Is Cologne, Germany, Worth Visiting? A Guide to Top Things to Do in the City
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I’m going to guess that you’ve landed here because you were wondering, “Is Cologne, Germany, worth visiting?” Well, you’ve come to the right place!
Cologne, nestled along the beautiful Rhine River, is a hidden treasure in the western part of Germany.
With its beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site (cathedral), lively arts scene, and fascinating history, Cologne has something for everyone to enjoy.
Fortunately, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting it once (2022) and truly enjoyed it.
In this post, I’ll show you some of the best things to do in the city, amazing places to eat, and a few travel tips to prepare for your trip to this historic city.
Note that this guide only talks about the things we actually did on the trip that we thought were fun.
In any case, you are welcome to add or remove some of the recommended activities from this list to suit your preferences.
Now that you’re ready to see the best of Cologne, the city of art, culture, and, of course, cologne.
Let’s get started!
Essentials to Prepare for Your Trip!
- Getting to Cologne: Flight (Skyscanner), Bus (Flixbus), Train (Omio)
- Accommodation: Booking.com / Hostelworld (cheaper option)
- Tours & Activities: GetYourGuide
- Planning a road trip around Germany? Rent a car rental with DiscoverCars RentalCars
- Find the Best Places to Eat in Cologne
- Book a TimeRide Tour and enjoy an exciting virtual reality tour of Cologne as it was before World War II.
What Is Cologne Best Known For?
Cologne (or Köln, as the locals call it) is perhaps most famous for its stunning Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), a UNESCO World Heritage Site that towers over the city with breathtaking Gothic architecture. But there’s more!
- Cologne Christmas Markets: If you plan to visit in December, you’ll find yourself with plenty of delightful options at the magical markets scattered throughout the city. See the details of various Christmas markets for this year (2024).
- Carnival: If you come here in February or March, prepare for one of Europe’s most colourful and energetic street celebrations.
- Eau de Cologne: Yes, this is where the famous fragrance originated. Don’t forget to visit the Farina Fragrance Museum for a taste of history. As a heads-up, the museum is only open during organised tours. Find out what else is included with the ticket here.
When to Visit Cologne?
Cologne is a year-round destination, but certain times stand out:
- December: As previously said, the renowned Christmas markets in Germany draw a lot of travellers, and Cologne is no different.
- Spring (March to May): Great for those nice, mild days when there aren’t too many people around. We went at the end of July 2022, and it was just right in terms of crowds.
- Carnival Season: The city gets buzzing with parades, costumes, and a ton of fun.
How Do I Get to Cologne?
Cologne shares borders with Belgium and the Netherlands. Thanks to Germany’s efficient transport network, Cologne is a well-connected city that is accessible by train, plane, or car.
By Train
We chose to travel to Cologne by rail, which took roughly 30 minutes from Düsseldorf (via Brussels, where we spent a few days).
Book your train or bus ticket to Cologne here! 👇🏽
By Plane
Cologne has its airport, and from the city center, it’s just a quick train or taxi ride. Also, Eurowings’s headquarters are in Cologne.
This means that there are many low-cost airline flights from Cologne Airport to many places in Europe, including popular travel destinations and big cities.
River Cruise/Boat
The Rhine River runs alongside Cologne. So, you can also take a river cruise or a regional boat to go to Cologne if you’re planning a cruise journey around Europe.
Top Things to Do in Cologne, Germany
We had no packed itinerary for our visit to Cologne because it was the last city of our multi-city trip, which also included Bruges, Brussels, and Düsseldorf.
Since we were already tired, we just took it easy and went exploring. Here is everything we did, and I’d recommend it!
1. Marvel at Cologne Cathedral (For FREE!)
The Cologne Cathedral is a breathtaking example of Gothic architecture that soars into the sky with towering spires and detailed dark stone carvings that make it feel like something out of a fairytale.
It is impossible to miss—as soon as you step out of the train station, it’s right there, welcoming you with its breathtaking views!
Cologne Cathedral is not only a major attraction but also the biggest cathedral in Northern Europe. To learn more about this masterpiece, book the Cologne Cathedral and Old Town trip now!
INSIDER TIP:👇🏽
⏰ The Cologne Cathedral is open every day from 6 am to 8 pm. Opening times may change based on events happening in the city.
It is also one of the main attractions, so arrive early to take in its complex layout in peace.
🎟️ Entry to the Cathedral itself is free, but if you wish to climb the Cathedral Tower, then you may have to pay a small fee. Check current prices on the Cologne Cathedral website and other details.
🎄 Christmas markets and popular concerts often take place in the area surrounding the cathedral.
🎤 During our visit to Cologne, we were fortunate enough to see a free live performance by Tom Jones outside the cathedral.
Well, we were able to hear him perform but couldn’t see him due to the presence of crowd control barriers.
If you want to know what concerts or events will be taking place during your visit, I recommend checking out the Lanxess Arena’s official website. They put up calendars and schedules for future events up to a year in advance.
2. Take the Cologne Virtual Reality (VR) Tour
We couldn’t resist trying the Cologne Virtual Reality (VR) Tour. And let me tell you—it didn’t disappoint!
The tour takes you back in time, showing Cologne’s rich history and its most beloved tradition: Carnival. It felt like stepping into a time machine.
The VR experience brought historical moments to life in such a fun and interactive way. For a first-time visitor, it’s the perfect crash course on Cologne’s cultural roots.
Plus, learning about the origins of Carnival through this immersive format made it way more exciting than reading about it in a guidebook.
At just €19 per person, it’s worth it. Whether you’re travelling solo or with friends, this tour is a fantastic way to kick off your Cologne adventure.
Have a look at this tour. It’s a combination of entertainment, history, and enjoyment. And if you think it sounds like something you’d like to do, you can buy tickets here!
3. Explore the Old Town
Get lost and take a leisurely walk around the lovely cobblestone streets that are dotted with charming beer halls and colourful architecture. Take the time to see the famous love locks on the Hohenzollern Bridge. We missed it.
4. Cruise Along the Rhine River
A leisurely boat cruise provides a distinctive viewpoint of the city and its sites. Take a one-hour sightseeing cruise on the Rhine River, unwind, and take in the panorama.
During our visit, the prices ranged from €16 to €26, and onboard snacks and beverages were available for purchase.
The Rhine River Christmas Afternoon Cruise might be fun for people who are going to Cologne in December.
Since it’s during the holiday season, they might sell out because Germany is quite busy around Christmas. So make sure you purchase your ticket.
5. Hop on the city bus tour
This is how we like to see and learn about cities in a lazy way. Particularly if you don’t have much time in a city, it’s a MUST when visiting Cologne.
A few tour bus companies operate in the city. The buses follow a set path and stop at important landmarks where people can get off and get back on whenever they want.
The Hohenzollern Bridge, Cologne Cathedral (where it starts and ends), the Belgian Quarter, and the Roman-Germanic Museum are popular Hop on Hop off Cologne stops.
The tour we took was with Cologne CityTour. We saw a lot of interesting parts of Cologne on the ride across the Hohenzollern Bridge to Deutz.
We might not have been able to see those parts if we hadn’t taken the hop-on bus. The Cologne Triangle and Lanxess Arena are among the attractions in this modern, diverse neighborhood.
There seemed to be a wide range of museums, theaters, and bars in the area. If you have enough time in the city, I’d also advise exploring Deutz without taking the hop-on bus.
You can pre-book the same bus tour here! 👇🏽
Where to stay in Cologne, Germany?
For easy access to public transportation, I suggest staying near the cathedral in the city center. Just outside the train station is the Wyndham Köln Hotel, where we stayed.
From the hotel, we were able to stroll to most of the city’s attractions. Other than arriving and departing, we didn’t use public transport very often.
Since we walked practically everywhere, this was a convenient place for us to stay, and it also helped us save money on transportation.
In addition to being spacious, the hotel room had a beautiful view of the cathedral.
Generally, Cologne offers reasonably priced lodging; during the off-season, you can find hotels in the city centre for less than €300 for three nights.
Check your stay options below! 👇🏽
Where to Eat in Cologne, Germany?
Cologne has a surprising number of diverse places to eat. Where you eat depends on how you like to travel and your budget. But if you want to know where we ate on our trip and thought were worth it, here are a few suggestions.
Angelo Trattoria Enoteca: I enjoyed their bolognese pasta and amazing wine. This place is small but pretty lovely, and it’s not too close to the loud old-town restaurants.
It is in Altstadt-Nord, an area that is mostly quiet but has pretty streets, small shops, and a lively vibe. So, remember to explore the area.
Rheinzeit: It’s a classic German restaurant and pub. Here, we only had drinks. It has a lovely terrace seating area, and you can people-watch as well as enjoy the lights that shine against the busy riverbank of Cologne.
The atmosphere here feels like a welcome invitation to relax after a day of exploring. It is the type of place where you would find yourself wanting to stay for a while right away, of course when it is less busy.
El Chango: My favourite, and well worth the cost! On our last day in the city, we had a late lunch here, and we quite appreciated it.
We were drawn here by the excellent reviews, which did not let us down. I was first a little put off by the lengthy queue to enter when we first arrived.
To be honest, I was expecting El Chango to be one of those overhyped tourist traps, but I was wrong. You’ll feel like you’re in a cosy Argentine getaway as soon as you walk into El Chango.
The warm wooden tables, dim lighting, and walls with tango-inspired art and rustic charm make you feel right at home.
The atmosphere is just as welcoming as the steaks sizzling off the grill. I’d truly recommend it!
Tips for Planning Your Cologne Trip
There are undoubtedly a lot of travel tips to help plan your trip, but I believe the following are worthy to point out:
- You may find Cologne to be a little dirty and dislike it, which is fine. Everybody has a unique travel experience. A true traveller, however, will always find beauty in every city.
- Sundays are referred to as “Ruhetag” or “Day of Rest” in Germany. On Sundays, a lot of stores, including some supermarkets, as well as certain restaurants, are closed. So if you’re only going to be there for one day, don’t plan your trip for a Sunday.
- Cologne has a diversified community, and many speak more English. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to learn German, but when you do, the people there will appreciate it, even if it’s just “Guten Tag!”
- Don’t forget to bring comfy shoes. It’s likely that you will walk more than using public transportation.
The Verdict: Is Cologne, Germany, Worth Visiting?
Absolutely! But it depends on how you like to travel. If you’d like to learn about another German city that was badly damaged during World War II but was rebuilt and has wonderful high Gothic architecture, then I’d advise making at least one trip to Cologne.
After seeing Düsseldorf on my first trip to Germany, I must say that Cologne was a far better place to visit.
But Cologne is not a destination you want to return to time and time again. I hope this guide helped you learn more about going to Cologne.
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Just wondering, have you been to Cologne? If yes, what are your thoughts about the city? Kindly share in the comments below.
