Sightseeing

The historic city of Cologne offers an array of fantastic and interesting sightseeing attractions for visitors. There are numerous churches and cathedrals including the famous Cathedral, which dominates the city skyline and provides spectacular views from its tall spires. Museums such as the Roman - Germanic Museum and the Museum of the City of Cologne are filled with historic heritage of the city's interesting past. There are also beautiful botanical gardens, bustling town squares and even an extensive zoo with animals from around the world.

Cologne Cathedral

Situated in the heart of the city, Cologne Cathedral is not only one of the Cologne's famous landmarks but also one of Germany's. The impressive structure began construction in 1248 and was not completed until 1880. The two towers stand at 157 metres tall and offer fantastic views of the city and surrounding areas. The cathedral is World Heritage listed for its ‘exceptional work of human creative genius'. An incredible amount of ancient history can be learnt here, and the cathedral provides the perfect backdrop for some photographs.

Roman — Germanic Museum

The fascinating Roman - Germanic Museum is filled with an abundance of Roman history and the role that the Roman's played in the heritage of Cologne. The museum is home to rare collections of Roman glassware, jewellery, ceramics, artwork and clothing. One of the main attractions at the museum is the incredible Dionysos Mosaic, which was unearthed in 1941. The mosaic masterpiece is made up from more than one million individual pieces and is regarded as one of the best displays of ancient mosaic work in all of Europe. Guided tours are offered at the museum, which ensures you get the most from the visit.

Old Market Square

Located in the centre of Cologne is the beautiful and bustling Old Market Square, which is filled with history and heritage. Year round the square and surrounding areas are teeming with locals and tourists enjoying the food, events and the warm atmosphere. There is abundance of old townhouses built from the 14th to 17th centuries, which are charming and quaint. The famous Cologne Fish Markets are also located nearby and offer a fantastic place to visit coupled with great restaurants and cafés serving fresh and tasty local catch.

Museum of the City of Cologne

The Museum of the City of Cologne or locally referred to as the Kölnisches Stadtmuseum is a large building with an endless amount of local history. You will see local artworks coupled with historic pieces from the past. There is a puppet theatre with amusing shows and also the history of local inventions such as the internal combustion engine, which was claimed by Nikolaus August Otto in the late 1800s. The museum also displays modern history and culture as well as the economic history of Cologne. Guided tours are highly recommended and are included in the price of admission.

Cologne Botanical Gardens and Zoo

Peter Josef Lenné and Joseph Maria Olbrich originally landscaped the spectacular and beautiful Botanical Gardens of Cologne in 1863. During the Second World War the gardens were almost completely destroyed but restored to their former glory with over 12,000 species of flowers and fauna from around the globe. The gardens are the perfect place in the city to enjoy an afternoon walk. Directly across from the Botanical Gardens is the impressive Kolner Zoo and it provides a wide variety of animals including elephants, crocodiles and numerous birds. Children will love spending a day learning about and touching the animals.

Overview

The city of Cologne is host to an array of sports and activities to enjoy whilst visiting. Cycling is popular, with numerous parks in the city that provide scenic pathways and bicycle hire. The go-kart centre in Kelvinstrasse is excellent fun with high-speed karts and an extensive track. The city has a plethora of spa and massage treatment centres that are great for relieving stress and rejuvenating your body.

Cycling

Cycling is popular in Cologne with both locals and tourists with a variety of parks, pathways and lakeside tracks to enjoy a bike ride. Bicycles are available for hire all over the city and in particular at the city's beautiful parks. Rhein Park lies in the west of Cologne along the passing Rhein River. There are numerous paved pathways for cyclists that travel through the lovely gardens and parklands. Volksgarten is another city park located in the city's south and provides the perfect spot for a relaxing afternoon ride along scenic pathways.

Kart Centre Cologne

Situated in Kelvinstrasse only a short distance from central Cologne, Kart Centre Cologne is a fantastic place to enjoy the fast and exciting sport of go-karting. The massive go-kart centre has over 375 metres of track with multiple tunnels, a bridge and banked corners. There are different karts of varying speeds to suit beginners as well as experienced drivers. All safety equipment is provided as well as tuition if needed. Within the centre, a restaurant and large spectator stand provide the perfect place to sit back and view the fast paced action in between turns.

Walking

Cologne is a great city for walking and there are several inner city parks that offer paved pathways with natural surroundings to enjoy. You will also find walking through the city between the main attractions a convenient and fun way to travel. There are English-speaking guided walking tours available, which are fantastic as you will see and learn more about not only the sights but also the city's charming streets. Kölner Fahrradverleih is one of the main companies that offer walking tours and these can be booked from your hotel.

Spa and massage

Throughout the city of Cologne you find numerous spa and massage treatment centres that offer complete body detoxification and rejuvenation processes. Typical German spas and saunas include massage and a series of different temperature pools to stimulate the body senses. Located in the east of Cologne in Gladbach is the Mediterana, which is a popular sauna with a large pool and massage rooms. Neptunbad is another favourite of locals; it is Japanese influenced with large sauna rooms and Japanese styled shiatsu massage available.

Phantasialand

Located just a short drive from the centre of Cologne is the fun and exciting Phantasialand amusement park. The park was first opened in 1962 and has grown over the years with an array of thrill seeking rides, family entertainment and games. The park is home to a four-star hotel with two restaurants, a bar and large swimming pool. You can enjoy a variety of world-class rides throughout the park's several themed areas including ‘China Town', ‘Deep in Africa', ‘Silver City', ‘Alt Berlin' and ‘Mexico'. There is also a tandem bungee drop for those wishing to flirt with death.

Dining and shopping

The beautiful city of Cologne is home to an array of fantastic restaurants as well as great shops. You will find restaurants serving flavours and cuisines from all over the world coupled with local German dishes. Shoppers will love the city centre's variety of markets, department stores and designer boutiques.

The dining scene in Cologne is outstanding with a wide range of flavours and cuisines from around the world. There are fantastic cafés situated throughout the city, perfect for enjoying a light snack or premium blend coffee. An abundance of restaurants have large outdoor seating areas to take advantage of the beautiful Cologne weather.

Cologne is home to an array of local restaurants serving traditional German dishes such as sauerkraut with pig knuckles, bratwurst sausages with fried potato and blood sausages with onion rings. You will also find favourites like the classic wiener schnitzel, which is uses a thin slice of premium veal fillet coated with breadcrumbs and herbs then pan fried in olive oil.

There are several great areas with a host of restaurants, bistros and local eateries. Around the Chlodwigplatz you will find the Südstadt area, which is great for not only its vast selection of eateries but also for some of the city's finest restaurants. Also worth checking out is the Ferkulu, which has achieved a reputation for trendy bars and restaurants serving classic German cuisine.

When in Cologne, it is a must to visit a traditional beer garden where you will find an extensive range of local beers, fantastic food and a warm and friendly atmosphere. The Stadgarten is one of the Cologne's most popular and also hosts live music and performances.

Although Cologne is not a shopper's paradise compared to other European cities, there are certainly enough boutiques, markets and local items to keep everyone happy. There is an abundance of specialty shops selling a range of unique items such as handmade jewellery and antiques. There are often sales and festivals where you will find great bargains with heavy discounted merchandise.

Cologne has several shopping districts, famous shopping streets and charming city passages lined with art galleries and specialty shops. The most well-known and frequented streets by locals and tourists are Hohe Strasse and Scildergasse, which are both situated in the centre of Cologne. Hohe Strasse is a historic part of town that has been around since Roman times and offers a walking street with numerous name brand stores.

For designer boutiques the best area of Cologne is Zeppelinstrasse, where you will find an array of high-end fashion labels such as Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Christian Dior and Ralph Lauren. Also nearby Zeppelinstrasse is Neumakt Galerie, which is a large shopping centre with a department store and a range of shops.

Cologne is famous for being the birthplace of eau de cologne or scented water. You will find numerous perfume shops throughout the city specialising in colognes and scents. There are flea markets, which are held each week in different parts of the city. One of the main areas that have a great selection of goods is the Alter Markt. Here you will find everything from local artwork to clothing and souvenirs.

Cologne's restaurant scene is vast and varied with a wide choice of flavours and cuisines from around the world including Spanish, Asian and Argentinean. There are numerous award winning restaurants coupled with small eateries and bistros which serve fantastic local dishes. No matter where you choose you will not be disappointed.

Overview

With Cologne's Bonn International Airport located just 10 miles from the city centre, arriving by air is fast and easy. High-speed trains arrive daily from all over Europe and are comfortable and popular. Within the city centre an extensive tram, light rail and bus network that connects the main areas. Metered taxis are also available and offer a safe alternative at night.

Airports

Conveniently located just 10 miles from the city centre is Cologne's Bonn International Airport. The airport is the sixth largest in Germany and one of only a few German airports open 24 hours. There are two terminals and flights arrive from around the globe as well as numerous cities in Europe and Germany. Several budget carriers including Easy Jet, Wizz Air and Germanwings offer cheap flights within the region.

There is an airport bus shuttle service that connects the domestic and international terminals. The Holiday Inn Cologne Bonn Airport is a hotel situated within the airport and is convenient for early and late arrivals. The airport is well serviced with several restaurants, bars, cafés, duty-free shops, banking and postal facilities, newsstands and car hire companies.

Situated between the two terminals is the airport railway station, which offers regular connections to the city. The airport express bus service runs from terminal two and takes approximately 20 minutes travel time to downtown Cologne. Metered taxis are available from both terminal one and two and provide the fastest and most convenient connection to the city.

Public transportation

Travelling by high-speed train to Cologne is a popular and convenient travel option. Cologne's main railway station, Koln Hauptbahnhof, is host to trains arriving from numerous German cities as well as most major destinations in Europe. Daily connections arrive from London's Waterloo Station as well as Ashford in Kent.

Cologne is well connected by an extensive highway and motorway network to other parts of Germany and also Europe. Eurolines offers comfortable coaches that travel from London in just under 12 hours. Driving to Cologne is a popular option with scenic countryside and the freedom to stop off along the way. Numerous car hire companies offer pick up and drop off services to all European destinations.

Getting around Cologne is a breeze with a host of fast and efficient public transport options available. The bus service offers routes throughout the city and is easy to navigate. There are light rail trains and also trams, which connect all parts of the city. Tickets can be purchased for an entire day, allowing for travel on all modes of public transport.

Metered taxis are easily found driving the streets as well as at designated taxi stands. Taxis are usually cream coloured and have more expensive rates for night time use. Car hire and self-driving is an option and the road network is fairly simple to navigate although parking in the city centre can be expensive. Bicycle hire is popular, with bike friendly streets and generally nice weather.