Best Cologne Shopping Destinations In Cologne, Germany

Cologne, Germany, is a great place to shop for perfume, including the famous Eau de Cologne. The city has a range of shopping options, from vibrant shopping streets and high-end stores to huge department stores and unique boutiques. The historic Old Town is home to 4711 Glockengasse, which claims to be the birthplace of the original Eau de Cologne. The Farina Museum also offers the original Eau de Cologne as part of a tour. For niche perfumes and great customer service, try Möltgen on Ehrenstraße. For a wider selection of perfumes and cosmetics, the chain store Douglas is a good option, while Parfümerie Pieper and Sephora are also recommended. Cologne also has several shopping malls, including the Köln Arcaden, Rhein-Center Köln, and NEUMARKT Galerie, which offer a range of well-known stores and restaurants.

Shopping malls

Cologne, Germany, is a beautiful city with a lot to offer shoppers. From shopping malls to outlet stores, famous streets, and more, you can shop till you drop! Here is a list of some of the best shopping malls in the city:

Köln Arcaden

Köln Arcaden is a large shopping mall with over 110 stories of shopping, ranging from high-end designer shops to grocery stores and small boutiques. It is located in a busy local neighbourhood across the Rhine River, just a few blocks east of Pyramidenpark. You can shop at well-known stores like H&M, Pull&Bear, Orsay, and Tally Weijl. There is also a grocery store and a pharmacy for all your essential needs. The mall has an onsite food court with over 15 restaurants and fast-food franchises.

Rhein-Center Köln

Rhein-Center Köln is a shopping mall located just off Aachener Strasse in Weiden, a neighbourhood west of Cologne's city centre. It has a full-service grocery store, a pharmacy, and a variety of name-brand stores such as Zara, TK Maxx, and Levi's. Rhein-Center Köln offers more than just shopping; it also has massage chairs, a playground, lockers, and a pack station for shipping your goods home directly from the mall.

NEUMARKT Galerie

NEUMARKT Galerie is a posh shopping mall located conveniently a few steps from the Neumarkt transit stop in central Cologne. The building is hard to miss, with its unique roof shaped like an overturned ice cream cone. The mall features well-known stores like Primark, Claire's, Flying Tiger, and Rituals. It also has a full food court in the basement. With multiple entrances, including one from the U-Bahn, this mall is easy to navigate and a great place to escape the cold or rainy weather.

Opern Passagen

Opern Passagen is a large indoor shopping mall in central Cologne, just a 5-minute walk north of NEUMARKT Galerie. It has an elevated, contemporary design, making it a great option to escape bad weather or to enjoy a unique shopping experience. Opern Passagen has a variety of shops that you might not find in most Cologne malls, including the original Aue de Cologne perfume shop, a Bechstein piano manufacturer, the Villeroy & Boch porcelain shop, and the Dill & Chamomile home goods store. Don't forget to stop by the Heinemann bakery for a freshly baked treat!

Department stores

If you're looking for department stores in Cologne, Germany, then the Galeria Kaufhof is a must-visit. This large department store is located at the end of Schildergasse, one of the city's most popular shopping streets, and just 600 meters south of the Cologne Cathedral. Across its five storeys, you'll find a range of products, including designer clothes, home decor, and traditional German souvenirs. The standout feature is the cafeteria-style Markethalle, offering a delicious buffet of hot and cold food. During the holidays, the store is adorned with beautiful Christmas decorations.

Another notable department store in the city is Galeria Karstadt, one of the biggest in Germany. This impressive store, located on Breite Straße, blends old and new architectural styles seamlessly. Here, you'll find a wide range of retail outlets, including the popular Ditsch outlet, known for its cheese and ham baguettes.

For a more intimate department store experience, head to Hohe Strasse, just a few blocks west of the Rhine River. This street is known for its luxury brands, including Michael Kors, Bvlgari, and Yves Rocher, making it a popular destination for high-end shopping.

Lastly, for those seeking a unique shopping experience, the Opern Passagen is a modern, indoor shopping mall just a 5-minute walk north of NEUMARKT Galerie. Here, you'll find a variety of shops that are quite different from those found in most Cologne malls, such as the original Aue de Cologne perfume shop, a Bechstein piano manufacturer, and the Villeroy & Boch porcelain shop.

Perfume shops

There are several perfume shops in Cologne, Germany, ranging from small boutiques to large department stores. Here is a list of some of the top perfume shopping destinations in the city:

Farina Museum

The Farina Museum is home to the original Eau de Cologne, created by Johann Maria Farina in 1709. Visitors can take a tour of the museum and receive a small amount of the fragrance as part of the tour.

4711 House

Also known as Dufthaus 4711, this shop claims to be the birthplace of the original Eau de Cologne, or "Kölnisch Wasser" as the Germans call it. In 1810, the inventor began marketing the fragrance as a perfume, putting Cologne on the map. The original "Cologne Water" runs in a fountain by the door.

Möltgen

Located on Ehrenstraße, Möltgen is a small shop with a big selection of niche perfumes and great customer service. They offer a 20% discount on all fragrances.

Parfümerie Pieper

Parfümerie Pieper has been described as the best perfume shop in town by locals.

Douglas

Douglas is one of the bigger perfume and cosmetics chains in Germany. They offer a wide range of fragrances, and if you buy online, you can choose two perfume samples to try.

The Scientist

The Scientist is a unique perfume shop where you can create your own custom fragrances.

Parfümerie Mallach

Parfümerie Mallach, located in Mülheim, is another option for purchasing perfumes in Cologne.

Duftkunsthandlung from Holger Dubben

For those seeking something unique, the Duftkunsthandlung from Holger Dubben offers a selection of good and reasonably priced fragrances.

Galeria Kaufhof

Galeria Kaufhof is a large department store located in the center of Cologne's old town. They offer a variety of cosmetics, including perfumes, alongside other products such as luggage and clothing.

NEUMARKT Galerie

This posh shopping mall, conveniently located near the Neumarkt transit stop, features well-known stores like Primark, Claire's, Flying Tiger, and Rituals. It also has a full food court in the basement.

Hohe Strasse

Hohe Strasse is known as the shopping mile of Cologne and is just a few blocks west of the Rhine River. This street boasts various luxury brands, including perfume and cosmetics stores.

The Old Town

Cologne was almost entirely destroyed during World War Two, and the Old Town was rebuilt in 1945. It gives visitors a glimpse into what the city used to look like.

There is so much to explore in the Old Town. History buffs, beer connoisseurs, lovers of art, and food tourists will all find something to enjoy.

Must-See Attractions

If you're only popping into the Old Town for a quick stroll, these sights are highly recommended. They are the landmarks of Cologne and encapsulate the history and culture of the city.

No trip to a European city is complete without a cathedral tour. The gothic St Peter and St Mary Cathedral is Cologne's formidable landmark and one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. The twin steeples tower 157m into the sky, and the interior is a marvel of art. Inside the cathedral, you'll find stained glass windows from the 16th century and a Gero-Kreuz crucifix dating to the 10th century. But the pièce de résistance is the gilded shrine of the Three Kings, a spectacular triple sarcophagus ornately decorated.

The Kölner Rathaus (Town Hall) is a 16th-century building and the oldest public house in Germany. It has been a focal point of ruling classes for the past 900 years, and its architecture reflects different centuries. The main building is from the 1300s, while the tower reflects 15th-century architecture. The renaissance is visible in the loggia and cluster, and even the 20th century has left its mark in the atrium.

The Groß St. Martin Church is a Romanesque-Catholic church built on the remains of a Roman chapel. The central spire has been a recognisable feature in Cologne's skyline since the 12th century. The church, much like the rest of the city, was damaged in WW2 and was reconstructed in typical 12th-century Rhenish architecture. It is easily one of the most beautiful buildings in Cologne and towers over the Fischmarkt in the Old Town.

The Hohenzollern Bridge, crossing over the river Rhine, was originally a railway and road bridge. Now it can only be crossed by train or by foot, and a staggering 1200 trains cross the bridge every day. Much like many bridges across the world, it is adorned with love locks, making it a romantic spot for couples. The views of Cologne from the bridge are amazing.

The Alter Markt, or 'old market place', was originally the site of an old Roman port at a tributary of the Rhine. Over the years, the port began to fill with silt and eventually became the central market square in the 10th century. The square has a distinctive historic charm and is now a lively square lined with cafes and restaurants. Enjoy a coffee or locally brewed beer while imagining the jousting competitions that once took place here.

Museums

Whether you’re mad over museums or picky about visiting the more interesting ones, the Old Town has a couple of real goodies.

The Museum Ludwig is the place to go if 20th-century art is your thing. It’s home to an impressive collection of Picasso pieces and iconic pop art by Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. A 20th-century celebration of art wouldn’t be complete without Russian Avant-Garde pieces and famous expressionist art from the likes of Kirchner and August Macke.

The Romano-Germanic Museum was built around a Roman villa that was discovered while building bomb shelters near the cathedral during the war. The museum displays an extensive collection of Roman artefacts discovered at the site, including the famous Dionysus mosaic. It also exhibits artefacts discovered throughout Cologne from the time of Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, the capital of the Germania Inferior province.

The Wallraf Richartz Museum dates back to 1824 when Franz Ferdinand donated a huge amount of art to the city of Cologne. The collection includes Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and impressionist art. On display are some magnificent 15th-century Gothic paintings by Stefan Lochner, including Madonna.

The Farina Fragrance Museum is the place to go for lovers of Chanel No.5, or those who are all art-ed out. This is the very place that Eau de Cologne was invented and it is the oldest working perfume factory in the world. The museum is only accessible through 45-minute guided tours, which take you through different vaults and show you the process of making cologne today.

Brauhauses

Kӧlsch is the style of beer born in Cologne, and there is no lack of traditional beer houses serving their own specialities on tap.

Peters Brauhaus is one of the best Brauhauses in Cologne, never mind the Old Town. Just a few steps away from the cathedral, you’ll find a quintessentially German atmosphere, the favourite beer Peters Kölsch, and amazing food.

Brauhaus Sunner im Walfisch has beautiful exterior architecture that is so inviting it is almost impossible to walk past. The Brauhaus has a lot of character and a friendly, welcoming vibe. Large ten-seater tables encourage sharing with strangers, a communal and jovial experience.

Brauhaus Reissdorf am Griechenmarkt features an all-pine interior and is a great spot to kick back and enjoy Reissdorf Kolsch beers. Unless you cover your glass with a coaster, the beers will keep on flowing

The Chocolate Museum

The museum also has a glass-walled production facility and chocolate workshop, where visitors can observe both mechanised and manual chocolate-making processes. The CHOCOLAT Grand Cafe and the CHOCOLAT Shop are also located within the museum, offering delicious treats and souvenirs.

The museum's website offers online ticket bookings and various guided tours, such as the "Fine Tasting" experience, allowing visitors to taste selected chocolates.

Frequently asked questions