My short travel guide to Cologne - The best things to do
Recently, I had visited Cologne with my better half. Cologne (Köln) is the largest city of North Rhine-Westphalia region in Germany. It’s a modern city with a vibrant nightlife and a centuries-old history. A fantastic tourist attraction with lots of freedom to enjoy the historic palace, museums, international restaurants, coffee shops, bars, all-round greenery, birds perching, river, cathedral and incredible blend of things that you should for sure consider to plan a holiday or at least a weekend trip like me. And for you chocolate lovers, there is a chocolate museum!
Breakfast at the Fischmarkt and Marvel at Gross St.Martin
The perfect day in Cologne starts with a good coffee. To make your breakfast more memorable, we recommend a coffee at the Fischmarkt (fish market), next to the Rhein River. While there is no longer an actual fish market on the site, it is now an Instagram-worthy and relaxed square. It features colorful buildings, a cute fountain and the impressive Gross St.Martin (Church of Great St. Martin) as a backdrop. Chose one of the many available restaurants and cafes and enjoy your breakfast outside when the weather is good.
Great St. Martin
After your breakfast, you can head directly to the Church of Great St.Martin and marvel at its amazing architecture. This Romanesque Catholic Church was founded in the year 960 on what was then an island in the Rhine River. Especially impressive is its majestic tower! The church was almost completely destroyed in the World War II and was again completely restored in 1985. These days it’s a must-see on every Cologne walking tour.
Cologne Cathedral
The cathedral also known as Kölner Dom is one of the greatest achievements of Gothic architecture. And how it could not be, as it took more than six centuries to be completed.
After its completion in 1880, the cathedral was one of the highest structures in the world. In 1884 it lost the title due to the Washington Monument. Yet, it still has the world’s largest church facade.
During World War II, Cologne was one of the most heavily bombed cities in Germany. The war not only flattened the city, but it also didn’t spare the cathedral. In the post-war years, the cathedral was reconstructed. More than 20’000 people visit it daily and regardless how pushed you are for time, it is most important of all the things to do in Cologne Germany.
Put a Love Lock on the Hohenzollern Bridge
The Hohenzollern Bridge is probably one of the most famous places in Germany where couples place their love locks. Ten thousand love padlocks cover the Hohenzollern Bridge (Hohenzollernbrücke). Lock your engraved padlock on the bridge and then throw away the key in the deep water of Rhine River. Your love will be locked for eternity. You can buy padlocks from the souvenir shops nearby.
Browse priceless works of art at Museum Ludwig
When you get to the end of the garden, Museum Ludwig stands to your left, directly west of Cologne Philharmonic.
Visiting Cologne in 24 hours doesn’t give you enough time to see all the museums. The city has dozens of them but Museum Ludwig remains one of the most impressive.
It’s a modern art museum with thousands of pieces of art. The museum also houses one of the largest Pablo Picasso collections in Europe. In fact, most of the second floor remains dedicated to the artist’s work.
Other highlights include works from Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. Fans of pop art, surrealism, and other modern styles should love the exhibits and permanent collections.
Enjoy a Beautiful Panorama View from Cologne Triangle
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