Rheinauhafen and the Kranhäuser

The Rheinauhafen is a former river harbour on the Rhine's west bank, south of Cologne's Altstadt in North Rhine-Westphalia, that has been converted into a district of offices, apartments, restaurants and a long riverside promenade. Its best-known landmarks are the three Kranhäuser, tall glass-and-steel buildings whose shape recalls the harbour cranes that once loaded cargo here. They stand in a line along the water, and the angled upper floors project towards the Rhine, which makes them one of the most photographed examples of modern architecture in the city. Between the Kranhäuser and the old harbour office, restored warehouses and grain buildings preserve the industrial character of the quarter, and a historic crane stands on the quay as a reminder of the port. The promenade is open at all times and free, and runs from the Schokoladenmuseum at the northern tip toward the Severinsbrücke in the south. Visitors typically spend 45 to 90 minutes strolling, stopping at the riverside cafés and restaurants, or cycling the waterfront path. The most atmospheric time is late afternoon into evening, when the setting sun lights the Kranhäuser and the opposite bank and the Rhine reflects the district's lights. Crowds are modest on weekdays and grow on warm weekends, when joggers, cyclists and families fill the promenade. Good photo angles include the quay edge facing the Kranhäuser, the view back toward the cathedral and Groß St. Martin along the river, and the bridge approaches at the southern end. The district is reached on foot in 10 to 15 minutes from the Heumarkt Stadtbahn stop, with the Severinstraße stop also nearby, which makes it easy to combine with the Schokoladenmuseum and a walk into the Severinsviertel.