Cologne

Cologne Cathedral

Cologne Cathedral is one of Germany's most famous buildings and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its construction spanned over 600 years – from 1248 to its completion in 1880. At 157 metres high it dominates the cityscape and is visible from almost everywhere in Cologne. The interior impresses with its scale, the Gothic stained glass windows and the medieval artistic treasures.

Particularly worthwhile is climbing the cathedral towers: around 533 steps lead to a viewing platform with a wide view over Cologne and the Rhine valley. The Cathedral Treasury houses one of Germany's most significant ecclesiastical art collections, including the Shrine of the Three Kings.

Old Town & Rhine Waterfront

Immediately next to the cathedral stretches Cologne's old town with its brewery cellars, pubs and small alleys. Cologne's old town is not a museum piece of a city but lives: this is where locals meet to drink Kölsch, at practically any time of day. The streets around Heumarkt and Alter Markt are particularly lively and authentic.

The Rhine bank offers space for extended walks with views of the river, the ships and the opposite bank with Deutz and the Hohenzollern Bridge. On warm days the Rhine promenade transforms into a public meeting place.

Museums

Cologne is one of Germany's most museum-rich cities. The Museum Ludwig at the cathedral houses one of the world's most significant collections of modern and contemporary art – Picasso, Pop Art, American abstraction and German contemporary art under one roof. Right next to it is the Wallraf-Richartz Museum with old master paintings from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.

The Romano-Germanic Museum, currently in temporary premises while the main building is being renovated, houses exceptional finds from Cologne's Roman past – including the famous Dionysus mosaic and the Poblicius tomb monument. Cologne was as "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium" one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire north of the Alps.

Hohenzollern Bridge

The Hohenzollern Bridge connects Cologne's city centre with the right-bank district of Deutz and is Germany's busiest railway bridge. There is a dedicated path for pedestrians and cyclists, from which you enjoy one of the finest views of the cathedral.

The bridge is famous for the thousands of love locks attached to its railings – a phenomenon that has since been imitated in many cities but originated in Cologne. The bridge is a popular photo motif, especially at dusk with the illuminated cathedral.

Kölsch & Brewery Culture

Kölsch is more than a beer – it's a way of life. This top-fermented, pale beer is brewed exclusively in Cologne and, under the Kölsch Convention of 1986, only called "Kölsch" in the region. It is served in narrow 0.2-litre glasses called Stangen, which the Köbes – the brewery waiter – keeps refilling until you place a beer mat on the glass.

The most traditional brewhouses in the old town – Früh am Dom, Gaffel am Dom and the slightly off-the-beaten-track Päffgen on Friesenstraße – offer alongside the beer hearty Cologne cuisine: Himmel un Äd, Halver Hahn (rye bread roll with cheese) and Reibekuchen with apple sauce.

Shopping

Those who want to shop in Cologne are spoilt for choice: Schildergasse and Hohe Straße are two of Germany's most frequented shopping streets with all the well-known chains. Those who prefer browsing in individual shops are better served in the Belgian Quarter or Ehrenfeld – there you'll find vintage, local designers, bookshops and concept stores in a creative atmosphere away from mass tourism.

Belgian Quarter & Ehrenfeld

The Belgian Quarter west of the city centre is Cologne's most creative neighbourhood: galleries, cafés, restaurants with international cuisine, vinyl record shops and street art define the scene. Especially at weekends Aachener Straße and Brüsseler Straße are lively. Those who want to discover Cologne beyond the cathedral and old town are in the right place here.

Ehrenfeld, a former working-class neighbourhood, has developed in recent years into a cultural hotspot: clubs, art spaces, vegan restaurants and creative businesses have settled here. For day trippers, Ehrenfeld offers an interesting insight into contemporary Cologne.

For Families

Those who come to Cologne with children also have some options. The Chocolate Museum on the Rhine bank is one of Germany's most visited museums and entertainingly depicts the history of chocolate – with a chocolate fountain as the highlight. Cologne Zoo is not far from the city forest and is easily accessible.

For those who want to go further: in Brühl, about 20 kilometres south of Cologne, lies Phantasialand – one of Germany's most famous theme parks. Combined with a Cologne visit in the morning or afternoon, a full family day.

Getting Here from Kirchweiler

From Kirchweiler head towards Daun, then via the A1 (towards Trier/Cologne) or alternatively via the A61 (Koblenz) to Cologne. The route is about 130 kilometres and can be covered in approximately an hour and a half in normal traffic. On the A1 you should start as early as possible – the motorway is particularly busy in the afternoons towards Cologne.

It's recommended to use the Park & Ride system: park at one of the end stations of the Cologne underground (e.g. in Frechen or Hürth) and take the S-Bahn or underground into the city centre. This saves parking fees and the stress of finding a parking space.

Day Trip Tips

Start early – Cologne Cathedral is still quiet in the morning, tourist crowds arrive around midday. Breakfast at a café near the cathedral and then a visit to the cathedral and treasury makes for a good start to the day. In the afternoon a walk through the old town or to the Belgian Quarter is worthwhile, before setting off on the return journey in the early evening.

Cologne is well suited to planning with a daily theme: museum lovers spend the day at Museum Ludwig and Wallraf-Richartz; Kölsch fans explore brewhouses and the old town; families combine the cathedral with the Chocolate Museum; shoppers focus on the city centre and Belgian Quarter.