10 Best Things To Do In Cologne City | The Cathedral City of Germany

Cologne is yet another beautiful city of Germany that is widely popular for being a city of universities and cultural capital of the country. The city has a vast and rich history of over 2,000 years. Having a rich past, there are a number of medieval churches, castles, and museums with things to do in Cologne.

Cologne is basically an old cathedral city situated at the river banks of the Rhine river. The city serves as the major commercial center of western Germany. Not only the churches but the city also has several old universities dating back to the late 14th century.

Before you plan for a tour to Cologne, let’s have a look at the 10 best things to do in Cologne for a memorial trip.

Also Read: 5 Reasons Why Germany Is One Of The Best Travel Destinations

Top 10 Things To Do In Cologne

1. Visit The Cathedral Of St. Peter and St. Mary “Hohe Domkirche Sankt Petrus”

The holiest landmark of Cologne city, St. Peter and St. Mary or Hohe Domkirche Sankt Petrus is one tallest yet splendid piece of Gothic architecture. Being known as the city of Cathedral, visiting this magnificent cathedral is one of the best things to do in Cologne. The Cathedral was built in 1248 and went through several restorations over the centuries.

What attracts the tourists most about this cathedral is its 157-meter tall twin towers. It also features Reliques of 3 kings dating back to the 12th century along with a chamber of treasures. You can also enjoy panoramic views of the city by climbing 500 steps at South Tower.

Opening Hours: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Location: Domkloster 4, 50667 Cologne

2. Take A CruiseTour At Rhine River

Your trip to Cologne would be incomplete if you have not enjoyed the river scenes of this spectacular city. In order to view the river scenery, aboard a boat which lasts up to one hour. During this tour, you can enjoy the panoramic views of the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral, some picturesque buildings of the old city, and the famous Hohenzollern Bridge.

There are three options to take a cruise tour in Cologne which include a one-hour sightseeing tour, 2-hour night cruise tour, 3-hour dinner cruise tour, and complete day cruise tour. Among all the tour options, the night tour is considered one of the best things to do in Cologne.

Timings: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Also Read: 5 Must-Visit Attractions And Things To Do In Munich

3. Shop At Schildergasse Street

Schildergasse street is one of the most crowded shopping streets in Europe. The place is only accessible for pedestrians which means those who can only wander around the street on foot. The Shopping street has over 15,000 shops which attract both tourists and locals. Situated in the city center, the street has existed since the Roman empire.

In Schildergasse Street, you will find a variety of stores such as boutiques, clothing stores, and many more. There are various shoe stores with a variety of options to choose from.

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Locations: Central Cologne

4. Attend The Cologne Carnival

In case you are planning to visit Cologne during the month of November, then don't forget to attend the fun-filled Cologne Carnival. You can either enjoy the article during your weekend trip or get along with locals by participating in this festival. Here you will see people wearing various fancy costumes including clowns, pirates or some even dress up as animals.

You can also try sweets and various foods during the carnival. Some of the most popular carnival foods are Krapfen, muzemandel, and also Gluhwein. Overall the Cologne Carnival is something which should not miss having a fun-filled weekend trip.

Carnival Season: Early November

5. Sightseeing At Cologne Triangle

At the top of the Cologne Triangle or Koelntriangle, there is a triangle observation deck that offers panoramic views of Cologne city. It is situated just near the Rhine river that gives beautiful scenic views from the glass panels that protect the deck. The glass is soundproof, thus you can peacefully enjoy the views without even hearing a single noise.

Also, you can try some delicious cuisine at a restaurant situated on the rooftop. You can visit the observation deck during both daytime and evening.

Opening Hours:

Monday to Friday: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Location: Ottopl. 1, 50679 Köln

6. Visit The Roman-Germanic Museum

The Roman-Germanic Museum is situated just a few distances away from the Cologne Cathedral. Although the museum is housed in a modern building, it contains a huge collection of artifacts and belongings dating back to the Roman era. The museum was built in order to protect the site which was once the land of an old Roman Villa.

Some of the major attractions of the museum are the Dionysius mosaic in the basement, and various tools and utensils used in the Roman era.

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Entry Fee: 8 EUR

locations: Situated east from the south gate of Cologne Cathedra

7. Spend Your Evening At Belgian Quarter

After a long and hectic trip in Cologne, spend your evening in the Belgian District or the Belgian Quarter. It is one of the trendiest neighborhoods of the city that offers a range of food hubs, clothing stores, and art galleries. As it is a Belgian Quarter, do try some delicious Belgian food in the Maria Eetcafe such as Frikandel, Belgian Waffles Kipcor, and others.

Apart from having numerous cafes and restaurants, the Belgian Quarter is a good place to enjoy the nightlife in Cologne. To enjoy the best nightlife visit some of the nightclubs or get engaged in some activities like foosball battles, or dance parties.

Opening Hours:12:00 AM to 11:59 PM

locations: Koln

8. Learn How Chocolates Are Made At Chocolate Museum

Enjoy some of the most delicious chocolates in the Chocolate Museum of Cologne. The museum represents the 5,000-year-old culture of chocolates, hence it is one of the top tourist attractions in Cologne. While in the chocolate museum, not only can you taste the chocolate but also learn the history and how chocolates are made.

You can also take a guided tour which will give a brief insight into chocolates. You can also buy some chocolates in the shop situated within the museum. The shop has a variety of German as well as Swiss chocolates where over 400 kg of chocolates are produced per day.

Opening Hours:

Monday to Friday: 10:00 to 6:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 to 7:00 PM

Locations: Cologne Quarter, Altstadt-Süd, Rheinauhafen peninsula

9. Take Walk At Hohenzollern Bridge

After visiting Cologne Cathedral and the Roman-Germanic, do spend time at the Hohenzollern Bridge which is just a few walking distances away from these landmarks. The original bridge was constructed in 1911 but was blown up by the engineers of the German military in 1945. It was rebuilt in the year 1959 and since then it stands as it was before.

The bridge has a separate walk away that allows pedestrians to cross the bridge on foot. You can also spend some time enjoying the beautiful view of the Rhine river and the buildings that surround the river.

10. Taste The Traditional Cuisine At Fruh am Dom

How can you miss the traditional cuisine while on a trip to Cologne city? Try the traditional cuisine at Fruh am Dom which is situated just behind the Cologne Cathedral. The restaurant has been serving cologne residents as well as tourists since 1904. Every year over 2.5 million guests visit the Fruh am Dom and most of them came here after visiting Cologne Cathedral.

The Brewery can accommodate up to 1500 guests at once. It also has a ground floor from where the business is actually operated. From here, you can also buy some homemade products and take them to your home.

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Locations: Am Hof 18, 50667 Köln