Köln (Cologne) travel guide - where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Köln.
-
1
Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral)
Tip: Arrive at the 10:00AM opening on a weekday to avoid the heaviest crowds. · Buy tower and treasury tickets separately and check current fares at tickets.koelner-dom.de. · Children under 14 enter the interior free of charge. · Sundays and church holidays have shorter sightseeing hours, from 1:30PM. · Dress modestly and keep voices low, since services take place daily. · The tower has a narrow spiral staircase with no lift, so allow 30-45 minutes.
-
2
Hohenzollernbrücke
Tip: Walk across just before sunset for the best light on the Dom. · Keep to the pedestrian path, since cyclists use the adjoining lane. · Continue to the Rheinboulevard on the Deutz side for a riverside seat. · Combine the walk with the KölnTriangle Panorama, five minutes from the east end. · Take care with tripods, because the walkway is narrow and busy.
-
3
Museum Ludwig
Tip: Weekday afternoons are the quietest time to visit · Check museenkoeln.de for current fares, combined tickets and free-entry days · Allow two to three hours; special exhibitions may need extra time · Pair the visit with the Römisch-Germanisches Museum, a short walk away · The plaza and Rhine terraces outside offer good cathedral photo angles
-
4
Römisch-Germanisches Museum
Tip: Weekday mornings are the quietest time · Look at the mosaic through the street-level window before entering · Check museenkoeln.de for fares, combined tickets and free-entry days · Allow 90 minutes to two hours · Combine with the cathedral and Museum Ludwig, both within a few minutes' walk
-
5
Schokoladenmuseum (Chocolate Museum)
Tip: Arrive at opening on weekday mornings to avoid queues · Check schokoladenmuseum.de for weekday and weekend fares and timed tickets · Last admission is one hour before closing · Combine with a walk through the Rheinauhafen and the Kranhäuser · Weekends and school holidays are crowded; consider a weekday visit
-
6
Kolumba
Tip: Check kolumba.de for hours, since the museum is closed on Tuesdays and on some performance days. · Plan for 1.5-2 hours, as the rooms reward slow viewing. · Expect little wall text, so consider the audio or printed guide offered at the desk. · Visit on a weekday afternoon for the quietest rooms. · Confirm the current ticket fare at kolumba.de before arriving.
-
7
Altstadt and Alter Markt
Tip: Visit mid-morning on weekdays to see the square without crowds. · In a brewhouse, place the beer mat on top of the glass to stop the refills. · Walk down to the Rhine embankment for the best photo of the Dom and the bridge. · Expect crowds at the Christmas markets in late November and December. · Cobbled lanes can be slippery in wet weather, so wear sturdy shoes.
-
8
Rheinauhafen and the Kranhäuser
Tip: Visit in late afternoon for the best light on the Kranhäuser · The promenade is free and open at all times · Combine with the Schokoladenmuseum at the northern tip · Walk or cycle the full waterfront path to the Severinsbrücke · Riverside restaurants fill up on warm weekend evenings
-
9
Kölner Zoo
Tip: Buy tickets online, as they are often cheaper than at the gate. · Check the daily feeding schedule on arrival and plan the day around it. · Arrive at 9:00AM on weekdays to beat school groups and weekend crowds. · Consider the Rheinseilbahn cable car for one leg of the trip. · Allow three to five hours, and bring layers for the indoor houses.
-
10
Flora und Botanischer Garten
Tip: Visit between May and September for the fullest blooms. · Check flora-koeln.de for glasshouse hours and event prices. · Combine the visit with the zoo, since both share the Zoo/Flora stop. · Bring a picnic, as lawns and benches are plentiful. · Plan for a smaller visit in winter, when only the glasshouses are in colour.
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Landmarks
Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral)
Gothic UNESCO cathedral beside the main station, with a 533-step tower climb
Hohenzollernbrücke
Rhine rail and foot bridge with the classic Dom view
Altstadt and Alter Markt
Old-town squares and alleys between the Dom and the Rhine
Rheinauhafen and the Kranhäuser
Redeveloped harbour with three crane-shaped buildings
Museums_and_heritage
Museum Ludwig
Modern art with a major Pop Art and Picasso collection
Römisch-Germanisches Museum
Roman Cologne, including the Dionysos mosaic
Schokoladenmuseum
Chocolate history and a working production line
Kolumba
Archdiocese art museum built over a ruined church
NS-Dokumentationszentrum (EL-DE-Haus)
Memorial in the former Gestapo headquarters
Museum Schnütgen
Medieval sacred art in a Romanesque church
Käthe Kollwitz Museum
Prints, drawings and sculpture by Käthe Kollwitz
Farina Fragrance Museum
House where Eau de Cologne was first made in 1709
Nature_and_family
Kölner Zoo
Large city zoo with an elephant park and a rainforest house
Flora und Botanischer Garten
Garden and glasshouses beside the Zoo
Rheinseilbahn
Cable car across the Rhine between Riehl and Deutz
Rheinpark
Riverside park on the Deutz bank
Neighbourhoods_markets_and_views
Belgisches Viertel
Independent shops, cafes and bars around Brüsseler Platz
Severinsviertel
Traditional district with the medieval Severinstorburg gate
KölnTriangle Panorama
Rooftop deck in Deutz facing the Dom
Rheinboulevard
Stepped riverside promenade facing the Altstadt
Melaten-Friedhof
Large 19th-century cemetery with elaborate tombs
4711 Haus
Eau de Cologne brand house with a glockenspiel and fountain
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- Most municipal museums close on Monday; Kolumba closes on Tuesday; shops close on Sunday and public holidays; cathedral interior is limited on Sundays and church holidays
- Fees
- Cathedral interior EUR 12 (about USD 13.80) since 1 July 2026, free for children under 14 and on 1 May and 3 October; Cologne Zoo EUR 23 (about USD 26.45); Schokoladenmuseum about EUR 17.50 (about USD 20) on weekdays. Many streets, squares, the riverbanks and parks are free. All USD figures use 1 EUR = 1.15 USD
- Best Times
- May to September for riverside life and gardens; late November to 23 December for the Christmas markets; weekdays and opening hour for the cathedral and museums
- Passes
- The KölnCard from Cologne Tourismus bundles public transport and attraction discounts (cologne-tourism.com); Museenkoeln also sells an annual museum ticket for EUR 68 (about USD 78) without special exhibitions or EUR 90 (about USD 103.50) with them. The Wallraf-Richartz-Museum is closed for a two-year renovation from 3 August 2026
- Getting Around
- Most Altstadt sights are within 15 minutes on foot of the Dom; Stadtbahn, tram and bus run on the KVB network (kvb-koeln.de, KVB app) and regional trains on VRS (vrsinfo.de)
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Group sights by area: Dom, Römisch-Germanisches Museum and Museum Ludwig around Roncalliplatz; Altstadt, Alter Markt and Farina; Rheinauhafen and the Schokoladenmuseum; Zoo, Flora and the cable car in Riehl
Book the cathedral online at tickets.koelner-dom.de; the central ticket office is in the Kurienhaus, Roncalliplatz 2, daily 9:00AM-5:30PM
Walk over the Hohenzollernbrücke to Deutz for the best photographs of the Dom, then return by the Rheinboulevard
Check Monday and Tuesday closing days before building an itinerary: municipal museums close Monday, Kolumba closes Tuesday
Buy a KVB day ticket or KölnCard if visiting the Zoo, Schokoladenmuseum and Deutz in one day
On the Hohenzollernbrücke, keep to the pedestrian side: the walkway runs beside the cycle path and trains pass close by
Frequently asked questions
Is Cologne Cathedral free to enter?
Not for sightseeing since 1 July 2026: the interior costs EUR 12 (about USD 13.80), free for children under 14 and on 1 May and 3 October, and worshippers attending services do not pay. The central ticket office is at Kurienhaus, Roncalliplatz 2, 50667 Köln; book at tickets.koelner-dom.de.
How many steps is the Cologne Cathedral tower?
533 steps with no lift, which takes 30 to 45 minutes. Tower and treasury are ticketed separately; confirm the fares at tickets.koelner-dom.de.
Where can I see Roman Cologne?
The Römisch-Germanisches Museum at Roncalliplatz 4, 50667 Köln, next to the Dom, holds the Dionysos mosaic and the Poblicius tomb. Confirm hours and fares at museenkoeln.de.
How much does Cologne Zoo cost?
About EUR 23 (about USD 26.45) for an adult at the gate, with cheaper online and evening tickets. The address is Riehler Straße 173, 50735 Köln; koelnerzoo.de.
What is free to do in Cologne?
Walking the Altstadt, the Hohenzollernbrücke, the Rheinboulevard, the Rheinpark, the Rheinauhafen promenade, Melaten-Friedhof and the Belgisches Viertel costs nothing.