Cologne Travel Guide: Travel Tips for Cologne, Germany
Cologne, located right along the Rhine River in western Germany, is a wonderful city famous for its imposing cathedral, and its splendid Romanesque churches offering visitors a perfect mix of culture and entertainment. Unfortunately, the historic center of Cologne was almost completely destroyed during the World War II and the post-war reconstruction slightly distorted the architecture, but its charm has been preserved.
Cologne Attractions
There are plenty of things to see and do in Germany's fourth largest city. Top attractions in Cologne are listed below.
Cologne Cathedral
Cologne Cathedral is the most important point in the list of places to visit in Cologne. It is possible to see the cathedral from different parts of the city as it really stands out. Cologne Cathedral, which is on the world UNESCO Heritage list, was built in 632. With a height of 157 meters, it was the tallest tower in Europe before the Eiffel Tower was built. If you want to have a bird's eye view of the city, you can climb 533 steps to admire the view of the city.
Great St. Martin Church
Great St. Martin Church s is the Romanesque Catholic church in Cologne. As a result of the World War II, it was damaged so restoration works continued until 1985 and the church has opened its doors again since then.
Hohenzollern Bridge
Hohenzollern Bridge, used by both pedestrians and vehicles, is the most famous bridge in the city. You will see thousands of padlocks left by lovers from all over the world on the bridge that connects the old part of the city with the new side.
Fischmarkt
Fischmarkt is the square, which was formerly known as the fish market, and now attracts tourists with the remaining 17th century Cologne houses.
Chocolate Museum
Chocolate Museum houses a collection that traces 5,000 years of chocolate history. The space of 4,000 square meters contains exhibits that shed light on the origins and the culture of chocolate and how it has developed through centuries. You should book Chocolate Museum Entrance Ticket online to get the best deal and skip the line at this popular tourist attraction in Cologne.
Perfume Museum
Eau de Cologne for the first time in history was produced in Cologne. The most famous cologne in the world is 4711 Kölnisch Wasser. The hallmark of this number is the building number of the street where the factory is located.
Belgian Quarter
Belgian Quarter is one of Cologne's most popular spots. The name is derived from street names in the vicinity, referring to Belgian provinces or cities. This city’s quarter is the place where locals, young people and students hang out.
Rhine River
The Rhine River is one of the major European rivers, which starts in Switzerland and flows through Germany and the Netherlands, into the North Sea. Cologne is the largest city on the Rhine, which is an important feature of this city. For the special travel experience, cruise through the charming city of Cologne and discover its sightseeing highlights from the water with Cologne Rhine River Cruise.
Other Attractions in Cologne
The extended list of top tourist attractions in the city can be found here: Top Attractions in Cologne.
Cologne Tourist Card
If you are going to visit museums in Cologne and use public transportation frequently, there are 2 different tourist cards that you can use to lower your travel expenses.
One of them is KölnCard, allowing you to use city’s public transportation unlimitedly and offering discounts for entering some of Cologne museums. The card's 24-hour fee is 9 Euro and the 48-hour fee is 18 Euro. In fact, it comes for the same price as buying a daily transportation card, but at least you can get discounts up to 50% in the areas of sightseeing, art, culture and gastronomy.
Another option is the Museum Card, which lets you enter a number of museums for free for 2 days and use public transportation unlimitedly for 1 day. The MuseumsCard Single costs 18 euro. The MuseumsCard Family, which costs 30 Euro, offers the same advantages and is valid for two adults and two children under 18. Take a look at this website to see the list of museums that can be accessed for free.
Cologne at Night
Cologne is well known in Germany for its vibrant nightlife scene. There are many options for spending a night out in the city as you can choose from visiting a theater, opera, bars with live music, or night clubs. There is no limit to night entertainment in Cologne, which offers many cultural options.
Cologne Transportation
There are three main options for getting to Cologne from other cities in Germany and other countries as most of visitors come here by plane, train or bus.
Flights to Cologne
Cologne shares a common airport with Bonn, the so-called Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN). There are direct flights to Cologne from the following cities in Germany: Berlin, Dresden, Munich, Hamburg and Leipzig. Sometimes you can find really low prices for the flight to Cologne as they can start from as low as 20 Euro. However, some of the travelers decide to fly to other nearby airports (e.g. Frankfurt, or Dusseldorf, or Weeze) and then reach Cologne by other means of transportation.
Taking the flight remains the best solution to get to Cologne, and one of the best places to find flights to Cologne from wherever you are at the preferential rates is this flight search system.
The most popular domestic flights to Cologne:
The most popular international flights to Cologne:
From Cologne Bonn Airport to the city
Cologne Bonn Airport is located just about 13 kilometers south-east of Cologne. If you want to reach the center by public transport from the airport, you can use the S13 or S19 trains. The journey to Cologne will cost only 3 Euro and you will be able to reach the city in just 15 minutes. If you will continue to use public transportation during the day, getting KölnCard (Cologne Card) is recommended to make most of your trip. If you have an intention to travel to the city by taxi, expect the taxi fare to be around 30-35 Euro, depending on the traffic situation.
Detailed information about various ways for getting from the airport into the city can be found here: Cologne Airport to City.
Bus to Cologne
Cologne is a popular destination for numerous long-distance buses. Flixbus in particular run to this city from the most diverse corners of Germany.
Some of the most popular bus routes to Cologne:
Train to Cologne
Last but not least, German trains should not be missed when thinking of traveling to Cologne. Railway lines connect Köln Hauptbahnhof (the central station of the city) with the rest of Europe including major cities of Germany, as well as with Brussels and Paris.
If you are planning to explore Germany by train, get German Rail Pass and you will be able to travel around the country without the hassle of collecting multiple train tickets. With this pass you can get unlimited train rides for up to 15 consecutive or non-consecutive days. German Rail Pass also offers other travel benefits like free transportation and discounted accommodation.
Public Transport in Cologne
Cologne has a very well planned public transport system. Metro, train, tram, bus, all of them are connected in some way and you can easily reach the point you want.
The main elements of this system are buses with the light rail system and U-Bahn, where trams serve as a whole. The regional trains, called "S-Bahn", also carry passengers as an integral part of the public transportation in Cologne city.
For journeys within Cologne or Bonn (Zone 1b), the single ticket fare is 3 Euro and the day-ticket costs 8.80 Euro. These tickets cover the entire city area, but are not valid outside.
Renting a bike has become very popular in the city in recent years. To get a bike through the Call a Bike system, you must first register online. You can also take Cologne 3-Hour Guided Bike Tour to ride along the 15-kilometer-long route to see the Rheinpark, Hohenzollern Bridge, Cologne Philharmonic Hall, and the world-famous cathedral.
For greater freedom of movement, especially to visit the surroundings of Cologne, you can also opt for car rental upon arrival at the airport. However, if you are going to Cologne for the first time and planning to stay in a place not far from the center, we would recommend you to walk. Cologne is a city that can be easily explored on foot and you can fully feel the atmosphere of the city and visit the sights containing historical treasures.
Where to stay in Cologne?
To discover the city in peace and appreciate all its charms, finding the accommodation that suits you is essential. The most important places to visit in Cologne revolve around the Altstadt (Old Town). Therefore, the best accommodation options are located in this area. However, staying in the old town can be really pricey as the cost of living in Cologne is relatively high. If you are looking for an economical choice, you should check hotels in other neighborhoods such as Nippes or Humboldt-Gremberg, where the supply of private apartments is abundant.
To find the best area to stay in Cologne and hotel tips for every price range in the area, read our guide to Cologne best areas.
If you don’t want to waste time searching for the best place to stay in Cologne, our carefully selected list of the best hotels in Cologne will help you to choose one easily.
Some of the best rated accommodations in Cologne in different price ranges are listed below.
Luxury hotels
Hotel Mondial am Dom Cologne MGallery
Mid-range hotels
CityClass Hotel Caprice am Dom
Budget friendly hotels
Eating and drinking in Cologne
Cologne, without any doubt, is famous for Kölsch, the beer of Cologne. It is light and slightly bitter and is served in the typical Kolsch Stange glass. You will find many breweries that have outdoor tables in summer, where you can taste this traditional delicacy. Obviously, there is not only beer as the city boasts a wide range of restaurants where you can eat the best of German cuisine, mainly meat and traditional sausages.
You can join this popular Cologne Brewery Tour with Three "Kölsch" Tastings to learn about Cologne’s most interesting, hilarious, and weird legends and its fun facts, while enjoying the delicious local beer: Kölsch.
Some of the famous German flavors you should try:
Himmel un Ääd (Heaven and Earth): Mashed potatoes with onion and apple puree with a special sauce.
Rievkoche: Potato pancake with apple puree.
Flönz: A simple blood sausage popular in Germany.
Rheinischer Soorbrode: Beef with raisin sauce, served with a potato dumpling and applesauce.
Röggelchen: Rye bun with cheese and butter.
Kölsche Kaviar: Blood sausage with onions.
Altbier: German beer which originated in Düsseldorf.
Cologne 3-Hour Südstadt Food Tour is a good chance to enjoy a walking tour with a certified guide in Südstadt Cologne, savor 5 delicacies at 5 selected places and learn about the culture, architecture and history of the Severin district.
Shopping in Cologne
Cologne is one of Germany's most popular cities for shopping. Hohe Straße and Schildergasse streets are the most important shopping destinations. There are thousands of shopping alternatives, big stores, fashion boutiques and branches of chain brands. Another street that you can browse is Mittelstrasse, main shopping street with more classic brands such as Zara, H&M.
Best time to visit Cologne
Cologne has a sub-oceanic climate, typical to this part of Europe. This means that the climate here is affected by ocean currents, determining the humid, rainy and windy weather. Winters are cold and the beginning of spring and the end of autumn is often gloomy and unstable. To fully enjoy Cologne, it is best to plan your visit between May and September. However, Cologne can be really humid even in summer, while July and August in Cologne are generally mild.
Cologne is also known as the city of festivals that can be visited at any time of the year.
Cologne Carnival
Cologne Carnival is the most important tradition in Cologne. The idea of Carnival originates in the time of the Greek and Roman who celebrated the winter solstice. The carnival session is celebrated for five days from “Weiberfastnacht” (Thursday) until “Veilchendienstag” (Tuesday). The motto is the more colorful the better. Medieval costumes, hooped shirts, funny hats and glasses with false noses are everywhere. Wear the appropriate makeup and one of the makeshift costumes sold on stalls around the city. You can join the procession of locals parading on the streets and festive pubs everywhere.
Cologne Christmas Markets
If you will be traveling to this city in late November - early December, you are very lucky, because Cologne makes Christmas markets as a serious event. More than 10 Christmas markets are established in different areas of the city and they remain open for a month. The main Christmas markets in Cologne are the ones around the Cathedral Square, on the Alter Markt, on the Neumarkt and on the Rudolfplatz. Souvenir stands, food and beverage stands are set up in the markets.
