16 Ideas For What To Do In Cologne, Germany

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When it comes to German cities that are special and unique, you won’t find any more unique than the city of Cologne.

With a history spanning back more than 2,000 years, it’s full of incredible medieval and gothic architecture. As Germany’s fourth largest city, it also has a thriving nightlife scene and the people are so friendly and welcoming, you’ll find you never want to leave.

But if you’re not sure what to do in Cologne, then you needn’t worry, as we interviewed a resident of Cologne, Melvin Boecher, who has lived in the city for more than 8 years.

Melvin has shared with us his tips on things to do in Cologne, including the best places to see, eat, stay, drink, and explore.

Let’s take a look at what he says…

Is Cologne Worth Visiting?

Cologne is an open-minded city. It’s maybe not as beautiful at first look like other cities, but when you walk around, you’ll see that it’s one of the nicest cities in Germany.

The Altstadt (Cologne’s old town) has some very nice buildings, which lie right at the river Rhine. Just next to it is the Cologne cathedral, a UNESCO world heritage site. It’s worth the climb up into one of the two towers.

Cologne is about the atmosphere and its people. People in Cologne love their city and they have their own dialect and quite a few music bands who sing about the city in these dialects.

People from South or North Germany won’t be able to understand a word, which makes quite a unique music scene.

On the whole, there is nowhere quite as special and unique as Cologne, so it’s definitely worth visiting!

What to do in Cologne

Not sure what attractions in Cologne to add to your itinerary? Don’t worry, these are all the best things to do in Cologne!

1. Visit the Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)

One of the biggest highlights in the city is of course the Cologne Cathedral. You should climb the 386 steps to the top. After that, walk across the Hohenzollern Bridge and from there, you’ll find the perfect picture of Cologne.

The bridge and the cathedral are worth a visit at sunset or even just after sunset when the cathedral and bridge are lit up. That would make a great photo.

The Hohenzollern Bridge is also home to thousands of love locks, so if you’re visiting Cologne with your loved one, be sure to seal it with your own lock on the bridge.