Cologne trips and vacations

Cologne is a city for art lovers. You can see works by Warhol and Picasso at the Museum Ludwig and admire commercial designs at the Museum of Applied Arts. Put a contemporary spin on your vacation in Cologne at GlasMoog. Or, wander the streets of the Belgian Quarter and Ehrenfeld, neighborhoods defined by their colorful street art. 

Experience Cologne's ‘fifth season’ during Carnival. Dance at balls, march in parades and join locals for raucous street parties. Festivities kick off on 11 November and last until February (with a short break for Christmas). Time your visit for Rose Monday (the Monday before Ash Wednesday) to witness the culmination of Carnival and participate in masquerade parades.

Encounter the two sides of Cologne in Rheinauhafen, with its modern and historic buildings. Ride rental bikes through Rheinpark and have a picnic before an afternoon in the city’s botanic gardens. Appreciate the Rhine from above on a cable car. If you book a summertime trip to Cologne, you can spend warm evenings strolling along the Rheinpromenade.

Altstadt (Old Town) is where to stay in Cologne for history and festivities. The Gothic Cologne Cathedral dominates the city skyline. Invest a few hours here before savoring a coffee in a nearby cafe and window-shopping your way along the cobblestone streets. Shop and grab a bite to eat in Heumarkt Square, which is especially busy during festival seasons (February, July, September and December).

Good for: History, festivals, cafes

The Belgisches Viertel (Belgian Quarter) is the best area to stay in Cologne for nightlife and art. Explore this art nouveau neighborhood, stopping for a kolsch beer at Stadtgarten or a ‘currywurst’ on Brusseler Platz. Book your trip to Cologne around Christmas to experience its storybook Christmas markets.

Good for: Dining, nightlife, Christmas markets

Sudstadt (South City) is the best neighborhood to stay in Cologne for local experiences. Mingle with locals in Chlodwigplatz and grab fresh produce during the Thursday farmers market. Pause for a photo op in front of the Medieval Severinstorburg Tower before tasting some of the city’s best burgers at Die Fette Kuh. The city’s most celebrated micro-brewery, Johann Schafer, is also in Sudstadt.

Good for: Local charm, breweries, markets 

Cycle and soak in thermal ponds at Rheinpark, and get hands-on at the science-themed Odysseum. Take speed-loving children to the Le-Mans-Karting track. Time your trip for December to take advantage of the holiday things to do with family in Cologne. Visit the Christmas market near Cologne Cathedral, then take the Christmas Market Express to three other markets in the city. 

Start your retail adventures in Schildergasse at the Weltstadthaus Department Store and Galeria Kaufhof. Browse independent shops in Opern Passagen and look for deals on international brands along the Hohe Strasse shopping street. Seek vintage collectables and antiques at Agnesviertel Market and handcrafts at Alter Markt, the oldest venue for shopping in Cologne. 

Find more than 100 museums in Cologne. Dive into different niches with the scents of the House of Fragrances and the tastes of the Chocolate Museum. Discover athletic glory at the German Sport and Olympics Museum and be impressed by thousand-year-old relics at the Museum Schnutgen. Travel below street level and go back to Roman times at the Archaeological Zone underneath Rathausplatz. 

Nightlife in Cologne starts at beer halls. Drink the local speciality, kolsch beer, before you move on to the Belgian Quarter to visit trendy pubs or Old Town for cocktails or more draught beer. Pair a cocktail with skyline views at the Monkey Bar (eighth floor of the 25Hours Hotel) or cheer the local soccer franchise at sports pubs like Kolschbar. 

Restaurants in Cologne serve global cuisine and local staples. Sip a cooling kolsch beer and try Rhineland favorites like ‘sauerbraten’ and potato dumplings at Brauhaus zur Malzmuhle. Sample some of Germany’s best burgers at Die Fette Kuh (the Fatted Cow) and savor Vietnamese soups at Chum Chay and authentic pasta at Sardinia Ristorante. 

Climb to the tower of St Gereon's Basilica for skyline views or appreciate the architecture and people-watching around the 900-year-old City Hall. Meet wildlife at the admission-free Lindenthaler Tierpark or feed your creative side with the sculptures of Skulpturenpark. Mark the first Thursday of the month on your free things to do in Cologne calendar. The Chocolate and Roman-Germanic Museums don't charge admission on these days.