🏛️Main Attractions
- ✓Cologne Cathedral
- ✓Rhine River Cruise
- ✓Museum Ludwig
- ✓Cologne Old Town
- ✓Romano-Germanic Museum
- ✓Chocolate Museum
- ✓Hohenzollern Bridge
- ✓Belgian Quarter
Also check attractions in other Germany cities:
Cologne
Cologne
This historic city on the Rhine is world-famous for Cologne Cathedral and is a centre of art and culture, with many museums and galleries.
🌐Other Cities in Germany
Recommended Hotels in Cologne
Hand-picked hotels and accommodations from Agoda (20 properties)
🏨Recommended Hotels
- ★Excelsior Hotel Ernst
- ★Hyatt Regency Cologne
- ★The Qvest Cologne
- ★Savoy Hotel Cologne
- ★25hours Hotel The Circle
- ★Hotel im Wasserturm
- ★Stern am Rathaus
- ★Lint Hotel Köln
- ★Hotel Mondial am Dom Cologne
- ★a&o Köln Dom
🍜Restaurants & Food
•Früh am Dom
€12-25Traditional brewhouse serving Kölsch beer and Rhineland cuisine, tourist-friendly
•Brauhaus Sünner im Walfisch
€10-22Historic brewery restaurant, authentic local atmosphere
•Hanse Stube (Excelsior Hotel Ernst)
€80-150One Michelin star, refined German cuisine, elegant dining
•Bei Oma Kleinmann
€12-20Legendary schnitzel house, over 30 varieties, huge portions
•Salon Schmitz
€15-30Belgian Quarter bistro, European cuisine, local favorite
•Em Krützche
€10-24Traditional tavern, Sauerbraten specialty, cozy Old Town atmosphere
Also check restaurants in other Germany cities:
🛍️ Shopping
- •Schildergasseshopping_street
Germany's busiest shopping street. International brands, department stores (Galeria Kaufhof), chain shops. Pedestrianized. Connects to Hohe Straße for more shopping. Very crowded weekends.
- •Hohe Straßeshopping_street
Historic shopping street leading to cathedral. Mix of international chains and local shops. Beautiful architecture. Connects Schildergasse to cathedral. Street performers and outdoor cafes.
- •Belgian Quarterneighborhood
Trendy area for independent boutiques, vintage fashion, design shops, record stores. Unique finds and local designers. Brussels Square has cafes and bars. Less touristy, more authentic.
- •4711 Hausspecialty
Flagship store of original Eau de Cologne (4711) perfume. Historic building, museum section, fragrance fountain. Souvenirs and gift sets. Traditional Cologne product since 1792.
💡 Travel Tips
- • KölnCard (24h €9, 48h €18) includes all public transport plus discounts up to 50% on museums, tours, restaurants. Worth it for 2+ days with multiple attractions
- • Kölsch beer culture: beer served in 0.2L glasses (Stange), waiter keeps bringing refills until you place beer mat on top. Each brewery has own Kölsch brand
- • Carnival (Karneval) is huge in Cologne (February/March). City goes wild for week before Ash Wednesday. Book accommodation year ahead. Rose Monday parade is highlight
- • Rhine promenade (Rheinauhafen, Rheinboulevard) perfect for sunset walks and cathedral views. Free and popular with locals. Food trucks and beer gardens in summer
- • Many museums closed Mondays. Cathedral open daily but may close during services. Free entry to cathedral, charge for tower climb and treasury
- • Original Eau de Cologne (Kölnisch Wasser) invented here in 1709. 4711 is most famous brand. Makes good souvenir gift
- • Sunday: most shops closed except tourist areas. Restaurants, museums, and attractions open. Plan shopping for weekdays/Saturdays
🔗 Related Information
📋Quick Info
📅Best Season
April-October for pleasant weather, February-March for Carnival, December for Christmas markets
💰Daily Budget
$65-130/day
👥Popular With
Culture enthusiastsHistory buffsBeer loversArchitecture fansWeekend travelers
🗓️Recommended Stay
2-3 days
🌐Timezone
UTC+1 (CET)
💬Local Language
German (Kölsch dialect)
💱Currency
EUR (Euro)
📅Cologne 3-Day Itinerary
Recommended plan for efficient sightseeing
Historic Cologne & Cathedral
🌅
Morning2-3h
🎭
Cologne Cathedral visit and tower climb
💡 Arrive when cathedral opens (6am, 10am Sundays) to avoid crowds. Climb 533 steps to viewing platform for Rhine views. Cathedral free, tower €6. Skip tower if not fit - it's steep.
☀️
Afternoon3h
🎭
Museum Ludwig and Old Town exploration
💡 Museum Ludwig next to cathedral (€12, closed Mon). Modern art collection. Afterward, walk through Old Town colorful houses and squares. Lunch at traditional brewhouse.
🌙
Evening3h
🍜
Rhine riverfront walk and Kölsch beer experience
💡 Walk across Hohenzollern Bridge for cathedral sunset photos. Dinner and Kölsch beer at Früh am Dom or authentic Brauhaus Sünner. Kölsch served in small 0.2L glasses continuously.
💡Tips
- •Download KVB app for easy public transport tickets and real-time schedules
- •Cathedral area crowded with tourists - explore neighborhoods like Ehrenfeld and Südstadt for local life
- •Free walking tours depart from cathedral daily. Tips-based, good city introduction
- •Tipping: round up or 5-10% in restaurants. Cash still preferred in many places
- •Book Carnival accommodation 6-12 months ahead. City fills up completely