Cologne is a German city that rose like a phoenix from the smouldering embers of World War II. In retaliation for the Nazis pummelling London, Allied forces smashed 95 per cent of the city to smithereens.
Undeterred, the city set about putting itself back together at the end of the war. Today’s Cologne is a lively city with a rich historical legacy.
You just need one day in Cologne Old Town (Altstadt) to visit its key attractions, including its world-famous cathedral, and to try some of the food and beer for which the city is famous. Whether you are here for the first time or are a repeat visitor, here are the best things to do in the historical heart of one of Germany’s most interesting cities.
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Why I Think Cologne is Worth Visiting
Germany’s fourth-largest city is best known for one of the greatest churches in Christendom – Cologne Cathedral – and the 12 Romanesque churches in the Old Town. Cologne is also famous for its toilet water, Eau de Cologne.
Don’t visit Cologne expecting a quaint storybook city. There are better places in Germany to tick that box.
But don’t let that put you off. Instead, you will get an awe-inspiring UNESCO-listed cathedral, a clutch of first-rate churches and museums, a sympathetically reconstructed Old Town and a lively bar and restaurant scene.
Self-Guided Walking Tour of Cologne (+ Map)
If you like to map it out, here’s one I prepared earlier. For a more structured itinerary, you can use this map for a Cologne self-guided walking tour which covers a distance of 3.5 miles (6 km).
For step-by-step directions and to send to your phone, click here or on the map image.
How to Spend One Day in Cologne Old Town
1. Visit Cologne Cathedral
Cologne Cathedral defies superlatives. This UNESCO-listed Gothic masterpiece is the tallest twin-spired church in the world and one of Europe’s most popular tourist attractions.
It owes its existence to the Three Wise Men.
In the 12th Century, the bones of the Three Kings were brought to Cologne from the conquered city of Milan. This drew pilgrims in their droves and attracted funding to build a cathedral magnificent enough to house the Magi’s mortal remains. Their bones are housed in a lavishly gilded reliquary.
The Cathedral is also home to the exquisite 10th-century Gero-Crucifix and the Madonna of Milan, a wooden sculpture said to possess miraculous powers. Here’s my guide to Cologne Cathedral if you want to dig deeper.
Address: Domkloster 4, 50667 Köln
Entrance fee: Admission to the cathedral is free. A small fee applies if you wish to climb the 533 steps up the South Tower or visit the Cathedral Treasury.
Opening hours: Check the cathedral’s official website for opening hours and information about their guided tours in English
2. Peek at the Roman mosaic at the Roman-Germanic Museum
Cologne was founded as a Roman settlement in 38 BC and became the colony of Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium in 50 AD. If you peer through the window of the Roman-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum), you will be able to see evidence of Roman life in Cologne.
A fine mosaic floor that was once in the dining room of a merchant depicts saucy scenes from the life of Dionysus. This would have been at the original Roman street level.
3. Walk over Hohenzollern Bridge
Hohenzollern Bridge (Hohenzollernbrücke) may be the busiest railway bridge in the world – more than 1,200 trains daily – but that’s not why it is a tourist magnet. People visit this Cologne landmark for its classic Industrial Age design and love locks.
Although love locks are a familiar sight in cities across the globe, I have never seen as many as there are on Hohenzollern Bridge. Couples inscribe their names and the date on a padlock, chain this to the bridge railing and chuck the key over the bridge as a symbol of their everlasting devotion.
I recommend walking to the other side of the bridge for a fabulous view of Cologne Cathedral.
4. Get your cocoa fix at the Chocolate Museum
Walk back over Hohenzollernbrücke, pass the statue of Kaiser Wilhelm II, who paid for the bridge, and take the steps down to the pleasant riverfront park. A ten-minute stroll along the river will bring you to Cologne’s famous chocolate museum (Schokoladenmuseum).
Chocoholics shouldn’t miss this place. The three levels of this absorbing museum trace the journey of the cocoa bean to the finished thing. It’s at least the equivalent of the ChocoStory museums in Bruges and Brussels.
This is one of the things to do in Cologne that is worth booking in advance.
>>> CLICK HERE TO BOOK
5. Explore the squares of Cologne Old Town
Retrace your steps along the river to the diminutive Fischmarkt, one of the squares of Cologne’s historic centre. As its name suggests, this was once the fish market.
Although the buildings look medieval, they are much younger.
In the early 20th Century, the Nazis rebuilt Cologne’s scruffy Old Town in a sanitised stone-and-stucco style that was more to their liking. This was their vision for old towns across Germany.
That didn’t last long. After the Second World War, Cologne was rebuilt in the faux-medieval style we see today.
A few minutes inland from Fischmarkt is Alter Markt (Old Market Square).
In the middle of the square is a late 19th-century fountain. This was built to commemorate Jan von Werth, a victorious army general who served in the Thirty Years’ War. Its reliefs tell the story of the unrequited love between von Werth and Griet, a woman who rejected him as he wasn’t from a wealthy family.
This historic square is the setting for one of Cologne’s famous Christmas markets.
6. Take a look at Cologne’s Rathaus
Alter Markt is also home to the Old Town’s City Hall.
The Rathaus’s Renaissance porch is the sole historic survivor of the 1945 bombings. It’s also worth circling the building to view the carvings on the side of the building.
7. Visit Cologne’s Romanesque churches
Twelve large Romanesque churches form a semi-circle around Cologne’s city centre. Built between 1150 and 1250, these predate Cologne Cathedral.
If you have just a day in Cologne, I suggest concentrating on two of these: St. Gereon and Groß St. Martin (Great St. Martin’s Church).
Visit Saint Gereon for its gravity-defying decagonal dome. This minor basilica was architecturally ahead of its time and has been compared with the Hagia Sofia in Constantinople and Brunelleschi’s dome in Florence.
By contrast, Groß St. Martin has a modern, almost minimalist interior. It was built on the site of Roman warehouses, whose columns were used in its construction.
For a small fee, you can visit the archaeological excavations in the church’s crypt.
Great St. Martin’s Church is better known for its distinctive exterior, an ensemble of four slender turrets embracing a central spire that towers above Fischmarkt.
8. Buy Cologne from Cologne
It has to be done.
I recommend visiting 4711. Housed in a historic building on Glockengasse – it takes its name from its street number in the Napoleonic era – this iconic Eau de Cologne was produced in the city as early as 1799.
A shop on the ground floor sells a wide variety of fragrances and gifts to buy for those back home (or for yourself), and there’s a small museum on the mezzanine level.
Alternatively, head to the place where it all began: Farina 1709. Johann Maria Farina launched the original Eau de Cologne from here in 1709. There’s a shop and museum which you can visit on a guided tour.
9. Take a relaxing cruise along the Rhine
Cologne marks the northern end of the Romantic Rhine Valley and you can view Cologne Old Town from a different perspective by joining a panoramic city cruise. This one-hour cruise includes an audio guide.
If you are after classic Rhine views, consider taking a longer river cruise to Königswinter through Siebengebirge. For more information and to book, click here.
10. Sample the local brew
Leaving one of the best things to do in Cologne ‘til the last. Kölsch is the city’s local brew, a pale, hoppy and slightly sweet beer.
I liked it.
Visiting one of Cologne’s beer halls (Brauhaus) is an experience in itself. You will continue to be served with Kölsch until you say stop (put your beer mat on top of your glass to indicate this). It pairs extremely well with substantial portions of hearty German food.
This is not a great country for vegetarians.
I liked Brauerei zur Malzmühle, a traditional family brewery at Heumarkt.
If you want to understand more about Kölsch and Brauhaus culture and benefit from the insider knowledge of a local guide, why not join a beer tour? Although I didn’t have time to do this when I was in Cologne, I did join a beer tour when I was visiting Ghent which was huge fun.
Take a look at this English-language Cologne beer tour here.
Where to Stay in Cologne
Although you can easily visit Cologne’s main attractions in a day, for a more relaxed visit and to experience a lively Brauhaus at night, I recommend spending at least one night in Cologne. For maximum convenience, stay in or close to the Old Town.
Mid-range – Hotel Domstern
I stayed in this affordable 3-star hotel in the Old Town. Cosy single rooms are available and a good breakfast is included in the room rate.
>>> CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES & BOOK
Here are a few other places to stay that may suit other budgets and tastes:
Splurge – Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom
Lap up the Cologne Cathedral views from this 5-star hotel in the heart of the city. Reviews are superb and single rooms are available for solo travellers.
>>> CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES & BOOK
Apartment – City Apartments in Köln am Rheingarten
If Rhine views are more your thing, take a look at these keenly-priced apartments. The location is superb.
>>> CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES & BOOK
Is Cologne Safe for Female Solo Travellers?
There are plenty of things for the solo traveller to do in Cologne, from exploring its cathedral and churches to trying the varieties of beer the city has to offer. Whilst it is a big city, its main sights are close to each other making it walkable.
I had heard a few horror stories about Cologne in recent years but as a female solo traveller, much of Cologne Old Town felt safe. That said, the area around the train station was edgier and best avoided late at night. The strong police presence here is a bit of a clue.
As with any big city, to stay safe as a solo traveller, a little bit of common sense goes a long way. Remain vigilant, stick to busy areas, keep your belongings close to you and use your hotel safe to store valuables.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.