Experience the best of Cologne
Cologne is a Rhine city of Roman roots and a towering Gothic cathedral, with Romanesque churches, art museums and a brewing tradition of its own.
Read moreShow less
Cologne's cathedral, begun in 1248 and finished in 1880, rises 157 metres above the Rhine on twin spires and shelters the golden Shrine of the Three Kings; it is a World Heritage site. The city began as a Roman colony, and the Roman-Germanic Museum beside the cathedral shows a large Dionysus mosaic found on the spot. The Hohenzollern Bridge carries trains across the river, its railings hung with love locks, and a dozen Romanesque churches stand in the old centre.
Museum Ludwig has a major collection of twentieth-century art, and the Chocolate Museum sits on the Rhine peninsula. Eau de Cologne was first made here in the early 1700s. A cable car crosses the river toward the zoo, the palaces of Brühl are a short train ride south, and Bonn, the birthplace of Beethoven, lies a little further along the Rhine.
Kölsch, a pale local beer, is served in tall thin glasses by waiters called Köbes in brewery taverns across the Altstadt. Himmel un Ääd, black pudding with apple and mashed potato, and the halve Hahn, a rye roll with cheese, are local specialities. Carnival, with its Rose Monday parade, takes over the city before Lent, and Christmas markets fill the squares in winter.
- Free cancellation on 86% of experiences
- 4.7 across the top 15
Top 9 attractions in Cologne
Number 1Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)
![]()
Number 2Cologne Old Town (Altstadt)
![]()
Number 3Roman-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanische Museum)
![]()
Number 4Museum Ludwig
![]()
Number 5Hohenzollern Bridge (Hohenzollernbrücke)
![]()
Number 6Cologne Chocolate Museum (Schokoladenmuseum)
![]()
Number 7Farina Fragrance Museum
![]()
Number 8EL-DE Haus
![]()
Number 9Wallraf-Richartz-Museum
Special offers in Cologne
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
Signature experiences in Cologne
Go beyond Cologne
![]()
Düsseldorf · 34 kmDüsseldorf Old Town (Altstadt)
![]()
Düsseldorf · 34 kmKing's Alley (Konigsallee)
![]()
Dortmund · 73 kmGerman Football Museum (Deutsches Fussball Museum)
![]()
Dortmund · 73 kmSignal Iduna Park
![]()
Maastricht · 89 kmCauberg Cavern (Gemeentegrot)
![]()
Liège · 103 kmLa Batte Market
![]()
Münster · 123 kmBotanical Garden Münster
![]()
Trier · 134 kmPorta Nigra
![]()
Trier · 134 kmCathedral of St. Peter (Trier Cathedral)
![]()
Mainz · 139 kmMainz Cathedral
![]()
Mainz · 139 kmSt. Stephan’s Church (Stephanskirche)
![]()
Frankfurt · 153 kmRömerberg Square
Questions about Cologne
- What is there to do in Cologne?
- We list 211 experiences in Cologne. The largest groups are city tours (56), day trips (16).
- What are the top attractions in Cologne?
- Ranked by the experiences that visit them, the top attractions in Cologne are Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), Cologne Old Town (Altstadt), Roman-Germanic Museum (Römisch-Germanische Museum), Museum Ludwig.
- What is the most popular experience in Cologne?
- By number of traveller reviews it is "Cologne City Tour Experience cathedral city on the Rhine", rated 4.8 out of 5 from 981 reviews.
- How long do tours and tickets in Cologne take?
- The typical experience in Cologne lasts about 2 hours; the middle half run between 1.5 hours and 3 hours.
- Can I cancel a booking in Cologne?
- The operator lists free cancellation on 86% of the 211 experiences we hold for Cologne. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.
Why book here
Compare before you buy
Every ticket, tour and pass we carry for a city, side by side on one page.
Free cancellation on most experiences
Where the operator offers it, the card says so before you click.
Real reviews, real photos
Ratings and reviews are collected from travellers by our booking partner and Tripadvisor; nobody pays for placement.
Secure checkout on our partner’s site
Card details are entered on our booking partner’s site, never on ours.