Exploring Cologne, Germany: Attractions And Activities

Cologne, Germany, is a city of contrasts, blending Medieval structures with post-war architecture. The city boasts many attractions, including the Cologne Cathedral, the Historic Old Town, and 12 Romanesque churches. The city is also known for its vibrant nightlife, with techno clubs and traditional German dining experiences.

Cologne, Germany, offers a plethora of attractions for visitors to explore. The city is a fascinating blend of old and new, with Medieval structures and post-war architecture coexisting harmoniously. One of the most prominent landmarks is the Cologne Cathedral, a towering Gothic church with stunning stained glass windows and intricate details. Beyond the cathedral, Cologne is home to 12 Romanesque churches, including the Great St. Martin Church, which showcases a beautiful clover-leaf shape and provides a moving glimpse into the city's history. The Historic Old Town, with its cobblestone streets and colourful buildings, is a delightful area to wander through. For those with a sweet tooth, the Chocolate Museum offers a glimpse into the history of chocolate and even has a chocolate fountain. Cologne also boasts a rich museum landscape, including the Ludwig Museum, which houses modern art and the third-largest collection of Picasso works in the world. The city's culinary scene features traditional German dishes and the unique Kölsch beer, best enjoyed in one of the many brewpubs. Additionally, Cologne provides opportunities for relaxation in its botanical gardens and spas, such as the Claudius Therme. With its mix of cultural, historical, and leisure activities, Cologne has something for everyone.

Explore the Old Town

Cologne's Old Town (Altstadt) is a must-see when visiting the city. With its colourful buildings, cobblestone lanes, and a mix of medieval and post-war architecture, the Old Town offers a unique blend of history and reconstruction. Here are some highlights and things to do in this charming part of Cologne:

• Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom): This Gothic masterpiece is Germany's most visited landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Climb the 533 steps to the top of the south tower for breathtaking views of the city. Admire the intricate stained glass, the "Richter-Fenster," and the shrine of the Three Kings.
• Roman-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum): Discover Roman artefacts and mosaics, including a well-preserved Roman villa with a beautiful Dionysus mosaic.
• Hohenzollern Bridge (Hohenzollernbrücke): Stroll along this historic bridge adorned with love locks, offering scenic views of the river and the bustling railway.
• Old Town Hall (Kölner Rathaus): Explore the oldest public building in Germany, featuring a Renaissance porch that survived the 1945 bombings. Look out for the carvings on the building's exterior.
• Gross St. Martin (Great St. Martin's Church): One of the twelve Romanesque churches in the Old Town, this imposing church has a distinctive crossing tower and Roman foundations.
• Fischmarkt: Retrace your steps to this quaint square, once the fish market. The surrounding buildings may look medieval, but they were actually rebuilt in the early 20th century.
• Alter Markt (Old Market Square): This historic square features a 19th-century fountain commemorating Jan von Werth, a victorious army general. It's also home to the Old Town Hall and one of Cologne's famous Christmas markets.
• Squares and Alleyways: Wander through the charming cobblestone alleyways and discover hidden squares surrounded by pastel-coloured buildings, boutiques, galleries, and cafes.
• City Gates: Don't miss the opportunity to see Cologne's twelve medieval city gates, three of which are still in use today.
• Guided Tours: Consider taking a guided walking tour of the Old Town to learn more about its history and explore hidden gems.

Visit the Chocolate Museum

If you're a chocolate lover, a visit to the Chocolate Museum in Cologne is a must. The museum offers a comprehensive overview of the history of cocoa and chocolate, with exhibits covering 5,000 years of cultivation and the transformation of cocoa beans into chocolate. Here's what you can expect during your visit:

The Exhibition

The museum is located on a small island in the Rhine River and spans over 4,000 square meters of exhibition space. It was founded by German chocolatier Hand Imhoff in partnership with Swiss chocolatier Lindt and opened in 1993. The exhibition includes:

• A large cocoa tree model and a 10-meter-high tropical house that showcase the journey of cocoa from harvest to the global trade.
• A diverse collection of historic items, including an 18th-century porcelain and silver collection.
• Exhibits from pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, providing insight into the ancient origins of chocolate.
• A glass-walled production facility and chocolate workshop where visitors can observe both mechanized and manual chocolate-making processes.
• A famous chocolate fountain with 200 kilograms of chocolate flowing down from a height of three meters.

Tastings and Cafe

Throughout the museum, there are opportunities to indulge your sweet tooth. Visitors can enjoy treats from the chocolate fountain and sample various chocolates. The museum also has a cafe, Chocolat Grand Cafe, offering delicious chocolate specialties and a magnificent view of the Rhine River.

Interactive Activities

The museum offers interactive activities for all ages. You can create your own customized chocolate bar by choosing your favorite ingredients. There are also chocolate-making courses and guided tours available.

Special Events

The Chocolate Museum also hosts various special events, including weddings, gala dinners, corporate meetings, and educational activities for school classes. It provides a unique and luxurious backdrop for private events.

Practical Information

The Chocolate Museum is closed on Mondays from January to March and in November. The opening hours are usually 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. It is located at Am Schokoladenmuseum 1A, 50678 Cologne, and can be easily accessed via public transport.

Take a cable car over the Rhine

Taking a cable car over the Rhine is a unique way to experience Cologne, Germany, from a bird's-eye view. The Cologne Cable Car, or Kölner Seilbahn, has been transporting passengers across the Rhine since 1957, offering a panoramic view of the city, the old town, and the beautiful surroundings. Here are some key details and a step-by-step guide to enhance your experience:

• History and Facts: The Cologne Cable Car opened on April 26, 1957, in time for the biannual German horticultural show, the Bundesgartenschau. It connects the exhibition sites at Rheinpark with those on the other side of the river, near the Cologne Zoo and Botanical Garden. The cable car closed temporarily in 1963 due to land requirements for the new Zoo Bridge but reopened in 1966 with a modified route. It is considered Cologne's safest means of transport, having carried 13.7 million passengers without an accident between 1957 and 2004.
• Operating Hours and Tickets: The cable car operates daily from April through October. It is typically open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the last round trip starting at 5:45 p.m. However, the operating hours may vary for special events. Tickets are available for single trips, multiple trips, and groups, with discounts for children and special offers for combination tickets with other attractions.
• Getting There: To reach the cable car stations, you can take public transportation. For the "Zoo/Flora" station, use line 18 (tram) or 140 (bus). For the "Thermalbad" station, use bus lines 150, 250, or 260. Car parking is available under the bridge (Zoobrücke) on both sides of the Rhine, and there is also a multi-story car park on the left bank of the Rhine.
• Experience: The 930-meter-long ride takes about 6 minutes to get from one bank of the Rhine to the other. During the ride, you will be treated to a unique perspective of Cologne's skyline and a panoramic view of the old town, the Rhine, and the surrounding area. The cable car also crosses over the thermal baths known as the Claudius Therme, located in the Rheinpark.
• Combination Offers: For a full experience, consider combination tickets that include the cable car ride and other attractions. For example, the "Himmel un Äd" offer includes a round trip on the cable car and a ride on the Wolters Zoo-Express, a narrow-gauge railway that takes you along the Rhine and through the northern part of the city centre. You can also combine the cable car ride with a visit to the Kölner Zoo/Aquarium or take advantage of discounts offered with the KölnPass or KölnCard.

Discover the city's Roman history

Cologne, or Köln, is a city steeped in Roman history. In 39 BCE, the Germanic tribe of the Ubii settled on the left bank of the Rhine, establishing Oppidum Ubiorum (the settlement of the Ubii) and an important Roman military base. In 50 CE, the Cologne-born Agrippina the Younger, wife of Emperor Claudius, requested that her hometown be elevated to the status of a colonia (a city under Roman law). It was renamed Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensis, shortened to Colonia Agrippina, and became the capital of the Roman province of Lower Germany.

The Romans built a fortified settlement, with a castle and a permanent bridge over the Rhine, connecting the city to the right bank. Ceramics and glass were manufactured in Roman Cologne, and the city was a centre of trade, with five Roman trunk roads intersecting with the Rhine, which was also used as a water transport route.

The Roman influence is still evident in modern-day Cologne. The city is home to the Römisch-Germanisches Museum, which houses archaeological finds from the Roman era, including Roman military tombstones, mosaics, and a section of a Roman municipal sewage system. The Roman North Gate, part of the original city wall, can also be visited, along with the remains of the Praetorium, the Roman governors' palace.

Cologne's famous cathedral, constructed much later, stands on the site of an earlier church built in the early 4th century by Cologne's first Christian bishop, Maternus. The current Gothic cathedral, with its towering spires, is Germany's most-visited tourist attraction and houses the mind-boggling 'Richter-Fenster', a 106-square-metre window made up of 11,000 hand-blown glass panels in 72 different colours.

Sample the local beer, 'Kölsch'

Sampling the local beer, Kölsch, is a must-do when visiting Cologne. This unique beer style, pronounced "kelsch", is a protected geographical indication product within the European Union. It can only be called a Kölsch if it is brewed within 50 km of the city of Cologne and made according to the Kölsch Konvention, as defined by the members of the Cologne Brewery Association.

Kölsch is a clear, light, and crisp lager with a straw-yellow hue. It is warm-fermented with top-fermenting yeast and then conditioned at cold temperatures like a lager, resulting in a refreshing golden beer that is typically enjoyed during the warmer months. In Cologne, it is customary to serve Kölsch in a tall, thin, cylindrical 200-millilitre glass called a Stange. The server, known as a Köbes, carries multiple Stangen on a Kranz, a circular tray that resembles a crown.

When drinking Kölsch, it is considered good luck to clink glasses at the bottom rather than the top. To order another beer, simply leave your empty glass on the table, and the Köbes will automatically bring you a fresh one. To indicate that you do not want another beer, place the coaster on top of your empty glass.

You can sample Kölsch at various breweries and brauhauses throughout the city. Here are some popular spots to enjoy this local brew:

• Früh: One of the most popular breweries, known for its slightly more malty and hoppy Kölsch. The main Früh brauhaus by the Dom offers a classic experience with a sprawling space across different buildings and floors.
• Reissdorf: A well-known Kölsch brewery outside of Cologne's Old Town, with a slightly maltier and heavier taste.
• Gaffel: Located near the main train station, Gaffel's brauhaus has a modern feel with a huge open room. They also offer delicious food, making it a perfect spot to visit before catching a train.
• Brauerei Pfaffen: This family-owned brewery, with a bright orange exterior, is located on the northeast corner of Heumarkt. They serve crisp, clean Kölsch in a friendly atmosphere.
• Peter's Brauhaus: A quintessential German brauhaus in the Old Town, serving smooth and crisp Kölsch straight from the tap. It is a unique spot to visit, as their beer is harder to find outside of the brauhaus.
• Brauerei zur Malzmühle: A small brewery with a cult-like following, located just outside the old town near Heumarkt. Their Kölsch has a richer, hoppier flavour and a great malt backbone.

Frequently asked questions