Cologne Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Cologne tours, the magnificent Gothic Cathedral, the lively old town, Rhine river cruises, Kölsch beer and brewery tours, the Chocolate Museum, and day trips to Bonn, Aachen and the Rhine castles. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Cologne itinerary.
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Explore Cologne by interest
Whatever brings you to Cologne — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Cologne Cathedral
Germany’s Gothic masterpiece.
ExploreOld Town
Roman roots and the Altstadt.
ExploreRhine cruises
The river and Hohenzollern Bridge.
ExploreKölsch & beer
Brewhouses and local beer.
ExploreChocolate Museum
A sweet riverside treat.
ExploreBike tours
See Cologne on two wheels.
ExploreChristmas markets
Festive stalls by the cathedral.
ExploreDay trips
Bonn, Aachen and the Rhine.
ExploreTop attractions in Cologne
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Cologne Cathedral
Germany’s Gothic masterpiece.
Hohenzollern Bridge
Love locks over the Rhine.
Old Town
The colourful Fischmarkt.
Kölsch brewhouses
The city’s beloved beer.
Chocolate Museum
A sweet riverside treat.
Rhine river
Cruises past the skyline.
Roman Cologne
2,000 years of history.
Bonn & Aachen
Beethoven and the imperial city.
Cologne in 1 day
- 1Cologne Cathedral
- 2Old town & Fischmarkt
- 3Rhine cruise
- 4Kölsch brewhouse
Cologne in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Cathedral & old town
- 2Chocolate Museum
- 3Day 2: Bonn or Rhine
- 4Brewhouse evenings
Cologne in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Cathedral & old town
- 2Day 2: Bonn & Rhine
- 3Day 3: Aachen
- 4Brewhouses & museums
Cologne with kids
- 1Chocolate Museum fountain
- 2Cathedral tower climb
- 3Rhine cable car
- 4Cologne Zoo
20 min awayBonn
Beethoven’s birthplace.
50 min awayAachen
The imperial cathedral city.
40 min awayDrachenburg Castle
A fairy-tale Rhine castle.
1 hr awayRhine Valley
Castles, vineyards and the Lorelei.
30 min awayDüsseldorf
A stylish riverside rival.
40 min awayPhantasialand
A thrilling theme park.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Cologne visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring and summer (May–September) bring the mildest, sunniest days and lively riverside terraces — the best time to visit, while December dazzles with Christmas markets.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Fresh, blossoming days ideal for the old town, river cruises and outdoor cafés.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Warm and lively, perfect for the Rhine promenade, beer gardens and festivals.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Crisp, golden days with fewer crowds — a pleasant time for museums and brewhouses.
Winter & Christmas
Cold but magical, with Cologne’s famous Christmas markets by the cathedral and riverside in December.
Carnival season
In February/March, Cologne erupts in its world-famous Carnival (Karneval) — a wild, colourful street party; book accommodation well ahead.
One day
Enough for the cathedral, old town, a Rhine cruise and Kölsch.
Two days
Add a Bonn or Rhine Valley day trip.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, Bonn and the Rhine, and Aachen.
Four to five days
Add more Rhine castles, museums and nearby cities.
A week or more
Use Cologne as a base to explore the whole Rhineland.
Travelling with kids
Mix the Chocolate Museum, the zoo and a cable car at a gentle pace.
On foot
Cologne’s old town, cathedral and riverside are compact and best explored on foot.
U-Bahn & trams
An extensive U-Bahn and tram network (KVB) covers the wider city cheaply, including the museums and stations.
Rhine cable car
The Rheinseilbahn cable car glides across the Rhine for fun views — a unique way to cross the river.
Trains
Cologne’s central station beside the cathedral offers fast trains across Germany — Bonn in 20 minutes, plus high-speed links nationwide.
Day-trip transport
Frequent trains and tours reach Bonn, Aachen and the Rhine Valley easily for day trips.
From the airport
Cologne Bonn Airport links to the centre by train in about 15 minutes.
Book tours ahead
Popular small-group brewery, food and walking tours and Rhine cruises fill up — book ahead at weekends, in summer and at Christmas.
Currency & tipping
Germany uses the euro; rounding up or tipping around 5–10% for good service is customary.
Drink Kölsch
Order the local Kölsch beer in its small 0.2L glass; the Köbes waiter keeps refilling until you put your beer mat on top.
Cathedral is free
Entry to Cologne Cathedral is free; pay a small charge to climb the tower or visit the treasury, and dress respectfully.
KölnCard
The KölnCard offers public transport and attraction discounts — good value if you’re seeing several sights.
Use the KVB
Cologne’s U-Bahn and trams make getting around easy and cheap; buy and validate a ticket before travelling.
Brewery & food tours
Small-group Kölsch and food tours fill up — book ahead.
Cathedral tours
Guided cathedral and tower tours have limited places — reserve early.
Rhine cruises
Popular and evening Rhine cruises sell out in summer — book ahead.
Chocolate Museum
Pre-book Chocolate Museum tickets at busy times.
Rhine & Bonn trips
Day trips to the Rhine Valley and Bonn fill up — reserve early.
Carnival & Christmas
Carnival and the Christmas markets are very busy — plan well ahead.
Walking tours
Around €12–40 for a guided cathedral or old-town tour.
Brewery & food tours
About €35–75 for a Kölsch brewery and food tour.
Rhine cruises
Roughly €12–25 for a 1-hour Rhine sightseeing cruise.
Chocolate Museum
Around €13–16 for Chocolate Museum entry.
Day trips
About €40–80 for a Bonn, Aachen or Rhine Valley day trip.
How to save
Enter the cathedral free, take cheap trains to Bonn and the Rhine, and use the KölnCard for transport and discounts.
Cologne through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Fresh days, blossom and river cruises.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Carnival falls in Feb/Mar — book ahead.
- Best for
- Warm days, the Rhine promenade and festivals.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Busy; book cruises and tours ahead.
- Best for
- Crisp days for museums and brewhouses.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A pleasant, quieter time to visit.
- Best for
- Christmas markets and cosy brewhouses.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- December markets are magical but busy.