Top 10 awesome things to do in Cologne
Cologne (German: Köln), been founded by the Romans, is one of Germany’s oldest cities, enriched with more than 2,000 years of history. It’s a great city to lose yourself in museums, admire the architecture and enjoy a beer by the river (Rhein). It is actually the city with most pubs per person in Germany.
A UNESCO site, this giant Gothic cathedral (which was under construction for over 500 years) is perhaps Germany’s most famous cathedral and a symbol of Cologne’s skyline. It is the single most visited landmark in Germany and its 19th-century towers are still the second-tallest structures in the city.
Stained glass windows from the 1500s, a black marble high altar from the 1300s and a triple sarcophagus decorated with 12th-century reliefs of episodes from the life of Christ are just some of the invaluable pieces of art you can find inside. Kolner Dom is a must if you are visiting Cologne.
Exhibiting art from after 1900, the Ludwig Museum showcases a diverse collection that includes everything from Dali to Warhol to one of the world’s largest Picasso collections.
It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., every first Thursday of the month until 10 p.m
Located directly along the Rhine, the Old Town, with its cobble-stoned narrow alleys and traditional old houses, is the best place to enjoy a regional beer (Kölsch). Filled with innumerable breweries, pubs and restaurants, the Old Town still has its distinctive historical charm.
The Rhine panorama of the Old Town with the Cathedral, the Great St. Martin church and the historical Town Hall has become world-famous over the years.
During the war, a bomb shelter was being built next to the cathedral when a Roman villa was uncovered. It was fully excavated later and decided to create a museum instead of moving its centerpiece, the Dionysus mosaic. The museum also shows off all of the artefacts found around Cologne from the time it was the capital of the Germania Inferior province.
Designed by Peter Joseph, the Flora Botanical Garden is by far the most beautiful park in Cologne; featuring 11.5 hectares of sprawling lawns, individual gardens and greenhouses around an exquisite glass palace built in the 1860s.
Operated in collaboration with the Lindt & Sprüngli chocolate brand, the Imhoff-Schokoladenmuseum showcases the story of cocoa and chocolate in more than 4,000 m² of floorspace.
Visitors walk through 5,000 years of history (with cacao trees in a glass cube included) while experiencing how chocolate products are crafted in both mechanised and manual processes before your eyes. Try the three-metre-high melting chocolate fountain!
Constructed between 1907 and 1911, The Hohenzollern Bridge crosses the Rhine River near Cologne’s central railway station. Enjoy the views of the city while crossing it!
Recently, it has become another of the “love locks” bridges and it’s one of couple’s favorite spots to take a romantic stroll. These locks now amount to more than two tons.
Groß St. Martin has been part of Cologne’s skyline since the 12th century. After it was hit by bombs and severely damaged in World War II, excavations were made underneath the choir and the foundations of Roman warehouses was discovered. The site used to be located on an island in the Rhine. The church was built on top of these warehouses and incorporated their remains.
Open until 11:00 p.m., KölnTriangle is the best place to see the sun goes down behind the cathedral.
As per the Cologne Cathedral’s World Heritage, no buildings are allowed to interfere with the city’s skyline, and that’s why the KölnTriangle skyscraper was kept to just over 100 metres. It promises unique panoramic views of Cologne and its Old Town.
Useful descriptions are provided for all the landmarks you can spot from this height.
Deutsch Weihnachtsmarktes (or german christmas markets) are one of Europe top destinations in winter. Most cities in Germany put on a market where you can enjoy their awesome Gluhwein.
In Cologne, there’s hardly a public space in the centre that doesn’t have some sort of Christmas-themed market and activity. It features an ice skating rink, a village for kids with St. Nicholas, and a lively gay and lesbian Christmas Avenue Market.
Top 10 awesome things to do in Cologne
Cologne (German: Köln), been founded by the Romans, is one of Germany’s oldest cities, enriched with more than 2,000 years of history. It’s a great city to lose yourself in museums, admire the architecture and enjoy a beer by the river (Rhein). It is actually the city with most pubs per person in Germany.
A UNESCO site, this giant Gothic cathedral (which was under construction for over 500 years) is perhaps Germany’s most famous cathedral and a symbol of Cologne’s skyline. It is the single most visited landmark in Germany and its 19th-century towers are still the second-tallest structures in the city.
Stained glass windows from the 1500s, a black marble high altar from the 1300s and a triple sarcophagus decorated with 12th-century reliefs of episodes from the life of Christ are just some of the invaluable pieces of art you can find inside. Kolner Dom is a must if you are visiting Cologne.
Exhibiting art from after 1900, the Ludwig Museum showcases a diverse collection that includes everything from Dali to Warhol to one of the world’s largest Picasso collections.
It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., every first Thursday of the month until 10 p.m
Located directly along the Rhine, the Old Town, with its cobble-stoned narrow alleys and traditional old houses, is the best place to enjoy a regional beer (Kölsch). Filled with innumerable breweries, pubs and restaurants, the Old Town still has its distinctive historical charm.
The Rhine panorama of the Old Town with the Cathedral, the Great St. Martin church and the historical Town Hall has become world-famous over the years.
During the war, a bomb shelter was being built next to the cathedral when a Roman villa was uncovered. It was fully excavated later and decided to create a museum instead of moving its centerpiece, the Dionysus mosaic. The museum also shows off all of the artefacts found around Cologne from the time it was the capital of the Germania Inferior province.
Designed by Peter Joseph , the Flora Botanical Garden is by far the most beautiful park in Cologne; featuring 11.5 hectares of sprawling lawns, individual gardens and greenhouses around an exquisite glass palace built in the 1860s.
Operated in collaboration with the Lindt & Sprüngli chocolate brand, the Imhoff-Schokoladenmuseum showcases the story of cocoa and chocolate in more than 4,000 m² of floorspace.
Visitors walk through 5,000 years of history (with cacao trees in a glass cube included) while experiencing how chocolate products are crafted in both mechanised and manual processes before your eyes. Try the three-metre-high melting chocolate fountain!
Constructed between 1907 and 1911, The Hohenzollern Bridge crosses the Rhine River near Cologne’s central railway station. Enjoy the views of the city while crossing it!
Recently, it has become another of the “love locks” bridges and it’s one of couple’s favorite spots. These locks now amount to more than two tons.
Groß St. Martin has been part of Cologne’s skyline since the 12th century. After it was hit by bombs and severely damaged in World War II, excavations were made underneath the choir and the foundations of Roman warehouses was discovered. The site used to be located on an island in the Rhine. The church was built on top of these warehouses and incorporated their remains.
Open until 11:00 p.m., KölnTriangle is the best place to see the sun goes down behind the cathedral.
As per the Cologne Cathedral’s World Heritage, no buildings are allowed to interfere with the city’s skyline, and that’s why the KölnTriangle skyscraper was kept to just over 100 metres. It promises unique panoramic views of Cologne and its Old Town.
Useful descriptions are provided for all the landmarks you can spot from this height.
Deutsch Weihnachtsmarktes (or german christmas markets) are one of Europe top destinations in winter. Most cities in Germany put on a market where you can enjoy their awesome Gluhwein.
In Cologne, there’s hardly a public space in the centre that doesn’t have some sort of Christmas-themed market and activity. It features an ice skating rink, a village for kids with St. Nicholas, and a lively gay and lesbian Christmas Avenue Market.
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