A Day In Cologne: Sights And Delights

Cologne, Germany is a city with a 2000-year history, boasting Roman ruins, Medieval structures, and modern architecture. With so much to see and do, here is a one-day itinerary to make the most of your time in this vibrant city.

Start your day by visiting the awe-inspiring Cologne Cathedral, an architectural marvel and the most visited landmark in Germany. This Gothic cathedral, with its towering spires, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Climbing the 533 steps to the top offers a panoramic view of the city and the River Rhine.

Next, explore the Old Town, with its cobblestone streets, colourful buildings, and quaint squares. Wander through the romantic alleyways and admire the Romanesque churches, including the Great St. Martin Church.

After lunch, head to the Hohenzollern Bridge, adorned with love locks, providing scenic views of the river and the bustling railway. From here, you can walk along the Rhine and enjoy the cityscape.

In the afternoon, visit the Cologne Chocolate Museum, a paradise for chocolate lovers, with interactive displays and live demonstrations. Learn about the history of chocolate and indulge in some sweet treats.

As the day draws to a close, soak up the sunset from the top of the KölnTriangle, offering 360-degree panoramic views of the city, including the iconic spires of the cathedral.

End your day by indulging in the local cuisine and a cold Kölsch beer, the traditional brew of Cologne, in one of the many Bierhäuser (beer houses).

Explore the Old Town

Cologne's Old Town, or Altstadt, is a must-see for anyone visiting the city. With its cobblestone streets, colourful buildings, and quaint alleyways, it offers a charming glimpse into the past. Here are some highlights and things to do in this historic neighbourhood:

• Admire the Romanesque Churches: The Old Town is home to several Romanesque churches, including the Great St. Martin Church and St. Maria im Kapitol Church. These churches feature stunning architecture, both inside and out, with intricate stained glass windows and impressive spires.
• Cologne's City Hall: Also known as Kölner Rathaus, this is the oldest public building in Germany. Look out for the unique mooning statue on one of the towers in the Alter Markt.
• Explore the Squares: Wander through the narrow alleyways and discover picturesque squares such as Heumarkt and Altermarkt, where the old-world atmosphere shines through, despite the surrounding concrete constructions from the post-war period.
• Heinzelmännchenbrunnen Fountain: As you stroll along Am Hof, keep an eye out for this fountain from 1899. It depicts Cologne's beloved gnomes, the Heinzelmännchen, who, according to legend, did the city's work at night, allowing the citizens to relax.
• Gross St. Martin: This impressive Rhenish monument has been a part of the city's skyline since the 12th century. Bombed during the war, its reconstruction provided an opportunity to study its Roman foundations.
• Cafes and Restaurants: The Old Town offers a diverse dining scene, with options ranging from traditional German cuisine to international fare. It's the perfect place to sit, relax, and watch the world go by.

Visit the Cathedral

Cologne Cathedral, or Kölner Dom, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most famous landmarks in Germany. It is a Gothic cathedral with a challenging tower climb, intricate stained glass, and twin spires. The size of this cathedral is massive and can hold more than 20,000 people. The most significant artifact in the Cathedral is the Shrine of the Three Kings, located behind the main altar. This shrine holds a large gold-covered sarcophagus, which is said to contain the bones of the Three Wise Men. The Cathedral is free to enter, but it costs €6 per adult to climb to the tower and enter the treasury.

The Cathedral is an international pilgrimage site, holding the reliquary of the Three Kings since 1164. In 1248, construction began on a new Gothic home for these precious remains, inspired by the ethereal cathedrals of Northern France. The towers are the second-tallest structures in the city, standing at 515 feet tall.

The Cathedral is Germany's most visited tourist attraction, with its remarkable twin-spire church. It is well worth paying €4 to climb the south tower's 533 steps for a bird's eye view of Cologne. Go up the spiral stone staircase, through the bell tower (ear defenders are provided on Sundays), and into the spire for some impressive views of the city and the Rhine. The staircase is narrow in places, with two-way foot traffic, but the climb is well worth the effort.

The Cathedral is an architectural marvel that dominates the skyline of Cologne. It is absolutely stunning and well deserving of the attention it receives. The Gothic architecture, with its towering height, ribbed ceilings, beautiful stained glass, paintings, statues, detailed mosaic floors, and ironwork, will leave you in awe.

In addition to the Shrine of the Three Kings, there is a lot of invaluable art to admire inside the Cathedral. This includes stained glass windows from the 1500s, the 10th-century Gero-Kreuz crucifix, and a black marble high altar from the 1300s, carved with niches featuring images from the Coronation of the Virgin.

The Cathedral is located on the west (left) bank of the Rhine River, within easy walking distance of the Viking ship dock just across the Hohenzollernbrücke bridge on the opposite riverbank. It is also near the Historic Old Town and the 12 Romanesque churches.

Wander over Love Lock Bridge

Hohenzollern Bridge, also known as Love Lock Bridge, is a must-see when visiting Cologne. This arched bridge, built between 1907 and 1911, connects the cathedral and KölnTriangle, spanning the Rhine River. In the last decade, the bridge has become a symbol of everlasting love, with couples attaching padlocks to its grating and tossing the keys into the river. While the sight of thousands of locks may seem romantic to some, others may view it with cynicism, questioning whether it was just a clever marketing ploy invented by a hardware store owner. Nevertheless, the local railway company assures that the weight of the locks does not pose any structural problems for the bridge.

As you wander across the bridge, you will be treated to breathtaking views of the city skyline, including the Cathedral and the nearby Great St. Martin Church. The bridge is easily accessible, located just a short walk from the Cologne Central Station. A stroll across the bridge is included in many guided tours of the city, such as the multi-award-winning Cologne city tour.

If you're looking for a romantic stroll and a unique perspective of the city, a walk across the Love Lock Bridge is an excellent addition to your itinerary when visiting Cologne, Germany.

Indulge at the Chocolate Museum

If you have a sweet tooth, the Chocolate Museum in Cologne is a must-visit. The museum offers a journey through the history of chocolate, from its ancient beginnings to its modern-day production. With over 4,000 square metres of exhibition space, the museum provides a comprehensive overview of the world of cocoa and chocolate.

The museum is operated in collaboration with the renowned chocolate brand Lindt & Sprüngli. It offers a balance between educational details about chocolate's origins and the indulgent experience of seeing chocolate being made before your eyes. The museum also features a "tropicarium", growing cacao trees in a glass cube, as well as exhibits on the cultural history of chocolate and its production process.

One of the highlights of the museum is the three-metre-high chocolate fountain, where visitors can dip wafers into liquid chocolate for a delicious treat. In addition to the exhibits, the museum also offers guided tastings, where you can savour selected chocolates. The museum's café, Chocolat Grand Café, offers a variety of chocolate specialties, including chocolate fondue, drinking chocolates, chocolate cakes, and more. You can also enjoy a magnificent view of the Rhine River while indulging in your sweet treats.

The Chocolate Museum is located in the Rheinauhafen district, a creative and ambitious architectural landmark on the left bank of the Rhine River. The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, with tickets priced at €14.50 for adults. It is easily accessible, with the walk from the Heumarkt stop (Tram: 1, 5, 7, 9) taking about 8 minutes.

Take a Rhine Boat Trip

Taking a Rhine boat trip is a great way to see the city from a different perspective. You can sail down the Rhine, admiring the buildings from all sides and the city skyline. The route most people take is south to the old fishing community of Rodenkirchen on an hour-long cruise that floats past the cathedral, the spires of the old town, the new Rheinauhaufen district and under a total of four bridges, each with interesting trivia attached.

There are three companies offering panoramic tours of the city: KölnTourist, KölnDüsseldorfer and Colonia. However, if you book with the tourist board, you can pay one price and then choose which company you’d like to go with.

Evening dinner cruises are also available, showcasing the city all lit up.

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