Things to do in Cologne
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Top 10 attractions in Cologne
Cologne Cathedral
Cologne Cathedral is located in the center of Cologne, on the banks of the Rhine River. It is a landmark building in Cologne. The 157-meter-high bell tower makes it the second tallest church in Germany, the third tallest in the world, and the third largest Gothic church in the world. The church was built in the middle of the 13th century. After more than 600 years, it was only announced to be completed in 1880. The church is still being repaired. The church is considered a good combination of all medieval Gothic architectural and decorative elements and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.Cologne · 439m from downtown
Cologne Chocolate Museum
The Chocolate Museum is a very worthwhile museum in Cologne, filled with the aroma of chocolate. Here you can see the whole process of making various chocolate beans into chocolate. There is real chocolate being processed in each machine, which is a real slander. In addition to visiting, the museum also offers tastings. On the huge turntable is a golden chocolate fruit tree with chocolate flowing under the tree. The staff will hold waffles dipped in fresh chocolate sauce and distribute them to the foodies around.Cologne · 690m from downtown
Rheinauhafen District
Rheinauhafen District is a waterfront neighborhood transformed from an old freight port. The riverside promenade is lined with modern buildings, interspersed with cafes, galleries, and art spaces. The remnants of the port era and the newly built glass facades complement each other, showcasing a modern urban style. The district's core landmark consists of three high-rise buildings known as the "Crane Houses," standing approx. 60m tall, with an inverted L-shape that echoes the area's history as a freight terminal. Historical remnants, such as the Bayenturm tower dating back to the Middle Ages, are also preserved along the route. Looking north along the river, the silhouettes of the cathedral and the iron bridge are clearly visible, with classical spires and modern architecture framed together. At dusk, the sunset reflects on the river surface, and strolling along the path offers a panoramic view of the city on both banks, forming a waterfront view that blends industrial memories with a stylish atmosphere.Cologne · 1 km from downtown
Duftmuseum im Farina-Haus
Discover over 300 years of fragrance history at the birthplace of the original Eau de Cologne – where a secret formula delighted emperors, seduced queens, and gave its name to an entire fragrance class. Multisensory experience in the historic Farina House History of Eau de Cologne – from its creation to becoming a brand icon Scent stations with natural essences for smelling Historic flacons, portraits, and original interiors Visits only possible as part of a guided tour (available in multiple languages)Cologne · 155m from downtown
Museum Ludwig
Museum Ludwig is situated between Cologne Cathedral and the Rhine River. Many of its modern art pieces were generously donated by the Ludwig couple, making it a renowned museum of modern and contemporary art in Europe. Its Pop Art collection is highly acclaimed outside the United States, and includes masterpieces such as Roy Lichtenstein's "Maybe" and Andy Warhol's "Brillo Boxes." Picasso's works are another core highlight here, featuring paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and prints, including the complete set of Picasso's three major print series. In addition to Pop Art and Picasso's works, the museum also houses German Expressionism, New Objectivity, Surrealism, and Russian Avant-Garde paintings, tracing a complete trajectory of modern art. Furthermore, the museum features an independent photography collection with tens of thousands of items covering every stage from the birth of photography to the present day, showcasing a diverse landscape of visual art.Cologne · 369m from downtown
Hohenzollern Bridge
Hohenzollern Bridge spans the Rhein and is one of Cologne's iconic landmarks. The bridge was built in the early 20th century and named after the Prussian House of Hohenzollern. It consists of three parallel steel truss arch structures, carries railway tracks, and features pedestrian walkways on both sides, allowing pedestrians and trains to cross the river side-by-side, with a large number of trains passing through daily. The railings on the bridge are covered in a dense collection of love locks. Since around 2008, people have been attaching padlocks engraved with their names to the railings and throwing the keys into the river to express their wish for a lasting relationship. Hundreds of thousands of padlocks line the railings, and local bands have even written songs about them. Strolling across the bridge, with steel arches crisscrossing overhead, you can look back at the Gothic twin spires of the cathedral and the view of the Rhein. Near the bridge approaches stand several equestrian statues of kings and emperors of the Hohenzollern dynasty, creating an elegant yet sturdy riverside view.Cologne · 580m from downtown
Cologne Zoological Garden
The Cologne Zoo is one of the largest zoos in Europe with many species of animals and one of the oldest zoos in the world. This zoo has more than 4 thousand animals representing more than 500 species of races. Cologne Zoo has been taking care of endangered animals such as red-crowned cranes, Vietnamese pheasants, pink pigeons, pygmy chimpanzees, Persian leopards, and Asian elephants since 1987. In addition, there are all kinds of small animals here, which are very suitable for family to play.Cologne · 2.5 km from downtown
Old Street along Rhine
Cologne City is a leisurely old street by the Rhine River. Most of the major cities in Germany were razed to the ground by the Allied bombing. When planning for reconstruction after the war, faced with the choice of restoring the old appearance or building a new home, the citizens of Cologne Voting, only a narrow majority passed the resolution to keep the old as it was, and Frankfurt also decided to build a new city by a narrow majority. Today, Frankfurt is a modern city in Germany, and Cologne's old town style has won the favor of more tourists. Indeed, many times, you can't see that this is a city that was completely rebuilt from ruins 60 years ago. Except for the original cathedral, none of those quaint buildings can be more than 60 years old.Cologne · 197m from downtown
Lanxess Arena
This is one of the largest indoor arenas in Europe and is famous for hosting large-scale concerts and sports events. In addition to being the home of sports events, it also often hosts concerts of internationally renowned artists, cultural events and various exhibitions.Cologne · 1.6 km from downtown
Cologne Fair
Cologne Fair is one of the most important exhibition and conference venues in Europe. The exhibition center covers a vast area and features multiple modern exhibition halls and conference facilities, capable of hosting various international trade fairs, cultural exhibitions, and professional conferences. The architectural design of Cologne Fair focuses on functionality and flexibility, with spacious interiors and comprehensive supporting facilities that can meet the needs of events of different scales and types. The center offers convenient transportation and is located near major Cologne transportation hubs, with well-developed public transportation and parking facilities that facilitate travel for exhibitors and visitors. The area surrounding the exhibition center is equipped with hotels, dining, and leisure facilities, providing a comfortable service experience for attendees. Every year, Cologne Fair hosts numerous well-known exhibitions, such as Gamescom and immCologne, attracting professionals and tourists from all over the world.Cologne · 1.7 km from downtown
Experiences you can't miss in Cologne
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More things to do
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Free things to do in Cologne
Rheinauhafen District
Cologne · 1 km from downtownHohenzollern Bridge
Cologne · 580m from downtownOld Street along Rhine
Cologne · 197m from downtown
Great St. Martin Church
Cologne · 147m from downtown
Cologne City Hall
Cologne · 126m from downtown
Christmas market at Cologne Cathedral
Cologne · 381m from downtown
Flora und Botanischer Garten Köln
Cologne · 2.5 km from downtown
Rheinpark
Cologne · 1.7 km from downtown
What travelers say about Cologne
YeeMon_OoJune 3, 2026
5.0
The Cologne Cathedral is a jaw-dropping masterpiece of Gothic architecture. The moment you step out of the central train station, its colossal twin spires tower over you-the sheer scale of it is completely overwhelming and beautiful.Inside, the experience is just as incredible. The massive vaulted ceilings, the stunning, intricate stained-glass windows, and the historic Shrine of the Three Kings are unforgettable. For an extra adventure, you can climb the hundreds of steps up the South Tower for a spectacular panoramic view of Cologne and the Rhine River. It is an absolute must-visit landmark that easily deserves a perfect rating!
Cologne Cathedral
Anonymous userJanuary 21, 2026
4.0
You can get few free chocolate and get knowledge of chocolate history and production but there are not so interesting bc there are not enough interactive spots just only history
Cologne Chocolate Museum
老少皆宜（）March 2, 2023
5.0
Cologne in Germany is a popular place for tourists to visit. It has the most famous Cologne Cathedral⛪️ and the Cologne Promenade. Cologne is the fourth largest city in Germany and is located on the banks of the Rhine in western Germany.
Rheinauhafen District
Sheda11July 1, 2022
4.0
This was a unique experience! Farina is the original Eau de Colonge, and the tour is in the origianl house. (The factory moved out of the city center.) Our tour guide was Weibke, who did a wonderful pesentation in English. She is very knowledgable, and explained a lot of historical facts. The museum is small, but packed with a lot of antiques and information. I was glad that I didn't buy the other brand of colonge at the Cathedral, since 4711 it is not the original
Duftmuseum im Farina-Haus
徐徐霞客RrJune 20, 2022
5.0
The Ludwig Museum in Germany is a holy place for contemporary art museums. This museum houses some precious works from the 20th century onwards. If you come here, you must visit it. There are also many precious works of celebrities here.
Museum Ludwig
魔女锦鲤August 16, 2022
5.0
The classic photo that is often seen is the photo of the Hohenzollern Bridge and the Cologne Cathedral. Walking eastward along the Cologne Cathedral, you will come to the bridge. There are sidewalks and bicycle lanes on both sides of the bridge, and a railway track in the middle. Walking on the bridge, trains will pass by on the middle track from time to time. Standing in the middle of the bridge or on the west bank of the bridge is a better viewing position.
On the side of the sidewalk close to the track, there are colorful and dense love locks. It is said that if you hang a lock on the Hohenzollern Bridge and throw the key into the Rhine River, love will last forever, so many locals and tourists who come here to admire it have their own and their loved ones’ names engraved on the locks and left on this bridge. Over time, there are more and more locks, and colorful copper locks of various types form a unique landscape.
Reasons to go: Germany's most romantic bridge
Hohenzollern Bridge
_TI***oyAugust 28, 2025
5.0
Ein Zoo mit einem sehr guten Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis, da im Eintrittspreis auch das Aquarium und das Reptilienhaus enthalten sind. Wir werden auf jeden Fall wiederkommen.
Cologne Zoological Garden
小思文August 5, 2019
4.0
The Old Street on the Rhine is a street in the city. It is located on the Rhine Lake in the city. The scenery of the old street is still good. You can feel many exquisite things. The natural characteristics of the old street are also very unique.
[Scenery] There are many shops on both sides of the street
[Cost-effectiveness] High cost-effectiveness
Old Street along Rhine
