… I suggest you rethink, because my difficulty may be from other users too. I imagine that the intention, admirable by the way, is to help and share information with future travelers, this protection undermines this greater objective.
Hi Ayllen,
We appreciate your contact! Please check your email for more information to help you with this issue.
Hugs
I share the same opinion.
I found your site while looking for Cologne tips. I was impressed with the amount of information about the city! It helped me a lot, I thought it was amazing, congratulations!
Hello Rodrigo! How cool is this comment!
We are very happy to know that we are helping you. We write as if we were tipping our friends. We try to put in as much information as possible, with all the tips we would have liked to have read before we went to the place. So, it is possible to make the most of the trip, right? How cool that you liked it!
We hope the site can help you in other destinations too!
Hugs and many amazing trips! 🙂