Your city guide to Cologne
Discover Cologne on the Rhine
From the cathedral to the Belgian Quarter, from brewhouse to Michelin star. Attractions, hotels, neighborhoods and ready-made travel planners for Germany's fourth-largest city.
- 22
- Attractions
- 38
- Hotels
- 29
- Restaurants
- 9
- Neighborhoods
Attractions
Experience Cologne in a day
Old Town
Cologne Cathedral
A Gothic cathedral, UNESCO World Heritage Site and 515 feet tall. With 6 million visitors a year, it is Germany's most-visited landmark.
Free entry
Old Town
Hohenzollern Bridge
A railway bridge famous for its love locks. The best selfie spot, with the cathedral in the background.
Free entry
Old Town
Museum Ludwig
One of the world's most important collections of modern art. Picasso, Pop Art and the Russian avant-garde.
from 11 €
Old Town
Groß St. Martin
A Romanesque basilica with a clover-leaf choir. One of Cologne's twelve great Romanesque churches.
Free entry
Hotels
Stay in style
Old Town
Excelsior Hotel Ernst
A grand hotel right by the cathedral since 1863. Michelin-starred taku restaurant and timeless elegance.
from
240 € / night
Old Town
The Qvest Hideaway
A design hotel inside a neo-Gothic former city archive. Vintage furniture and a library atmosphere.
from
165 € / night
Old Town
Humboldt1 Palais-Hotel
A 19th-century town palace, a three-minute walk from the cathedral. Classic and elegant.
from
135 € / night
Old Town
Savoy Hotel Köln
A privately run luxury hotel with a spa, library bar and 92 individually designed rooms.
from
195 € / night
Dining
Brewhouse, Michelin stars and more
Old Town
Früh am Dom
A traditional brewhouse pouring Kölsch on tap right next to the cathedral. Halve Hahn, Himmel un Ääd and pork knuckle.
Old Town
Peters Brauhaus
A classic brewhouse with an Art Nouveau interior. A mecca of Köbes culture on the Alter Markt.
Old Town
Gilden im Zims
A modern brewhouse in the historic Zims House. Gilden Kölsch and elevated Rhineland cuisine.
Old Town
Le Moissonnier
A two-star restaurant by Vincent Moissonnier and Eric Menchon. Top French cuisine in a Belle Époque setting.
Neighborhoods
Cologne by Veedel
Old Town
The heart of Cologne between the cathedral, the Rhine and Heumarkt. Brewhouses, the Hohenzollern Bridge and medieval lanes.
Belgian Quarter
A creative quarter around Brüsseler Platz. Concept stores, indie cafés and young galleries.
Ehrenfeld
A diverse, multicultural quarter with street art, cafés, Turkish markets and underground clubs.
Rheinauhafen
An architecture hotspot on the Rhine. The Crane Houses, the Chocolate Museum and a modern promenade.
Start planning
Guides for your first trip to Cologne
Written for visitors who have never been to Germany: what to see, how to spend a single day, and the history behind the buildings you will walk past.
Overview
Things to Do in Cologne
The cathedral, the Old Town and the Rhine, the museums and the neighborhoods most visitors never reach. Plus the local rules on Kölsch and Carnival.
Itinerary
One Day in Cologne
An hour-by-hour route from the cathedral at 9am to a brewhouse dinner, with under 3 miles of walking and no taxis.
Landmarks
Cologne's Landmarks
The 515-foot cathedral, the love-lock bridge, Germany's oldest city hall and the medieval Bayenturm, explained.
History
Roman Cologne
Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium: how a Germanic settlement became a Roman provincial capital, and where you can still see it.
Tours & Tickets
Top tours in Cologne
The most-booked experiences for your Cologne trip. Book tickets online, free cancellation.
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