The Ultimate Top 10 Best Things to do in Cologne, Germany
Cologne is one of our personal favourite cities in Germany, and you will understand why when you come here. From the history, the architecture, the museums, the food, the culture, the people… the list goes on…. It’s a beautiful place that should be explored while on your travels through Germany. Here is a list of our top 10 recommendations for the BEST things to do in Cologne, Germany!
#10 - Museum Ludwig
Museum Ludwig was officially established in 1976 and is a contemporary art museum. Josef Haubrich donated his unique collection to the City of Cologne in 1946, and Irene and Peter Ludwig donated their rather large collection to the city as well in 1976. Here, you will find a wide collection of Surrealism, Abstract, Pop Art (largest collection outside of the USA), as well as collections from notable artists like Marc Chagall, Andy Warhol, and Roy Lichtenstein. You will also be amazed by all of the Picasso pieces you will find, as it is considered the third largest collection in the world. There are also interactive pieces of art, such as televisions with hearing sets, cool pathways to walk through, photography stations, and chances to create one’s artwork in their arts and crafts studio. We are unsure exactly how many paintings are in this museum, but we do know it will take you at least 2 hours to walk through it all, and that’s at a steady pace. You can also marvel at the more than 70,000 photographs taken between the origins of photography to the present day. Very interesting considering Museum Ludwig was one of the first modern art museums to permanently include a photography section in its selection of pieces.
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Tuesday - Sunday)
Average Cost: €12 (plus fees)
#9 - Old Town (and Shopping)
Don’t think this is the same Old Town Square that has existed for hundreds of years. This Old Town was reconstructed after the air raids during World War II. Much of what you see today is from the post-WWII era. However, this area is still a historical site. It used to be the location of the original Old Town Square. Today, you can enjoy cafes, restaurants, bars, chocolate and souvenir shops, and get a chance to see the former city well and statue of Jan von Werth (German general from the 1600’s). Nearby, there are TONS of shops to explore. From high-end designer shops, to candy stores, to low-cost groceries - you can find anything in the area! It’s also super close to many of the attractions on this list, so you will have multiple chances to enjoy this spot in the city!
#8 - Flora and Botanical Garden
Located in the northern side of Cologne, this stunning botanical garden is full of colour and beauty. Being nearly 29 acres of land, you might just get lost here. As you walk in through the front, you will notice the elaborate Flora, an events centre in the heart of the gardens. Charmed with water features, benches, cascading landscapes, greenhouses, and stone sculptures, this garden is probably one of the most enchanting gardens I’ve been to in Europe (that’s saying a lot). With more than 10,000 species of plants ranging from flowers, bushes, and trees, I think you will be amazed with what you are familiar with as well as seeing plants you probably haven’t seen before. Grab a lunch or ice cream and enjoy the ambience.
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Average Cost: FREE
#7 - Brühl Castle
The Augustusburg Castle, also known as Brühl Castle, is a castle just south of Cologne in the town of Brühl. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is considered a triumph in late Baroque style. The castle was actually built on foundations of an old medieval castle in the year 1725. The Archbishop-Elector of Cologne was the one responsible for funding and planning this elaborate palace for the Wittelsbach family. Later on, a hunting lodge was designed to provide even more luxury to the family dynasty. However, from the beginning of World War II until 1994, the palace was used as the main reception hall and meeting point for notable guests of the German president. Today, its main function is a museum and garden display for everyone to enjoy. Although the palace is very impressive, our personal favourite part of the palace is the gardens. The landscape is exquisite with flower patterns, hedged bushes, water features, and gorgeous tall trees. You get a perfect view of the palace if you look at it from the angle of the hall of trees.
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Tuesday - Friday); 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Saturday - Sunday); Closed during winter (December - February)
**The gardens are free to walk around until dark. Check the sign at the front for details on closing
Average Cost: €9,50 (gardens are free to walk)
#6 - Time Ride
Have you ever wanted to travel back in time? If you have, Time Ride might just be your ticket to go back 100 years into the past. This is a partially virtual reality (VR) experience that shoots you back to the golden age of 1920’s Cologne. But, to prepare you for your journey, you are given a newspaper with coverage of the long awaited Carnival, one of Cologne’s biggest events of the year. Since the British occupied this part of Germany after World War I for over 12 years, Carnival wasn’t celebrated because “the Brits didn’t know how to have fun or make fun of themselves” as an actor of the 1920’s reminded us. When the British left the area, the people of Cologne rejoiced as their years of celebrating Carnival had returned! You’ll get to watch videos of the 1926 festivities, walk through a vintage hat shop, and walk on an old tram where you will be given your own time travel VR goggles. The video will walk you through what life looked like preparing for Carnival at that time and see what buildings used to exist before World War II. The animation is a little rough, but it’s a very fun and touching experience, and you really feel like you’ve stepped back in time for an hour.
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 6:20 p.m. (Tuesday - Sunday); 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Monday) - you will need to book in advance based off of your preferred language
Average Cost: €30
#5 - Phantasialand
While not technically in Cologne, Phantasialand is just a short 20 minute drive from central Cologne. If you are into theme parks, this is definitely one of the best in Europe, and it is often considered in the top-tier of theme parks in the world. Phantasialand has built a reputation for being some of the best in ride engineering, theming, landscaping, and design, often with winning many international awards. Some of the best roller coasters we’ve been on have been here at this park.
While it opened in 1967, Phantasialand has done many renovations to keep updating and exploring different worlds and themes for their guests. There are thriller rides like Black Mamba, F.L.Y., and Taron, as well as more kid-friendly rides and attractions, such as Crazy Bats, Maus au Chocolat, and Hotel Tartuff (many kids sections of the park). And don’t forget about the awesome shows, great food, and fantastically themed resorts on property! Some would say this is just a one-day park, but we personally felt we could have used an extra day to see and do everything here. And, if you are here during the winter months, Phantasialand turns into a winter wonderland just in time for the festive holiday season! The park is phenomenal… and frankly rivals Disneyland and Universal Studios… but that’s just our opinion - you’ll just need to go and find out for yourself.
If you’re interested in learning more on Phantasialand, check out our other blogs under Day Trips and What to Know.
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Wintertraum is 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.)
Average Cost: €57
#4 - Deutsches Sport & Olympia Museum
This has some sentimental value to me because I traveled to this museum on the first week of my study abroad program in Germany. The Deutsches Sport and Olympia Museum officially opened in 1999 to showcase sport and Olympic history over the past 2,500 years. You will see German history relating to all sorts of athletics, Olympic history, and unique displays of what it takes to become a professional athlete. There are interactive assessments you can take to see how you compare to the world records and test your knowledge of history of the sports. They also have Olympic torches that were used for the games as well as medals, crowns, and other items that you can see with your own eyes. Very exciting museum with lots of fascinating memorabilia to look at. Definitely worth your time while in Cologne.
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Wednesday - Sunday)
Average Cost: €9,50
#3 - The Farina Fragrance Museum
Ever wonder where cologne was invented? If you guessed in Cologne, Germany, you would be correct! Founded in 1709, John Maria Farina opposite Jülich's Square (translated from German) is the oldest cologne factory in the world. Giovanni Battista Farina, an Italian, was a businessman who created cologne in the early 1700’s for the royal courts in Europe. It was used as an alternative to the heavy smells that France was producing at the time - he created a lighter aroma that one could wear. Although cologne is a type of perfume, they are often used synonymously now. The main difference is the percentage of natural oils, which is usually between 2-4 %. You’ll be in for a treat when you walk through the history of these pioneers and witness some early cologne bottles that were used during the 1700's until present day… and hear stories of Napoleon Bonaparte using an entire bottle of cologne every day, which would have cost €2,000 a bottle today. Sample some fragrances, test your smell knowledge, and gain some interesting history in the city that started it all.
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Average Cost: €8 (you will need to book in advance for your preferred language)
#2 - Cologne Chocolate Museum
Oh my gosh, you have to do the Cologne Chocolate Museum while visiting here! We didn’t think we would love this as much as we did! The Cologne Chocolate Museum is like walking into Willy Wonka’s factory. You start off by getting a history lesson in chocolate-making, from the plucking of cacao beans to the end result. See which countries consume the most chocolate in the world, uncover how much sugar is used in certain types of chocolate, and understand pop culture and its impact on the chocolate world. The second half completely changes. It is an entire factory that you can walk through and actually see all the steps it takes to make Lindt chocolate! They have ladders and stairs you can walk up to get close to the machines, often explaining in multiple languages what each step performs. You can even press buttons to get fresh samples of the chocolate. Once you have taken that in, you can marvel at the rather large chocolate fountain with golden cacao beans… and get another free sample of chocolate. And, if you have time, you can pay a small fee to custom order your own chocolate made in front of you by professional chocolatiers. (If you choose to do this, expect to wait about 45 minutes until your chocolate is complete.) It is probably one of the best things to do in Cologne (in our opinion), and it’s great if you have little ones too!
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Average Cost: €12,50
#1 - Cologne Cathedral
The Cologne Cathedral is the city’s icon and is not to be missed… you also literally can’t miss it because it’s so enormous! Built in 1248 and officially completed in 1880, this is the perfect example of gothic architecture. The walls are the third tallest in the world with the twin spire height being 515 feet.
Legend has it that the architect in the 1200’s, Gerhard of Ryle, made a deal with the devil to build the cathedral. After many failed sketches of the design, he fell asleep by what was known as the Devil’s Stone. After waking up and seeing a design drawn in the sand by a stranger, he asked for the project plan. The man he was talking to was, in fact, the devil himself. The devil told him that he could have the design as long as he exchanged his family’s souls for the project. If the devil could complete the project in 3 years, he would claim the souls of the architect and his family. When the wife found out about this plan, she managed to halt plans on the cathedral until the 3 years were up. Of course, this is just myth, but the project did start at a strong, steady pace for those first few years.
There are gargoyles, angels, 90,000 feet of stained glass, claimed golden relics of the Three Wise Men, and more to marvel at. We recommend going on a guided tour up the cathedral (if you do not have a fear of heights), so you can see more details of the cathedral and take in more of the history and beginnings this cathedral has witnessed. It is definitely worth your time and money. Why not? It is literally the symbol of Cologne.
Hours: 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Average Cost: FREE (guided tours average cost €10,00)
