- Best area
- Old Town and the Rhine, around the cathedral
- Walking radius
- Top 10 sights within about 20 minutes
- Free highlights
- Bridge, Old Town, river, harbour
- Time needed
- 1 day for the centre, 2 days with museums
Top things to do in Cologne, all walkable from the cathedral
| Sight | Walk from the cathedral |
|---|---|
| Cologne Cathedral | Start here |
| Hohenzollern Bridge | about 5 min |
| Museum Ludwig | about 2 min |
| Old Town (Altstadt) | about 5–10 min |
| Farina Fragrance Museum | about 5 min |
| Rhine promenade | about 5 min |
| KölnTriangle viewing platform | about 15 min |
| Chocolate Museum | about 20 min |
| Rheinauhafen & Crane Houses | about 20 min |
| Roman-Germanic Museum | about 15 min |
Planning the day hour by hour? Our one-day Cologne itinerary puts these stops in a sensible order.
Cologne Cathedral
The obvious first stop, and the reason most people come. Walk the nave to see the Shrine of the Three Kings and the stained glass windows, climb the 533 steps of the south tower to the platform at 97 m, and see the Treasury.
Tourist entry is ticketed: see tickets and prices and opening hours before you go.
Hohenzollern Bridge and the love locks
The railway bridge right behind the cathedral has a footpath on both sides. Its railings are covered with tens of thousands of padlocks left by couples, and the walk over the Rhine takes about 10 minutes. More in our Hohenzollern Bridge guide.
Turn round in the middle for one of the best photos in the city: the bridge, the river and the cathedral towers in one frame. It is free and open at all hours.
KölnTriangle viewing platform
Across the bridge in Deutz, the KölnTriangle tower has an open-air platform at the top looking straight back at the cathedral and the Old Town. It is the view on most Cologne postcards.
It opens daily from 11:00 (until 20:00, later on summer weekends) and charges a small entry fee. It closes in storms, so check before you cross.
Old Town (Altstadt) and Great St. Martin
South of the cathedral, the Old Town runs down to the river: Alter Markt and Heumarkt squares, the narrow lanes around Fischmarkt with its colourful houses, and the Historic Town Hall.
The tall square tower rising above the riverfront houses is Great St. Martin, a Romanesque church from the 12th century and the second landmark of the Cologne skyline after the cathedral.
Museum Ludwig
Right next to the cathedral, Museum Ludwig has one of Europe's largest Picasso collections plus Pop Art by Warhol and Lichtenstein. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00, and closed on Mondays.
Eau de Cologne: Farina House and 4711
The word "cologne" for perfume comes from this city. At the Farina Fragrance Museum (Obenmarspforten 21, five minutes from the cathedral), Johann Maria Farina began making Eau de Cologne in 1709. Visits are by guided tour only, so book an English tour in advance.
The other famous name is 4711. Its flagship house on Glockengasse, about 10 minutes away, has a fragrance fountain and a carillon on the facade.
The Rhine promenade and a river cruise
The riverside promenade and Rheingarten park start just below the cathedral. The boat piers are here too: a one-hour panorama cruise is the easiest way to see the whole skyline from the water.
Chocolate Museum and Rheinauhafen
Walk south along the river for about 20 minutes to the Chocolate Museum on its own peninsula in the Rheinauhafen harbour. It shows how chocolate is made, has a working production line and a chocolate fountain filled with Lindt chocolate. It is usually open daily from 10:00 to 18:00; check winter Monday closures.
Right beside it are the three Crane Houses (Kranhäuser), office and apartment towers shaped like harbour cranes. From mid-November the harbour also hosts the Harbour Christmas Market.
Roman Cologne
Cologne was a Roman city for four centuries. The Roman-Germanic Museum beside the cathedral is closed for renovation; its collection is on show in the temporary home at Belgisches Haus (Cäcilienstraße 46, near Neumarkt), open Wednesday to Monday, 10:00 to 18:00.
There is Roman history under the cathedral as well: see the excavations.
Shopping on Hohe Straße and Schildergasse
Two of Germany's busiest shopping streets start at the cathedral square and run south. For cathedral souvenirs, see where to buy souvenirs.
Is Cologne worth visiting?
Yes, especially for a day or a weekend. The cathedral alone is worth the trip: it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it stands right next to the main station, so you can be inside within minutes of arriving. Everything else on this page is a short walk away, and the city is easy to reach by train from Brussels, Amsterdam and Frankfurt.
Who might skip it: if you want a pretty medieval old town throughout, Cologne was heavily bombed in the Second World War and much of the centre was rebuilt in a modern style. Come for the cathedral, the river, the museums and, in November and December, some of Germany's best-known Christmas markets.
Free things to do in Cologne
- Cross the Hohenzollern Bridge and look back at the cathedral
- Explore the Old Town lanes, Alter Markt and Heumarkt
- Walk the Rhine promenade to the Rheinauhafen and the Crane Houses
- See the cathedral's west front and portals from the square
- Visit the Christmas markets: free entry from mid-November
The cathedral interior is not free for tourists: entry is 12 euros, 6 euros reduced.
Things to do in Cologne in winter and at Christmas
From mid-November to 23 December the city centre fills with Christmas markets: the big one in front of the cathedral, Heinzels Wintermärchen in the Old Town, Markt der Engel on Neumarkt and the harbour market. Dates and hours are in our Cologne Christmas market guide.
Further out: day trips from Cologne
Bonn, Düsseldorf and Aachen are all under an hour away by train from the main station next to the cathedral. See our day trips from Cologne guide for eight easy ones.
Guided tours in Cologne
Prefer to see it with a guide? These run from the cathedral area.
City highlights with a local guide
The Old Town, Heumarkt, Fischmarkt, the Town Hall and the outside of the cathedral, with a local guide.
Check dates & pricesOld Town highlights walking tour
A guided walk through the historic Old Town, taking in the cathedral, the Hohenzollern Bridge and the Old Town Hall.
Check dates & pricesCologne from the water: 1-hour Rhine cruise
The best view of the twin towers is from the river. A short panorama cruise past the city's landmarks.
Check dates & pricesPartner links: bookings go through GetYourGuide, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Cancellation terms are on each tour page.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Cologne?
Start at Cologne Cathedral, then walk to the Hohenzollern Bridge, the Old Town around Alter Markt and Heumarkt, and along the Rhine to the Chocolate Museum. Cross the bridge to the KölnTriangle viewing platform for the best view of the cathedral. Museum Ludwig, the Farina Fragrance Museum and a Rhine cruise are all within a few minutes of the cathedral too.
What are the best free things to do in Cologne?
Walking across the Hohenzollern Bridge, exploring the Old Town, the Rhine promenade, the Rheinauhafen harbour with its Crane Houses, and the cathedral square are all free. The Christmas markets have free entry from mid-November. The cathedral interior itself is ticketed for tourists: 12 euros, or 6 euros reduced.
Is Cologne worth visiting?
Yes, especially for a day or a weekend. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site next to the main station, and the Old Town, the Rhine, the Hohenzollern Bridge and several major museums are all within a short walk. Much of the centre was rebuilt after the Second World War, so do not expect a fully medieval old town.
How many days do you need in Cologne?
One full day covers the cathedral, the Old Town, the bridge and the river. Two days lets you add museums such as Museum Ludwig or the Chocolate Museum, the KölnTriangle view and a Rhine cruise without rushing.
What is Cologne known for?
Cologne is best known for its cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Germany's most visited landmark. It also gave its name to Eau de Cologne, first made here by Johann Maria Farina in 1709, and is famous for its Carnival and its Christmas markets.
What can you do in Cologne when it rains?
Visit the cathedral interior and the Treasury, then Museum Ludwig next door, the Chocolate Museum, the Farina Fragrance Museum or the Roman-Germanic Museum at Belgisches Haus. All are indoors and within a short walk or tram ride of the cathedral.
Opening hours checked on 18 October 2026. They change, so check before you go.
Where to eat near the cathedral · One day in Cologne · How to get there