20 Awesome Places to Visit and Things to Do in Cologne (Köln)

July 1, 2022 Mustafa Natalwala 3954 Views

Cologne or Köln is a city in Germany. It is the largest city in the state of North Rhine Westphalia. The city is well known for its 12 Romanesque churches. These are some of the best places to visit in Cologne, Germany and are renowned for their architecture, history, cultural significance and interior decor. The majority of these 12 churches were built during the medieval period and many of them incurred heavy damage during the second world war. Aside from these churches, some of the best things to do in Cologne, Germany include exploring Regional History, Third Reich History, Medieval and Modern Architecture and Artworks.

Cologne was first established as a Roman Colony around 1 century CE. It was called Colonia Agrippina back then which became to Cologne in the modern age. The influence of Roman origins is quite evident in many of the things to see in Cologne. The city also flourished as a trade center between east and west Europe. You will also come across numerous religious Köln tourist attractions. This can be attributed to the city’s history as a free imperial city under the Holy Roman Empire. Aside from numerous churches, Cologne sightseeing also includes art museums and galleries featuring an extensive collection of religious exhibits such as paintings, murals, statues, altars, sculptures, reliefs, artifacts and so on.

In post middle ages, the city was occupied by French, British and Prussian forces. These have not significantly contributed to the best places to visit in Köln. The city was a major center for operations of the Third Reich and there are quite a few places to see in Cologne travel concerning the history of the Nazi party and the Gestapo. The city was heavily bombed during the second world war which led to an almost total evacuation. You will notice minor traces of restoration when you visit Cologne attractions.

The city is a major cultural center of modern Germany as well. It is home to 30 museums and numerous galleries.

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Table of Contents

The Best 20 Tourist Places to Visit in Cologne, Germany in 4 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Day 1

1. Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)

This cathedral is one of the most iconic monuments of the city. The construction of this massive church began in 1248 and continued till 1880. It is also a world heritage site, renowned for its history, architecture, cultural significance and interior artworks. This cathedral is among the most imposing things to see in Cologne Germany. You would have an hour and a half to explore it.

2. Romano-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum)

This archaeological museum exhibits artifacts hailing from the period of roman rule of the region. It is one of the best places to visit in Cologne Germany to learn about the city’s early history and heritage. It covers the period Paleolithic period till the Middle Ages. You will need about 2 hours to tour this museum.

3. Museum Ludwig

This museum has one of the most significant collections of modern and contemporary art in the country. This is among the top Cologne tourist attractions for art admirers. The museum has works of renowned artists such as Picasso, Nancy Graves, Doctor Hans Koch, Emil Nolde and many more. It will take you an hour to tour this art museum during Cologne travel.

4. Great St. Martin Church (Klosterkirche Groß Sankt Martin)

The history of this church goes back to 960 AD. It was heavily damaged during the second world war and restored in the 1980s. In terms of size and architecture, it is one of the most impressive Cologne attractions. The triple apse crossing of the tower and the Romanesque design of this church is very well known. You would need about an hour to explore this church when you visit Cologne.

5. EL-DE Haus / NS Documentation Center of the City of Cologne

Presently this is the NS documentation center of the city and houses a museum that documents the Third Reich. The buildings used to be headquarters for the Gestapo and a prison. If you are keen to learn about history, this is museum is a must-do in Cologne. You will need an hour and a half to tour it.

Day 2

1. St. Gereon’s Basilica (Basilika Sankt Gereon)

The history of this church goes back to 380 AD. It is built on the site of St. Gereon’s grave. It is one of the best places to visit in Köln admired for its history, cultural significance and architecture. The basilica is designed to resemble the Minerva Medica of Rome. Its decagonal dome and towers are its distinguishing features. You will need about an hour to tour this church.

2. Schnütgen Museum

This museum is dedicated to Christian religious art. You will get to see paintings, sculptures, stained glass and other art pieces. It is one of the best things to do in Cologne Germany to see noteworthy artifacts. The exhibits range from medieval to modern periods. You will need 2 hours to tour this museum.

3. St. Pantaleon Church

This church was built in the 10th century and was constructed upon remnants of a Roman villa. The architecture of this church is romanesque in style. The church also has a beautiful interior which also dates to the 10th century. It is one of the most beautiful places to see in Cologne. You will need about 30 to 45 minutes to explore this church.

4. Imhoff Chocolate Museum (Imhoff-Schokoladenmuseum)

This museum realized the vision of Hans Imhoff, who had a great passion for chocolate. The museum outlines 5000 years of history of chocolate and its evolution. It is one of the most popular Köln tourist attractions. You will need 2 hours to explore this museum.

I suggest you should book a Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket of Imhoff Chocolate Museum in advance.

Day 3

1. St. Mary’s in the Capitol (St. Maria im Kapitol)

This church dates back to the 11th century and is known for its classic romanesque architecture. This is the largest by area among 12 romanesque churches of the city. It is included among Cologne’s top attractions for several notable artworks in its interior. You will need about 30 to 45 minutes to explore this church.

2. Wallraf-Richartz Museum

This museum houses an impressive collection of artworks hailing from the medieval period to the modern age It is one of the best places to go in Cologne Germany for art admirers. You will get to see sculptures, fountains, murals, reliefs, paintings and more. The museum is also well known for having works by popularly known artists such as Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, Rembrandt and more. It will take you about 2 hours to tour this museum during Cologne sightseeing.

3. Farina Fragrance Museum (Duftmuseum im Farina Haus)

This museum delves into 300 years of history of perfumes and other fragrant items. It is one of the most interesting Köln tourist places. The museum especially focuses on the creativity of processes and scents as well as the evolution of the art over the years. You will need an hour from Cologne for this museum.

I suggest you should book a Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket of Farina Fragrance Museum in advance and know more about the history of Eau de Cologne.

4. Cologne City Hall (Kölner Rathaus)

The City Hall is known not only for the purpose it served in the history of the city but also for its wonderful architecture. It also has 900 years of history on its walls and still serves several government offices. It is one of the most important sights in Cologne and will need 20 to 30 minutes of time to explore.

5. Kolumba Museum

This art museum is situated on the site of Columba church, hence the name. It is among the oldest museums in Germany and is known for its extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, religious artifacts, decorative arts, war memorabilia and more. It is one of the most prominent Cologne tourist attractions concerning historic art. You will need an hour to tour this museum.

6. Museum of Applied Art Cologne (Museum für Angewandte Kunst)

Also known as MAK, this museum is dedicated to works of fine arts and decorative arts. It is one of the best places to visit in Cologne Germany to see historic jewelry, furniture, display pieces, weaponry, porcelain and so on. You will need about 2 hours to tour this museum.

Day 4

1. Cologne Cable Car (Kölner Seilbahn)

The cable car ride takes you across the river Rhine. It is one of the best options for Cologne sightseeing as you get amazing views of the city and its attractions. You will need 30 to 45 minutes for this ride one way.

2. Cologne Zoological Garden (Zoologischer Garten Köln)

This zoo has more than 700 species of animals and is spread over 20 hectares. It is among the top things to do in Cologne for families. You will get to see Sea Lions, Penguins, Hippos, Pirañas, Otters and many more animals. It will take you 2 hours to explore the entire place.

3. Flora Botanical Garden (Flora und Botanischer Garten Köln)

Popularly known as The Flora, these botanical gardens cover about 12 hectares of area. It has 12,000 species of cultivated plants which originate from different parts of the world. You will also get to see themed gardens, sculptures and art installations at this place. You will need about an hour to tour these gardens.

4. Rhine Park (Rheinpark)

This urban park sits on the banks of the river Rhine. The park has its own beach, theatre, sports area, gardens, roman style public baths and more. You can explore a variety of activities to do in Cologne at this park. You can easily spend an hour or so exploring this park.

5. Rheinau Harbour (Rheinauhafen)

This waterfront complex is one of the finest works of modern architecture in the city. It is also quite popular among places to go in Cologne for hanging out, dining, cafes, leisure activities and so on. The complex also has a few galleries and event venues. You would need about an hour to explore this place.

If you are looking for more fun things to do in Köln Germany, check out the sections below. We have put together an exhaustive list of places and activities to do Cologne and around it.

Things to do in Cologne

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Cologne

Cologne Cathedral
Museum Ludwig
Cologne Chocolate Museum
Wallraf Richartz Museum
Roman Germanic Museum
Bruhl Castle
Kolumba Art Museum
Great St. Martin Church
Fragrance Museum
Museum of Applied Art
Schnutgen Museum
Rautenstrauch Joest Museum
Museum for East Asian Arts
Max Ernst Museum
Kathe Kollwitz Museum
Schlosspark Museum Morsbroich
Cologne Sculpture Park
Odysseum – Science and Technology Museum
Kolnische Stadt Museum
Kolnicher Kunsterein
Deutsches Sports and Olympia Museum
Museum Schloss Augustusburg
Basilica of St. Ursula
El DE Haus
Villa Zanders Art Museum
St. Gereon Church
Stadt Koln City Hall
Altenberger Dom
St. Maria im Kapitol
Archdiocese of Cologne Church
Hahnen Gate
Kolner Karnevals Museum
Dom Treasury
Supercandy Pop-up Museum
LVR Industrial Museum
Rheinland Cultural Museum
St. Apostlen
Brauweiler Abbey
Rhenish Industrial Railway Museum
Keramion Art Museum
Three Kings Shrine Church

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Cologne

Wahner Heide
Konigs Forest
Stadtwald
Heider Bergsee
Fuhlinger See
Otto Maigler See
Bergischer Weg
Dhunn Forest
Liblarer See
Decksteiner Weiher

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Cologne

Phantasialand
Cologne Zoological Garden
Cologne Botanical Gardens
Black Mamba Amusement Park
FLY Roller Coaster
Rheinpark
Aqualand Freizitbad
Claudius Therme
Lindenthaler Tier Park
Volksgarten Koln
Neuland Park
Japanischer Garten Leverkusen
Discovery Art Fair
Cologne VR Time Ride
Reuschenberg Wildpark
Dunnwald Wildlife Park
Fairytale Forest
Hiroshima Nagasaki Park

Shopping in Cologne

Old Market
Schildergasse Street
Hohe Strasse
Heu Market
Cologne Arcaden
Ehrenstrasse
Rhein Center Koln
Mittel Strasse
Rudolfplatz
Pfeilstrasse

Beaches in Cologne

Rheinpark Beach
Blackfoot Beach

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure Activities to Do in Cologne

Cable Car Ride
Hiking
River Boat Cruise

Sightseeing in Cologne

Hohenzollern Bridge
Cologne Triangle
Koelnmesse
Rhein Seilahn
Beethoven Statue
Rheinauhafen
Media Park
Fish Market
Heinzelmannchenbrunne Fountain
Deutz Suspension Bridge

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Cologne

Petere Brauhaus
Cafe Hinz Und Kunz
Die Fatte Kuh
Brauerei Zur Malzmuhle
Le Moissonier
Husarenquatier
Da Damaino
Amabile
Bei Oma Kleinmann
Spatz
Scampino Wein
Salon Schmitz
Konrad
Pop up Laden Ein
Ox und Klee
Woyton
Alfredo
Beef Brothers

Where to Stay in Cologne?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Cologne. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Cologne.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Cologne

How to Reach Cologne?

By Air

Cologne Bonn Airport is situated 16 km from the city center. You can get direct flights to visit Cologne from Athens, Nis, Istanbul, Vienna, Rhodes, Tel Aviv, London, Porto, Berlin, Burgas, Barcelona, Bologna, Budapest, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Klagenfurt, Lisbon, Milan, Munich, Naples, Prague, Rome, Split, Tunis, Venice, Zagreb, Zurich, Dublin, Dubrovnik, Ibiza, Nice, Pisa, Tirana, Tehran, Warsaw and many more cities in Europe.

The airport is connected to the city by train, bus, and cab.

By Road

You can get direct trains for Cologne travel from Amsterdam, Brussels, Luxembourg, Paris, and Frankfurt. The trains also connect various cities within Germany to Cologne.

The bus network is even more widespread. You can get direct buses to reach Cologne from several cities and towns in Germany as well as from cities in nearby countries.

If you are planning to travel by road, you should head for routes A1, A4, A3, A57 or A555.

By Water

There are no direct water routes to reach Cologne.

Image Reference

Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) – B. Hochsprung / PixaBay
Romano-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum) – Trevor Huxham / Flickr
Museum Ludwig – Frank Fujimoto / Flickr
Great St. Martin Church (Klosterkirche Groß Sankt Martin) – Shubert Ciencia / Flickr
EL-DE Haus / NS Documentation Center of the City of Cologne – «A.Savin, WikiCommons» / Wikimedia Commons
St. Gereon’s Basilica (Basilika Sankt Gereon) – Allie_Caulfield / Flickr
Schnütgen Museum – Elke Wetzig / Wikimedia Commons
St. Pantaleon Church – Allie_Caulfield / Flickr
Imhoff Chocolate Museum (Imhoff-Schokoladenmuseum) – Larry Koester / Flickr
St. Mary’s in the Capitol (St. Maria im Kapitol) – taxicologne / PixaBay
Wallraf-Richartz Museum – Patrick Lauke / Flickr
Farina Fragrance Museum (Duftmuseum im Farina Haus) – Larry Koester / Flickr
Cologne City Hall (Kölner Rathaus) – VollwertBIT / Wikimedia Commons
Kolumba Museum – Hpschaefer / Wikimedia Commons
Cologne Cable Car (Kölner Seilbahn) – Lynn Gallagher / Flickr
Cologne Zoological Garden (Zoologischer Garten Köln) – Doppelklecks / Wikimedia Commons
Flora Botanical Garden (Flora und Botanischer Garten Köln) – boo_ist_online / PixaBay
Rhine Park (Rheinpark) – HOWI / Wikimedia Commons
Rheinau Harbour (Rheinauhafen) – Didgeman / PixaBay