Cologne Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide




Description
Cologne is one of the oldest cities in Germany, founded by the Romans in AD 50, when it was called “Colonia Claudia Ara Aggrippinensium”. Rome's imperial governor lived here and the city was quickly considered one of the empire's most important trade and manufacturing centres north of the Alps. Thereafter it was occupied by the Franks and was made an archbishopric (the office of an archbishop) by Charlemagne. It survived World War II and it is today considered a major cultural centre with museums ranking among the best in the world.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your first touristic landmark will be Cologne Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and one of the main tourist attractions in the city . Walk around the cathedral and learn about its legends and mysteries that propelled it on the list of UNESCO's World Heritage. Continue to Cologne's Old Town. There we will stop in one of its famous breweries, such as Peters Brauhaus, to try one of Cologne's treasures: the Kölsch beer (on your own, the drink is not included). Walk in the narrow alleyways and take pictures of the colourful and traditional houses. Reach the Alter Markt, where in the Middle Ages it was the place of executions. If you get lucky, you might get a chance to enjoy the weekly market. Proceed to Heumarkt, where – in the past – the trading of cheese, meat and salt took place. Nowadays both areas are major attractions for tourists and for locals as well and are full of restaurants and cafés. Move on to the City Hall, Germany's oldest city hall, a building composed of many different architectural styles, with a Gothic tower and a Renaissance style loggia and cloister. It is one of the most typical buildings of the Renaissance era. Next to the Town Hall stop by the Archeological zone of the Jewish Quarter. Learn about the long history of the Jews living in Köln and learn about the 17-metre-deep shaft of the Mikveh, the Jewish ritual bath, that was excavated in the area. Even today, the level of the Rhine can be read at the bottom of the Mikveh. Next and final stop will be the Romanesque Catholic church of Great Saint Martin. With its foundation built around 960 AD, but recently restored after it was destroyed during the World War II, it's one of the highlights of the Old Town.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(6)
Ralph was highly personable and friendly. Customized the tour based on my questions and interests. He not only shared key facts, but did so in a way that "made it real". (e.g. taking me to a specific street corner and sharing photos of the events that unfolded on that very corner in WW2. So IMPACTFUL!) Overall, Ralph was fantastic and I look forward to returning to Cologne and talking with Ralph again! Highly recommend!
Ralph was a wonderful guide with a wealth of information. He was very personable and we thoroughly enjoyed our tour.
Michael was an excellent guide, giving us a sense of the real Cologne, past and present from Roman times thru the napoleonic era and the more recent war up to today. He was both informative and entertaining
We're so glad you enjoyed the tour with Michael and appreciated his ability to bring Cologne’s rich history to life—from Roman times to the present day. We hope to welcome you on another tour in the future!
Interesting guided tour of the old town. Kids and adults alike had a lot of fun. It was a very pleasant beginning of our acquaintance with Cologne.
Thank you so much for your valuable feedback. We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the tour. We can’t wait to welcome you on another tour soon!
Sasha was a fantastic guide! He was very knowledgeable about his history of Cologne and told stories with excitement while personalizing them at the same time. He showed us and taught us things about the city we never would have known just by reading or walking the city on our own. We had a 15 year old daughter with us, and she loved the tour as much as we did. Given the length of the tour, Sasha gave us some choices about what we prioritized seeing and learning. It’s a walking tour and there are cobblestone roads in most areas so would not be appropriate for elderly or handicapped individuals. For all others, however, my family and I highly recommend this tour!
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're happy to hear that our tour helped you explore and appreciate the beauty of the city. It’s always rewarding to know that we’ve provided a memorable experience. We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
Very friendly and knowledgeable guide. Charley paced the tour well and answered our many questions. A great experience and highly recommend.
Thank you so much for your kind words and recommendation. We're glad to hear that we made your experience so memorable.



