Editor's picks
A local's shortlist — the places worth your time first, each with a tip.
Kölner Dom
Landmark · Altstadt
A Gothic cathedral begun in 1248 and finished in 1880, which survived the war largely intact while the city around it did not.
Local tip: Free to enter. Climb the 533 steps of the south tower for the view — it is a genuine effort and the staircase is narrow. Go early; it is Germany's most visited landmark.
The Rhine promenade & Rheinauhafen
Nature · Riverside
The riverbank walk from the old town south to the converted harbour, with the three Kranhaus buildings shaped like cranes.
Local tip: The east bank has the better view — of the cathedral and the old town — and is where locals go to sit with a beer in summer. Cross the Hohenzollern bridge on foot.
Belgisches Viertel
Neighborhood · West of the ring
The Belgian Quarter — independent shops, bars and restaurants on streets named after Belgian cities.
Local tip: The best eating and drinking in Cologne, and where you will end up most evenings. Brüsseler Platz on a summer evening fills with people sitting on the church steps, which the neighbours periodically object to.
Museum Ludwig
Culture · Beside the cathedral
One of Europe's most important collections of modern art, with the largest Pop Art holding outside the United States and a major Picasso collection.
Local tip: Directly beside the cathedral and consistently overshadowed by it. The Picasso rooms and the Russian avant-garde collection are world class, and it is rarely crowded.
The Kölsch breweries
Food · Altstadt and beyond
Früh, Päffgen, Sion and others — traditional halls where Kölsch arrives in 200ml glasses until you stop it.
Local tip: Päffgen on Friesenstraße is the one locals defend most fiercely. Put your beer mat on top of the glass when you have had enough, or the Köbes will keep going. The gruffness is performance and you are meant to give it back.
Decksteiner Weiher & the Äußere Grüngürtel
Hidden gemNature · West of the city
A lake in the outer green belt — a ring of parkland laid out in the 1920s on the former fortifications encircling the city.
Local tip: Cologne has two concentric green belts most visitors never see, built on demolished Prussian fortifications. The outer ring is where the city actually runs, cycles and barbecues, and Decksteiner Weiher is its best stretch.
Explore 115 places across Cologne
Museums, landmarks, monuments, heritage sites and parks — mapped, with photos. The most notable spots first.
Museums & galleries
(18)
MuseumWallraf–Richartz Museum
Art museum in Cologne, Germany
Museum
MuseumRomano-Germanic Museum
Archaeological museum of ancient roman and germanic cultures in Cologne, Germany
MuseumFragrance Museum
Museum in Cologne, Germany
MuseumNS Documentation Centre of the City of Cologne
NS Documentation Centre - Cologne
MuseumMuseum für Angewandte Kunst
Applied art museum in Cologne, Germany
MuseumMuseum of East-Asian Art
Museum in Cologne
MuseumMuseum Morsbroich
Museum in Germany
MuseumMax Ernst Museum
Museum in Germany
MuseumKäthe Kollwitz Museum Köln
Museum in Cologne
MuseumVilla Zanders
Villa
MuseumRautenstrauch-Joest Museum
Museum in Cologne
MuseumCologne Cathedral Treasury
Museum
MuseumGerman Dance Archives Cologne
Archive, Library and Museum of present and past Art of Dancing
Waldmuseum Haus des Waldes
Museum.
Straßenbahn-Museum Thielenbruch
Museum.
LVR-Industriemuseum Papiermühle Alte Dombach
Museum.
Galerie Hansemann
Art gallery.
Landmarks & architecture
(12)
LandmarkMesseturm Köln
Building in Cologne, Germany
LandmarkWeißhaus
Landmark in Cologne.
LandmarkMalakoffturm
Prussian fortification tower along the Rhine in Cologne
LandmarkErich Klibansky Platz
Public square in Altstadt-Nord, Germany
LandmarkAlter Markt
Square and street in district Altstadt/Nord, Cologne, NRW, Germany
LandmarkBurg Bensberg
Castle
LandmarkBottmühle (Köln)
Landmark in Cologne.
LandmarkBreslauer Platz
Square in Cologne
LandmarkHeumarkt
Square in Cologne, Germany
LandmarkRömerturm
Landmark in Cologne.
LandmarkAugustusburg Palace
Château in Brühl, Germany
Fort VII
Fort.
Monuments & memorials
(7)
MonumentDenkmal für Deserteure und Opfer der NS-Militärjustiz
Artwork in public space by Ruedi Baur in Köln, Germany
MonumentDie Trauernde
Monument in Cologne.
Ess-Bahn
Historic site.
Synagoge Brühl
Memorial.
Kriegerdenkmal
Memorial.
Ehemaliger Bahnhof Forsbach
Memorial.
Hafenkran 31a
Historic site.
Places of worship
(58)
ReligiousCologne Cathedral
Roman-Catholic cathedral in Cologne, Germany
Religious
ReligiousRoonstrasse Synagogue
Synagogue in Cologne
Religious
ReligiousSt. Pantaleon's Church
Church in Cologne
ReligiousSt. Maria im Kapitol
Romanesque church in Cologne, Germany
ReligiousGreat St. Martin Church
Church in Cologne, Germany
ReligiousSt. Andreas Church
Church in Köln-Altstadt-Nord, Germany
Religious
ReligiousBasilica of St. Severin
Church building in Altstadt-Süd, Germany
ReligiousBrauweiler Abbey
Former Benedictine monastery
ReligiousDeutz Abbey
Former monastery in Cologne, Germany
ReligiousGlockengasse Synagogue
Synagogue in Cologne
ReligiousSt. Mariä Himmelfahrt
Church building in Cologne, Germany
Religious
ReligiousAntoniterkirche
Church in Cologne-Altstadt-Nord, Germany
ReligiousCologne Charterhouse
Monastery in Cologne, Germany
ReligiousChurch of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Cologne
Franciscan church from the 13th century
ReligiousChristi Auferstehung
Catholic church in Cologne by architect Gottfried Böhm
ReligiousSt. Agnes
Church in Cologne-Neustadt-Nord, Germany
ReligiousSt. Maria vom Frieden
Church building in Altstadt-Süd, Cologne, Germany
ReligiousSt Peter's Church
Roman-catholic church in Cologne
ReligiousSt. Kolumba, Cologne
Church, destroyed, in Cologne
ReligiousSt. Maria in der Kupfergasse
Church building in Urbach, Germany
ReligiousSt. Michael
Church building in Zündorf, Germany
ReligiousAlt St. Alban
Church in Cologne-Altstadt-Nord, Germany
ReligiousSaint Anthony of Padua Chapel
Church
ReligiousChristuskirche (Köln)
Church building in Neustadt-Nord, Germany
ReligiousJohann-Baptist-Kirche Cologne
Church building in Altstadt-Süd, Germany
ReligiousChristuskirche
Protestant church building in Leverkusen, Germany
ReligiousSt. Margaretha
Church building in Libur, Germany
ReligiousGezelinkapelle
Church
ReligiousSt. Hildegard (Wiesdorf)
Church building in Leverkusen, Germany
ReligiousKartäuserkirche (Köln)
Church building in Altstadt-Süd, Germany
ReligiousKlein Sankt Martin
Church building in Altstadt-Nord, Germany
ReligiousSt. Lupus (Köln)
Church building in Altstadt-Nord, Germany
ReligiousSt. Lucia Convent
Convent of Servitessen
ReligiousNeu St. Alban
Church in Cologne-Neustadt-Nord, Germany
ReligiousSt. Andreas
Church building in Leverkusen, Germany
ReligiousSt. Johann Evangelist
Church building in Altstadt-Nord, Germany
ReligiousMaria Ablass Kapelle
Church building in Altstadt-Nord, Germany
ReligiousSt. Mauritius
Church building in Altstadt-Süd, Germany
ReligiousSt. Stephanus
Church building in Leverkusen, Germany
ReligiousSynagoge Körnerstraße
Former Synagogue in Cologne, destroyed 1938
ReligiousSt. Martinus
Roman catholic church building in Cologne-Zündorf, Germany
ReligiousKloster St Apern
Church building in Altstadt-Nord, Germany
ReligiousSt. Adelheid
Kirche in Köln-Neubrück
ReligiousSt. Pius (Köln)
Religious in Cologne.
ReligiousSt. Johannes vor dem Lateinischen Tore
Roman catholic church building
ReligiousSt. Maria in Jerusalem
Church building in Altstadt-Nord, Germany
ReligiousChurch of the Holy Cross
Church in Leverkusen, Germany
ReligiousZur Heiligen Familie
Church building in Sülz, Germany
ReligiousAlt St. Cornelius
Church
ReligiousAlt St. Katharina
Church
ReligiousAlt St. Katharina
Church building in Niehl, Germany
ReligiousAlt St. Maternus (Köln)
Church
Wimaruskapelle
Place of worship.
Bilderstöckchen
Place of worship.
Heritage & archaeology
(5)
ArchaeologicalColonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium
Roman colony, today Cologne in Germany
ArchaeologicalCologne Archeological Zone
Archaeological area and future museum zone in the center of German city of Cologne
ArchaeologicalDionysosmosaik
Archaeological site in Germany
Römische Grabkammer
Archaeological site.
Burg Fischenich (Ruine)
Historic ruins.
Parks & nature
(11)
ParkFlora und Botanischer Garten Köln
Cologne Botanical Garden
ParkRheinpark
Park in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
ParkBlücherpark
Park in Germany
ParkSkulpturenpark Köln
Park in Cologne, Germany
Park
ParkVolksgarten
Park in Neustadt-Süd, Germany
ParkFritz-Encke-Volkspark
Park in Cologne, Germany
ParkKlettenbergpark
Park in Klettenberg, Germany
ParkVorgebirgspark
Park in Zollstock, Germany
ParkHiroshima-Nagasaki-Park
Park in Neustadt-Süd, Germany
ParkRosengarten der Stadt Köln
Rose garden
More to explore
(4)Coloneum
Visitor attraction.
Dreizehn-Linden-Platz
Viewpoint.
Barbara Kapelle
Visitor attraction.
Junkerburg
Geyen
Visitor attraction in Geyen.
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