*Later in this post I share a few affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you click on them and make a purchase, at no cost to you. I really appreciate your support!*

Most descriptions of Cologne begin with a disclaimer — “Cologne is not a beautiful city, but this is due to the destruction it experienced during the second world war.”

I don’t like this at all, because Cologne is one of Germany’s most inviting and welcoming cities, and it’s got loads of character if you know where to look!

For all of my years living and working in Germany, I’ve discovered that the kindest, most open-minded people are often from Cologne or its surrounding villages.

THE CITY IS NOT BIG, AND ONE WELL-PLANNED DAY IN COLOGNE WILL SUFFICE FOR MOST TRAVELERS.

Below is my recommended Cologne, Germany itinerary, a mix of the top sights and experiences to leave you with lasting memories of this timeless city.

One Day In Cologne, Germany: A Unique Day Trip Itinerary

Top Things to Do in Cologne, Germany

Planning your trip to Cologne?
Here are my FAVORITE things to do in Cologne, Germany!

🔍 Discovery | Learn more about your destination

🤝 Connection | Meet locals, learn a craft, and trade stories

🎭 Performance | Immerse yourself in the local art and culture scene

Moulin Rouge at the Musical Dome in Cologne

🚌 Excursion | Explore nearby places of interest

Rhine River Cruise + Top Sights of Cologne

🚀 Adventure | Seek thrill and excitement in the great outdoors

Small Group Bike Tour of Cologne

Curious how to find the best experiences no matter what destination you visit?
Download my Europe Experience Planner now!

How to Get to Cologne, Germany

COLOGNE IS EASY TO ACCESS VIA TRAIN, PLANE, OR AUTOMOBILE.

As a major hub on Deutsche Bahn’s network, Köln HBF, the main train station adjacent to the Kölnner Dom, is continuously served by regional and long distance trains.

For those arriving by air, Cologne Bonn Airport has connections to more than a hundred domestic and international destinations, and is a short drive from the city center.

Cologne is also reachable by several major European highways, and offers plenty of parking, both inside the city and via park-and-ride lots on the city’s outskirts.

Best Time to Visit Cologne

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but generally, the best time to visit Cologne is during the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn.

The second best time to visit is probably during the holiday season, when the city hosts a collection of Christmas markets, including one right beside Cologne Cathedral.

SUMMER IS ALSO A GOOD TIME TO VISIT, AS LONG DAYS AND WARM WEATHER MAKE FOR ENJOYABLE EVENINGS ALONG THE RHINE RIVER.

February is one of the busiest months in Cologne, as the entire city hosts its legendary Karneval celebrations.

Depending on your travel plans, this is either a great time to head to Cologne and join the party, or a sign to avoid the city until the crowds and revelry have dispersed.

Morning: Cologne Walking Tour and Kölner Dom

ONCE YOU’VE ARRIVED IN COLOGNE, GRAB A COFFEE AND A CROISSANT AND JOIN A COLOGNE WALKING TOUR.

Here, you’ll learn about Cologne’s long history, which dates back to 50 AD, when the Romans founded a settlement along the Rhine River.

Most walking tours will include a visit to Cologne Cathedral, known locally as Kölner Dom.

THIS GRAND CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL IS A SYMBOL OF THE CITY AND GERMANY’S MOST VISITED LANDMARK EACH YEAR.

Its construction began in the year 1248, but it was not completed until 1880 — in fact, there are early photographs of the Kölner Dom as it neared completion. 😱

Construction delays, largely due to funding shortfalls, took so long that builders eventually forgot what the plan for the completed building was.

As the story goes, medieval blueprints for the Köln Dom were found in a pub in Darmstadt in the early 1800s.

ONCE THE AUTHENTICITY OF THESE PLANS WAS CONFIRMED, THEY BECAME THE BASIS FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE DOM.

During World War II, the Dom’s double spires were an aerial landmark for Allied fighter pilots.

Some believe that their navigational usefulness is why the Dom is still standing today, even though the rest of Cologne was largely flattened by bombs.

Ok, I’m getting a bit carried away here with the history of the Kölner Dom. 😂

I’LL LEAVE THE REST OF THE STORIES AND ANECDOTES FOR YOU TO DISCOVER ON YOUR WALKING TOUR — I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS ONE.

Early Afternoon: Lunch and Museum Ludwig

After a quick lunch, head over to Museum Ludwig, home to a modern art collection spanning various motifs and styles, from Surrealism to Abstract and Pop art.

The museum was established in 1976 when Irene and Peter Ludwig, heirs to the Monheim chocolate fortune, made a deal with the city of Cologne: they would donate their private art collection so long as the city built a building to house it.

Today, Museum Ludwig houses an impressive collection that includes works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and one of the world’s largest collections of Pablo Picasso.

One tip for your visit to Museum Ludwig — on the top floor, there’s a rooftop terrace overlooking the Kölner Dom.

IT’S A GREAT VANTAGE POINT FOR PHOTOS AND SOAKING UP THE SUN AFTER AN HOUR OR SO INSIDE THE MUSEUM.

Other Great Museums in Cologne

AS MUCH AS I WOULD RECOMMEND MUSEUM LUDWIG, I REALIZE THAT MODERN ART MAY NOT BE FOR EVERYONE.

Here are some other great museums in Cologne:

Wallraf–Richartz Museum — housing an extensive collection of European paintings from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, this collection includes works by Rubens, Rembrandt, and Impressionist painters like Monet and Cézanne.
Kolumba — the art museum of the Archdiocese of Cologne, its collection includes religious art, sculptures, and paintings from late antiquity to the present.
Museum of Applied Art (Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln, MAKK) — focusing on design, decorative arts, and craftsmanship, this collection spans from medieval furniture and ceramics to modern industrial design.
The Chocolate Museum (Das Schokoladenmuseum) — this popular attraction explores the history of cocoa and chocolate production.
The Farina Fragrance Museum (Duftmuseum im Farina Haus) — celebrating the birthplace of Eau de Cologne, this museum is dedicated to the history of perfume.
Schnütgen Museum — this museum specializes in medieval religious art and features intricate stained glass, sculptures, and altarpieces from the Middle Ages.
Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum — this ethnographic museum showcases non-European cultures and explores themes like migration, religion, and daily life across different societies.

Late Afternoon: Explore the Belgian Quarter and Ehrenfeld

Late afternoon is the perfect time to visit Cologne’s Belgian Quarter and Ehrenfeld, two young, hip neighborhoods full of independent shops, bars, and cafés.

From the Kölner Dom, the walk westward will take about thirty minutes; you can also hop on Cologne’s underground train and be there in about five to ten minutes.

HEAD TO BRÜSSELER PLATZ IN THE HEART OF THE BELGIAN QUARTER.

From there, you can peruse the various shops and boutiques that line Maastrichter Straße.

Or, walk up Brüsseler Straße and take in the different eateries and shops there.

If you’re looking for more of a coffee fix, head north of the Belgian Quarter towards the Ehrenfeld neighbourhood.

THIS PART OF TOWN IS FULL OF COFFEE SHOPS, VEGAN RESTAURANTS, AND PLENTY OF STREET ART.

I would even recommend taking a street art tour of Ehrenfeld to get a deeper understanding of the murals and graffiti artwork that adorn this part of town.

Exploring either of these two neighborhoods will give you insight into the local vibe of Cologne.

Best Places in Cologne’s Belgian Quarter

Here are some of the best spots to seek out in Cologne’s Belgian Quarter:

🍽️ restaurant [noa], a minimalist restaurant serving classic European fare
🍽️ Restaurant Belgischer Hof, a chic restaurant serving modern French cuisine
🍽️ Ouzeria, a restaurant serving Greek tapas
🍽️ Hallmackenreuther, a cool retro cafe serving coffee, cakes, and a full menu
🍳 Café Buur, a popular brunch spot that gets very busy past midday
🍦 Ice Cream United, a much-beloved ice cream shop
🛍️ Siebter Himmel, a chic book and design shop
🛍️ Groove Attach Record Store, a cool underground record store
🛍️ Schee, a home interiors store
🛍️ Simon und Renoldi, a fashion boutique carrying brands like Annie Bing and Diane von Furstenberg

Early Evening: Kölsch Beer Tour and Dinner

IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO VISIT COLOGNE AND NOT TRY ITS FAMOUS BEER, KÖLSCH.

Kölsch is a bright, dry, and hoppy beer that is brewed according to rules laid out by the region’s brewers association.

Unlike Bavarian beer, which is served in a one liter mug called a Maaß, Kölsch is served in a small, 200 milliliter glass called a Stange.

To help them carry all these small glasses of beer, servers arrange up to a dozen Stangen in a cylindrical tray that resembles a wreath, also known as the German word for wreath, Kranz.

You may think that such a small glass makes it easy to not be overserved while drinking Kölsch, but beware — servers will simply refill an empty Stange with a full one.

They’ll mark the coaster under this glass with the number of beers they’ve served.

IF YOU’VE HAD YOUR FILL, SIMPLY PLACE THE COASTER ON TOP OF YOUR STANGE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU’RE FINISHED DRINKING.

You can learn all this and more about Kölsch and Cologne’s brewing history and culture by taking a brewery tour and Kölsch tasting — I’d recommend this one, or this one, depending on the days of your visit.

Cologne has several breweries serving Kölsch out of wood barrel kegs, but they are also great spots to have a traditional German dinner with dishes like Schnitzel or Hämmchen, a local type of pork knuckle.

SO GRAB A SEAT, ORDER SOME KÖLSCH, AND ENJOY A WELL-DESERVED DINNER AFTER A FULL DAY OF EXPLORING COLOGNE. 😋

Conclusion

I HOPE THIS ONE DAY ITINERARY HAS HELPED YOU DECIDE WHAT TO DO IN COLOGNE, GERMANY IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE DAY TO EXPLORE THE CITY.

No matter what attracted you here in the first place, whether it was Cologne Cathedral, the chance to try Kölsch, or a curiosity about this ancient city on the Rhine, I hope you’ll be able to appreciate Cologne’s unique energy.

While a day may be enough to see the highlights, the city’s welcoming spirit and vibrant culture might just tempt you to return.

Until next time,
Angela

PLANNING A VACATION?

When you book through my links, you help support the site — at no extra cost to you.
Thanks for being a part of the Notes From Here journey! ❤️

💃 Book Tours and Experiences with Viator

🛎️ Find Hotels with Booking.com

🚗 Find a Rental Car with Discover Cars

🛡️ Get Travel Insurance with SafetyWing

🚄 Book a Train or Bus with Omio

YOU’LL ALSO LOVE…