North Rhine-Westphalia · Köln
Cologne
Cologne is dominated by its immense Gothic cathedral, standing right beside the main station on the Rhine. It's a dense rail hub with fast links across western Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Highlights
Cologne Cathedral
A UNESCO-listed Gothic cathedral and one of Germany's most-visited landmarks, next to the Hauptbahnhof.
Old Town (Altstadt)
Riverside lanes of colourful houses, breweries and the Historic City Hall.
Museum Ludwig
A major collection of modern art including Picasso and pop art, near the cathedral.
Rhine Promenade
Riverside paths and boat tours along the Rhine through the city centre.
Kölsch beer culture
Traditional Brauhaus taverns serving the city's own light, top-fermented beer.
Getting there by train
Main station: Köln Hauptbahnhof
| From | Journey time | Typical trains |
|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt | about 1.25 h | ICE |
| Düsseldorf | about 25 min | ICE / RE |
| Hamburg | about 4 h | ICE |
| Brussels | about 1.75 h | ICE International |
Source: DB timetable data (typical journey times). Checked on 1 June 2024.
Local transport
Cologne's KVB trams and buses, plus regional S-Bahn, connect the city and Rhine-Ruhr region. The Deutschlandticket covers local buses, trams, U-Bahn and S-Bahn in and around the city, though not long-distance ICE/IC trains.
Day trips
- Bonn (about 20 min) — The former West German capital, with the Beethoven House museum.
- Aachen (about 40 min) — A historic spa town near the Belgian and Dutch borders with Charlemagne's cathedral.
Neighbourhoods
Altstadt
The riverside old town directly beside the cathedral and the Hauptbahnhof.
Belgisches Viertel
Design shops, coffee and small restaurants west of the ring road.
Ehrenfeld
A former industrial district turned music and street-art quarter.
Deutz
Across the Rhine, with the classic postcard view back at the cathedral.
Food and drink
Kölsch is served in small 0.2 l glasses in the traditional brewhouses and topped up until you put a beer mat on the glass. Halve Hahn (rye roll with Gouda) and Himmel un Ääd are the local pub plates.
Practical notes
- Köln Hbf sits right next to the cathedral, so a stopover of an hour is enough to see it.
- Fast Frankfurt trains use the high-speed line via Siegburg; the slower Rhine Valley route is more scenic.
- Carnival week (February or March) shuts much of the city down and books out hotels.
Cologne bookshelf
German-language editions worth reading before or during a stop in Cologne, grouped by shelf. Each link searches Amazon for that edition so you land on the copy currently in print — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure.
Romane & Literatur
- Find on Amazon →Ansichten eines ClownsHeinrich Böll
A novel by Cologne's Nobel laureate, set in the post-war Rhineland.
- Find on Amazon →Billard um halb zehnHeinrich Böll
Three generations of a Cologne family across the twentieth century.
Geschichte
- Find on Amazon →Der Kölner Dom: Geschichte und BeschreibungArnold Wolff
The cathedral's building history, by its former master builder.
Reiseführer
- Find on Amazon →DuMont Reise-Taschenbuch KölnDuMont
German city guide with brewhouse and old-town routes.