Booming with years of history as well as oozing modernity, Cologne has a list of places to visit or things to do that will suit every traveler’s taste from the Roman structures to modern museums. For this reason, in the following guide, we will showcase how one can have the best of Cologne within 72 hours.
Cologne, a Diverse City
Cologne’s history begins from the Roman colonization phase and developed profoundly during the medieval period and is now one of the vibrant cultural centers in modern Germany. Through their architectures, its streets and buildings remind the people of its history, while its continuing artistic creations can be seen in the institutions. There is also a good deal of breathtaking scenery in the city, all these speaking to the fact that Cologne does not lack anything a traveler could desire. For a better understanding of the city, one should take an empty-handed city tour which will explain all the main attractions as well as some small and rather unseen ones.
Day 1: Sightseeing at the Rhine River and History Centre
On your first day in Cologne, focus on the two most iconic areas: the Rhine River and the historical center. It specifies those areas as essential to the city and provides its guests with a blend of both history and contemporary sites.
Rhine River
The Rhine River is among Europe’s most prominent rivers and gives uniqueness to the city of Cologne. This place has always been central to the historical, economical, and cultural life of the city. This river’s name means ‘to flow’ from the Celtic language, showing the river’s ancient relevance for the area. In Cologne, the Rhine space is used for many recreational activities ranging from walking on the riverside to using a recreational boat for sightseeing.
There are many possibilities to take a boat trip on the Rhine and different tour operators offer different types of tours. There are rushes that may take an hour and those that may cover meals and have some form of live commentary. Such tours provide a forever view of the famous places in Cologne giving one the chance to view the city from the riverside. Every tour is visually appealing due to various promenades bordering the river banks, old architectures, and lovely parks.
Historic Centre
Next, it is suggested to go directly to Cologne city center after taking in all the beauty of the Rhine. This zone – situated not far from the water – is the very core of the city and a true repository of medieval buildings and an effervescent present. It has pedestrian alleys, picturesque patios, working plazas, and little, brightly colored houses that go back to the Middle Ages.
Cologne Cathedral
The major landmark in Cologne’s old town is undoubtedly the Cologne Cathedral, which is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage. Being 157 meters tall, this gray Gothic cathedral is one of the largest in Europe. Construction work on this cathedral started in 1248, and it took over 600 years to finish it, the final touches were done in the year 1880.
The cathedral has two towers that shape the city’s skyline; the carved frontispiece is the finest example of Gothic architecture. A number of other pieces are located in the shelter of the cathedral. Some of these works are the Statue of the Three Kings: this is a gold bust that is said to contain the belief of magi kings. The visitors can also go to the top of the south tower through 533 steps that are offered with ravishing views of the city and the river Rhine.
Apart from being an architectural masterpiece, the cathedral has several roles in both the religious and cultural life of Cologne. It consists of services of worship, concerts, and special occasions making it an active part of the city’s history.
Historic Buildings and Squares
When walking around the district, it is impossible to miss many other extraordinary buildings and structures. St. Martin and St. Gereon are some of the Charleroi Romanesque churches with special and interesting architectural features and history. The Alter Markt and the Heumarkt are both crowded squares with cafe’ restaurants and shops situated on both sides of the pedestrianized roads. These squares are ideal to rest for a while as well as taste delicious dishes and feel the unique fervor.
Day 2: Finding the Key Pictorial Sites and Cultural Tourist Attractions
Indeed, it is virtually impossible to see everything there is to see in Cologne within the blink of an eye, or one day to be precise. The second day is useful for exploring cultural and art sights of the city; thus, suggested visiting Old Town Hall, Chocolate Museum, and Cologne Philharmonic.
Old Town Hall
The second significant structure that the visitors can see in the neighborhood of the cathedral is the Old Town Hall or the Rathaus, which was constructed more than 900 years ago and remains one of the oldest Town Halls in Germany today. Despite the new constructions, many wings of the building have been added and altered over the years resulting in an Architecture buff’s delight as the architectural styles mix and match through the centuries.
The addition of the Gothic tower in the 15th century is also noticeable, with its structured exterior and great statues. The loggia in renaissance style and the baroque (council chamber) serves well to indicate the architectural phase of the building. Another feature which is worth mentioning is the atrium; it is the big rectangular courtyard, which is inherent to the ancient churches.
The interior of the town hall is also very cheerful and filled with stately rooms indicating the historical significance of the place. Self-service guided tours can also be arranged with some background information to do with the construction of the building and its purpose in the administration of Cologne.
Cologne Philharmonic
Ambling around the town hall next is a visit to the Cologne Philharmonic more commonly referred to as Kölner Philharmonie which is a contemporary concert venue famous for its perfect sound quality and versatile lineup. Near the cathedral and the Rhine, the Philharmonic is one of the main cultural points of the city attracting fans of musical concerts from all over the world.
The concert hall holds all kinds of shows, symphonies, jazz, folk, or popular culture shows of the current generation. The design and stunning structure of Philharmonic further contribute to the overall experience because of the modern structure and professional equipment. It is virtually impossible to talk about entertainment and culture in Cologne today without referring to this concert house.
Chocolate Museum
The Chocolate Museum, also known in German as Schokoladenmuseum, is another popular site that every visitor to Cologne should consider visiting. It is situated in the Rheinauhafen district occupying the nontraditional construction that gives a magnificent overlook over the river.
The museum guides one through a chronological timeline of chocolate, starting with the Mesoamerican societies and evolving to the industrialized type. There opens a tropical greenhouse with the cacao trees and the mini-recreation of the old chocolate factory with the presented interactive installations of the steps of chocolate production.
Yes, there is a sculpture of their favorite chocolate fountain, one that lets people, especially children, plunge wafers into actual flowing chocolate. There is also the shop and café point within the museum where visitors can taste and buy chocolates and related products.
Day 3: Nature and the Countries and Other Special Museums
This day, it will be good for you to visit natural attractions and peculiar museums in Cologne before leaving the city. End the day with beautiful combinations by visiting the Botanical Garden, Perfume Museum, and Cologne Opera.
Cologne Forest Botanical Garden
The Forstbotanischer Garten Köln, which translates to Cologne Forest Botanical Garden, is a beautiful place through which green vegetation dominates the southern region of the city. About 3,000 species of plants fill the garden area that occupies an area of 25 hectares. It is divided into different zones and among them there are zones devoted to the Japanese, Chinese and Korean flora.
Some of the basic features are; pathways curvy and organic, ponds, and well-maintained landscape gardens. It also provides workshops, exhibitions, and tour services, which means that it is informative and entertaining to different generation people.
Perfume Museum
Kool things to see include Cologne Cathedral, Perl among others, the Perfume Museum (Duftmuseum). Located in the Farina House wherein the creation of Eau de Cologne originated, the Museum seeks to bring to a closer perspective in selling and showcasing fragrances.
Collection of perfumery: perfumery lab where fragrances were created initially, old apparatus and other articles associated with the creation of perfumes, and documents that described the story of the creation of perfumes. It provides the client with information on various products used in the production of different fragrances, distillation process, and life of prominent perfumers. This museum also has smells that can be interesting and historical, so the visit is in some way related to all the senses.
Cologne Opera
The final glance of your trip should be on the Cologne Opera (Oper Köln) that is among the most famous theaters that present musicals starting from 1957. Currently, the actual building is being reconstructed for 2024, so the opera has performances at a different venue as well.
The permanent ensemble of the Cologne Opera is considered to be one of the best, performing classic Opera and Ballet as well as modern performances. With this theater, it is comprehensible to end the cultural heritage sightseeing in Cologne.
Must-See Places in Cologne
Cologne is always a city packed with something to see or do. Starting from the architectural marvel, the old town, moving on to the museums, art galleries, and many more, every nook and cranny has stories to tell. Here are a few more recommendations to enhance your trip:
Ludwig Museum
The final interesting museum is the art museum named Museum Ludwig or simply Ludwig Museum. It is situated in close proximity to the cathedral and contains a rich collection of contemporary painting and sculptures of Picasso, Andy Warhol, Lichtenstein, etc. The listed pop-art and elements of the Russian avant-garde make it one of the most significant European modern art museums.
Hohenzollern Bridge
Hohenzollern Bridge or Hohenzollernbrücke is considered one of the iconic elements in the city’s layout. Esposing the Rhine, this bridge is famous for padlocks fastened to the railing by lovers as a couple. The bridge to take for crossing the river and get a beautiful view of the area and for taking beautiful pictures it will be a good point.
Roman-Germanic Museum
The Roman-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanisches Museum) situated near the cathedral is dedicated to the Roman period in the history of Cologne. The museum’s prime attractions are the mosaic of Dionysus which is the largest Roman mosaic in the area of the Alps and the newly reconstructed Roman villa. With a collection of Roman items such as jewelry, pottery, and glassware, people living in that region of the world could easily get insight into life during those times.
Rheinauhafen
The Rheinauhafen district is an avant-garde contemporary project of urbanization situated by the Rhine River that encompasses residential, commercial, and cultural facilities. The district is famous for its high-rises and signtainers; the peculiarities are three buildings in the shape of cranes – Kranhäuser. Wandering and walking around Rheinauhafen tourists will be able to watch galleries of modern art, beautiful cafes, and restaurants with a stunning view of the river.
Conclusion: Ever heard of the city of Cologne?
Cologne is one of those cities that has something for everyone, history lovers, culture lovers, and outstanding scenery. Whether it’s Lunch in the shadows of the Cologne Cathedral gothic structures or listening to a concert in the Philharmonic, or even sampling chocolate at the chocolate museum every moment is found thrilling in Cologne.
The following guide will help you plan such that you do not regret your three-day trip to Cologne. Find the time to dip into the dichotomy of old and new and let yourselves be enchanted by Cologne. Have a wonderful time visiting this interesting German city, and do not neglect to seek out such things as tourists do not know about this special city of Cologne.