Exploring Cologne, Germany: A Travel Guide To The City's Best Sights

Cologne, Germany, is a city steeped in history and culture, with plenty to see and do. The city is home to stunning architecture, including the iconic Cologne Cathedral, a Gothic UNESCO World Heritage site. The Old Town, with its colourful buildings and cobbled streets, is a must-see, as is the Hohenzollern Bridge, adorned with thousands of love locks. For art lovers, the Wallraf-Richartz Museum and the Museum Ludwig are must-visits, with the latter boasting an extensive collection of Picasso's works. Cologne also offers a unique take on the traditional pub crawl with its beerhouses, where you can sample the local brew, Kölsch. If you're craving something sweet, the Chocolate Museum is sure to satisfy your cravings. For a tranquil escape, the Botanical Garden and the Belgian Quarter are perfect spots to unwind.

Explore the Old Town

Cologne's Old Town (Altstadt) is a must-see when visiting the city. Stretching along the west bank of the Rhine River, with the UNESCO-listed Cologne Cathedral as its backdrop, the Old Town is a mix of colourful old buildings, beautiful Romanesque churches, and scenic riverside promenades.

The carefully restored 14th to 17th-century townhouses in the Old Town have beautiful views across the river Rhine. With the Romanesque church, Gross St. Martin, providing an impressive backdrop, it's the perfect spot to sit with a coffee and watch the world go by.

You'll also be able to see Cologne's twelve medieval city gates, three of which are still in use today. Don't miss Cologne's Old Town Hall (Kölner Rathaus), the oldest public building in Germany, and see if you can spot the mooning statue on one of the towers at City Hall in the Alter Markt.

The best way to explore these historical sites is with a guide, who will help you to discover not only the well-known sites but also those that are a little more unusual.

Visit the Ludwig Museum

The Ludwig Museum in Cologne, Germany, is a must-see destination for art lovers and those seeking a cultural experience. Here is a comprehensive guide to help you plan your visit:

About the Museum

The Ludwig Museum is one of Europe's most significant art museums, housing a diverse collection of modern and contemporary art. It was established in the 1980s and is located in a modern, purpose-built complex near the Cologne Cathedral. The museum's collection includes the third-largest collection of Picasso works in the world, masterpieces of Expressionism, Pop Art, Surrealism, Abstract art, and photography.

Plan Your Visit

• Location and Hours: The Ludwig Museum is located at Bischofsgartenstrasse 1, 50667 Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, including public holidays, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. On the first Thursday of every month, the museum remains open until 10:00 pm.
• Tickets and Pricing: The entry fee for adults is €13.00, while children can enter for free. Reduced tickets are available for €8.50.
• Getting There: The museum is easily accessible, just a 4-minute walk from Cologne Central Station.
• What to See: The museum's collection includes works by renowned artists such as Picasso, Dali, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Richter, Mondrian, Man Ray, Hockney, Polke, Klee, Macke, Pollock, Klein, and Kirchhoff. The Sammlung Haubrich collection, which features Expressionist art by Erich Heckel, Kirchner, August Macke, and Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, is also housed in the museum. In addition, the museum has a Photography Collection with 70,000 photographic works ranging from the beginnings of photography to the present day.
• Facilities: The museum offers a range of facilities, including a café, lockers, and accessibility options for elderly and disabled visitors.
• Nearby Attractions: While in the area, you can also visit nearby attractions such as the Cologne Cathedral, the Romano-Germanic Museum, the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, and the Historic Old Town.

Tips for Your Visit

• The Ludwig Museum is an extensive art museum with a lot to offer. Plan to spend a few hours exploring the various exhibitions and collections.
• If you are an art enthusiast, consider purchasing a catalogue or guide book from the museum shop to enhance your experience.
• Check the museum's website or social media pages for information on temporary exhibitions and special events before your visit.
• If you are visiting with children, the museum offers educational activities and resources to make the experience more engaging for younger visitors.
• The museum's café is a great place to take a break and enjoy a light meal or beverage.
• Photography is generally permitted in the museum, so feel free to capture your favourite artworks and exhibits to remember your visit.

The Ludwig Museum is a cultural gem in the heart of Cologne, offering a wealth of artistic treasures and a fascinating insight into the world of modern and contemporary art. Whether you are an art connoisseur or a casual admirer, a visit to the Ludwig Museum is sure to be a memorable experience.

Wander over Love Lock Bridge

The Hohenzollern Bridge in Cologne is a pedestrian bridge adorned with hundreds of thousands of love locks. The tradition of attaching a padlock to the bridge and throwing the key into the Rhine River is a symbol of everlasting love. The custom is thought to have originated in Italy, and from there it spread across Europe.

A stroll across the bridge is a romantic experience, not least because of the fantastic panorama of the city centre and the Rhine. The bridge offers views of the river and the Cologne Cathedral, as well as four statues of Prussian kings and emperors from the Hohenzollern family.

The love locks are best reached via the entrance at the back of Cologne Cathedral. From the main railway station, walk past the Museum Ludwig and across Heinrich-Böll-Platz to get to the footpath onto the bridge.

The History of Love Locks

The custom of attaching love locks to bridges is thought to have begun in Italy, the country of Romeo and Juliet. In Florence, graduate students at the University of San Giorgio started to attach padlocks to the Ponte Vecchio Bridge to demonstrate that they had completed their studies. Later, lovers continued the custom, attaching padlocks to the Milvian Bridge and throwing the keys into the River Tiber.

Another possible origin story is Serbia. In the town of Vrnjačka Banja, there is a bridge called Most Ljubavi (Bridge of Love). Local legend says that a teacher called Nada fell in love with an officer, Relja, but he left to serve in World War One and found a new love on the island of Korfu. Nada died of a broken heart, and to prevent the same fate, the women of Vrnjačka Banja started to engrave their lovers' names on padlocks and attach them to the bridge's railing.

Love Locks Around the World

The custom of attaching padlocks to public sites is now widespread. Similar bridges can be found in Paris, Edinburgh, Albury (Australia), Ottawa (Canada), Bamberg (Germany), Toowoomba (Australia), and Lovelock, Nevada (USA).

Local authorities have varying reactions to padlock sites. In some places, they are tolerated or promoted as tourist attractions, while in others, they are considered vandalism. In Paris, for example, about one million padlocks were removed from the Pont des Arts bridge in 2014 after a section of the railing collapsed under the weight.

The History of Hohenzollern Bridge

The Hohenzollern Bridge was constructed between 1907 and 1911, and it was inaugurated by German Emperor Wilhelm II. At the time, the bridge consisted of three parallel parts, each with three transverse arches. It was destroyed during World War II and rebuilt between 1948 and 1959 with a different architecture, including only the railway tracks and two sidewalks.

The bridge is now one of the most used European railway bridges, crossed by more than 1,200 trains each day. It has a length of about 400 metres.

Take a Rhine Boat Trip

Cologne is a cultural capital and university city enriched with more than 2,000 years of history. One of the best ways to experience the city is by taking a boat trip along the Rhine River. There are several companies offering panoramic tours of the city, including KölnTourist, KölnDüsseldorfer, and Colonia. The route most people take is south to the old fishing community of Rodenkirchen, an hour-long cruise that floats past the cathedral, the spires of the old town, the new Rheinauhaufen district, and under four bridges, each with interesting trivia attached.

You can also opt for a round-trip sightseeing cruise, sometimes referred to as a panorama cruise. These cruises are usually around an hour but can be longer to include coffee breaks, dancing, lunch, or dinner. If you're looking for a more scenic option, consider a day cruise along the Middle Rhine (Loreley Valley) between Rüdesheim/Bingen and Koblenz. This stretch of the Rhine is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list and includes the Loreley Rock, numerous castles, and romantic villages.

For a unique experience, you can take a winter cruise on the Rhine during the Christmas market Advent season or a special party cruise to greet the New Year.

Visit the Chocolate Museum

The Chocolate Museum in Cologne is one of the world's top attractions in its field. The museum, operated by Schokoladenmuseum Köln GmbH, offers about 4,000 tours for its 650,000 visitors annually. The exhibition space covers over 4,000 square metres, featuring the world's most comprehensive exhibition of the history of cocoa, covering 5,000 years of cultivation.

Exhibitions

The museum offers a diverse collection of historical items, including:

• An 18th and 19th-century porcelain and silver collection
• A greenhouse you can walk through
• A chocolate fountain containing 200 kilograms of chocolate, flowing from a height of three metres
• Exhibits from pre-Columbian Mesoamerica
• Various historical industrial machinery

Tastings and tours

You can also taste all kinds of chocolate treats, including a chocolate fondue, drinking chocolates, and chocolate cakes. The museum offers guided tours, including a "Fine Tasting" tour, where you can sample selected chocolates. There is also a "Chocolate School" tour, where you can learn about the history and making of chocolate.

Café and shop

The museum has a chocolate-themed café with a view of the Rhine, serving chocolate fondue, drinking chocolates, and chocolate cakes. There is also a shop where you can buy different varieties of Lindt chocolates and create your own customised chocolates.

Practical information

The Chocolate Museum is located at Am Schokoladenmuseum 1A, 50678 Cologne, and is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. The museum is closed on Mondays from January to March and in November. Tickets are €13.50 for adults and €8.50 for children.

Frequently asked questions