Cologne Travel Guide

  View of Cologne
by Cristian_Uluru
 
  • View of Cologne
      View of Cologne
    by Cristian_Uluru
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      Photo from promenade near Hyatt Regency...
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  •   Cologne
    by mandybailey
  •   Cologne
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Pro

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 great nightlife and restaurants, lots of good museums, majestic Rhine 


Con

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 If Kölsch is a beer then Zagreb tap water is Champagne 


In a nutshell

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 One of my favourite cities in Germany! 

 

Explore Cologne

Things to Do  

Cologne Cathedral/ Kölner Dom

Cologne Cathedral/ Kölner Dom, Cologne

 182 Reviews  How could you NOT go to the Dom? It's spires are visible from so many points in the city. In fact, I recommend staying in a hotel near to it so you can use those spires as a guide to get you home when you've had too much Kolsch and are a little confused... But seriously, we walked by the Dom all... 

Old Town

Old Town, Cologne

 35 Reviews  I just loved walking around Old Town Cologne; it's just so beautiful! There are so many colorful buildings, plazas and little streets to wander around and I would keep finding one area or building that I found to be cuter than the last! What I liked most it's not overrun with souvenir shops and/or... 

Rhine/ Rhein

Rhine/ Rhein, Cologne

 30 Reviews  Photos: 1. Boats on the Rhine River 2. Boats and the railroad bridge 3. Barge going under the Deutzer Bridge From Cologne there are plenty of opportunities to take excursion boats on the Rhine River. To avoid misunderstandings, however, I should point out that this is not the really famous part of... 

Imhoff-Stollwerck Chocolate Museum

Imhoff-Stollwerck Chocolate Museum, Cologne

 33 Reviews  &CBThe Imhof Schokoladen museum was opened by Hans Imhof in 1993. It is situated in the quarter of Altstadt - Sud on the Rheinauhafen peninsula. The museum exibits show of the entire history of chocolate, from its beginning with the Olmecs, Maya and Aztecs to the contemporary methods of the... 

Zoo and Aquarium

Zoo and Aquarium, Cologne

 12 Reviews  Cologne's zoo is a about a mile outside of the city center, but it's well worth a taxi/tram ride for those exploring the city on foot. They have a great selection of animals, and all of them seem happy and content in their environments. One thing that really impressed me was that in the event that... 

Town Hall/ Rathaus

Town Hall/ Rathaus, Cologne

 24 Reviews  Cologne's city hall is the oldest functioning building of its kind in Germany. It's certainly one of the most distinctive. The rathaus was built in the 12th century. Its Renaissance arcade loggia was added three centuries later along with the ground rectangular tower. It's very Italianate, and could... 

4711 House

4711 House, Cologne

 17 Reviews  The 4711 house is where the perfume 4711 started, originally a health drink. A carillon plays at regular times. The number 4711 is the house number from when houses did not have street names in the address. Now you can browse or buy in the shop. 

City Centre Shopping

City Centre Shopping, Cologne

 9 Reviews  It is crowded in and outside the shops. It's full with Malls, shopping centers, little and bigger shops for quality clothes and different stuff. There are also many places for fast food like classic pommes frites with mustard and of course musicians that play some eastern rhythms. 

Bridges of Cologne

Bridges of Cologne, Cologne

 12 Reviews  The Bridge of love is the easiest way to reach the Cathedral if you are n the other side of Rheine, it's also the railway bridge. Why it's called Love bridge – because of the many love padlocks hanging from the fence! There are thousands of them in different colours and sizes. The lovers had written... 

Museums

Museums, Cologne

 26 Reviews  I was flabbergasted by this museum. The building, the collection, the lay-out, the sounds, - please take time to listen to the noise -, rooms in one word amazing. Visitors become part of the collection, the environment. Most stunning was the Armarium, this dark room with its glass displays on the... 

City gates and walls

City gates and walls, Cologne

 13 Reviews  According to a (badly written) sign at the tower: "It was the north-western tower of the Roman fortifications. The only tower of the city wall built from 50 A.D. following the elevation of Cologne to a Roman colony, that is almost completely preserved, Elaborate, primarily original preserved... 

Römisch-Germanisches Museum

Römisch-Germanisches Museum, Cologne

 35 Reviews  Explore the past at the Roman/Germanic Museum. This museum houses an impressive collection of Roman artifacts ranging from dinnerware to weaponry, and everything in between. There are statues, tile mosaics, road markers and jewelry... It's hard to think of something that can't be found there. My... 

Seilbahn (Cable Car)

Seilbahn (Cable Car), Cologne

 8 Reviews  Open from April to October each year - the service begins at 10.00 and continues to 18.00 each evening. It was an excellent experience and although a little windy, the service was comfortable and enjoyable. A great opportunity to take photographs when above the Rhine. Buy a return ticket; and iof... 

Hohenzollern Brücke

Hohenzollern Brücke, Cologne

 13 Reviews  The Hohenzollernbrucke is easily the most memorable bridge in Cologne. It is open only to pedestrian and bicycle traffic, as it is utilized by the countless incoming/outgoing trains. On the rails of the bridge hang thousands of locks left by visitors as a symbol of their love. Most locks are hung by... 

Churches

Churches, Cologne

 28 Reviews  St. Maria Himmelfarht (Assumption of Mary Church), the only big Baroque styled church in Cologne was built by Christoph Wamser for the Jesuit order and first completed in 1715. The interior of the church is decorated in Gothic style as appropriate to the Counterreformation. After the Jesuits were... 

Wallraff-Richartz Museum/ Museum Ludwig

Wallraff-Richartz Museum/ Museum Ludwig, Cologne

 18 Reviews  Museum Ludwig is a modern art museum with a very impressive collection. Artists include Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, and Salvador Dali, among many others. I loved my visit here, and would recommend it to almost everyone. It might not be a good idea to bring very small children, but... 

Food and Drink

Food and Drink, Cologne

 10 Reviews  The Frueh is a very well known local brewery-pub where the local beer "Koelsch" is served to throngs of hot tired weary tourists in summer and the more appreciative locals the rest of the year! It's a good central place to wait for your party to arrive. 

Christmas Markets

Christmas Markets, Cologne

 11 Reviews  Cologne has six Christmas markets, one of the most interesting is the medieval one at the Chocolate Museum. You have to pay an entrance fee, 2 Euro per adult, children smaller than a sword are free.There's someone standing outside with a sword in his hands and takes measure. Since Christmas markets... 

Hotels  

Excelsior Hotel Ernst

 5 Reviews and 259 Opinions  A member of the Leading Hotels of the World, Excelsior Hotel Ernst offers a modern version of old... 

Hotel Domstern

 4 Reviews and 254 Opinions  We stayed at the Hotel Domstern for two nights, based on online reviews. Always a bit hesitant when... 

Favorites  

Old Town/Altstadt

Old Town/Altstadt, Cologne

 13 Reviews  The old core of the town, called Altstadt, is undoubtelly the most charming part of the town. It is situated along the bank of the river Rhein and in the close vicinity of the Dom. The Altstadt is characteristic for its network of short and narrow streets, but most of all, for the traditional houses... 

Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral)

Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), Cologne

 27 Reviews  In 1964, when I left my children with my mother and went to meet my husband's ship in Europe, I sent periodic postcards to my daughter. This one had two 20 DM stamps The Cathedral is the outstanding thing to see in Cologne. I've been twice. Once in 1950 when I was 12, and in 1964. .. Dear... 

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Map of Cologne