Cologne is a city in Germany located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia on the Rhine. It is one of the most important commercial and cultural centers of West Germany.
Cologne Germany
How to spend 2 days in Cologne Germany
In this 2-day itinerary in Cologne, discover the main attractions of the city.
Day 1 in Cologne
Start the day by visiting Cologne Cathedral, a symbol of the city located on the left bank of the Rhine. Next to the cathedral is the Roman-Germanic Museum, which shows a view of the city’s archaeological heritage, from the Paleolithic period to the Middle Ages.
Pass through Domkloster, where you find luxury brands. Head to St. Gereon, a 7th-century church. Located 1.6 (1 mile) from St. Gereon is another church in town, St. Martin.
Near St. Martin is the city hall (Kölner Rathaus). Head to Rheinauhafen, a newly designed complex along the Rhine, the site has many cafes, restaurants, and galleries.
Things to see
- Cologne Cathedral
- Roman-Germanic Museum
- Domkloster
- St. Gereon
- St. Martin
- Kölner Rathaus
- Rheinauhafen
Day 1 Itinerary Map
Day 2 in Cologne
On the second day in Cologne start by visiting the Cologne Chocolate Museum. Head to the Zoo.
Take the cable car (March to October) for views of the Rhine and head to the Rheinpark.
Things to see
- Cologne Chocolate Museum
- Zoo
- Cable car
- Rheinpark
Day 2 Itinerary Map
Sights in Cologne
1. Cologne Cathedral
The Cologne Cathedral is located on the left bank of the Rhine. It is one of the symbols of the city with its Gothic architecture.
It is considered one of the oldest cathedrals in Europe.
Domkloster 4, 50667
2. Altstadt
In the old town of Cologne, you will find many attractions such as the Kölner Rathaus.
In the area, you will also find many galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and cafés.
Altstadt
3. Kölner Rathaus
The Cologne City Hall (Kölner Rathaus) is Germany‘s oldest city hall.
The building has numerous architectural references.
Rathauspl. 2, 50667
4. Romano-Germanic Museum
The Romano-Germanic Museum is an archaeological museum in Cologne. It has a large collection of Roman artifacts.
The museum is located close to the Cologne Cathedral.
Roncalliplatz 4, 50667
5. St. Gereon’s Basilica
The St. Gereon’s Basilica is a Roman Catholic church.
The church has many medieval murals, mosaics, and ancient relics.
Gereonshof 2, 50670
6. Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden is located in Riehl, a district in the north of the city.
The garden dates back to 1863 and receives many visitors every year.
Am Botanischen Garten 1a, 50735
7. Kölner Zoo
The Kölner Zoo is located close to the Botanical Garden.
It was established in 1860 and it is one of Germany‘s oldest zoos.
Riehler Str., 50735
8. Rheinpark
The Rheinpark is located between the Mülheim and Deutz neighborhoods.
The park is home to Cologne´s cable car (Kölner Seilbahn).
Rheinpark, 50679
9. Kölner Seilbahn
The Kölner Seilbahn is a cable car offering stunning views of the city and the Rhine.
Riehler Str. 180, 50735
10. Rheinauhafen
The Rheinauhafen is a complex along the Rhine river.
The district has many modern buildings, cafés, restaurants, and galleries.
Rheinauhafen
Where to stay in Cologne
1. Hyatt Regency Cologne
©Hyatt Regency Cologne
The Hyatt Regency Cologne is located in central Cologne and offers amazing views of the cathedral and Rhine.
It has 306 rooms equipped with a flat-screen TV, minibar, coffee maker.
Kennedy-Ufer 2A, 50679
2. Cologne Marriott Hotel
©Cologne Marriott Hotel
The Cologne Marriott Hotel is located in central Cologne close to the Main Station.
It has 312 rooms equipped with a flat-screen TV, minibar, safe.
Johannisstrasse 76-80 North Rhine-Westphalia, 50668
3. Radisson Blu Hotel Cologne
©Radisson Blu Hotel Cologne
The Radisson Blu Hotel Cologne is located in the Deutz neighborhood 2,2 km from the cathedral.
Rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV, minibar, safe.
Messe Kreisel 3, 50679
Shopping Streets in Cologne
Cologne is one of the most popular cities in Germany for shopping.
The most popular shopping street is the Schildergasse as well as the Hohe Strasse which accommodates large department stores.
Exclusive shops are concentrated on the Mittelstrasse and Pfeilstrasse streets.
Malls and Department Stores in Cologne
1. Rhein Center Köln
The Rhein Center Köln is located 9 km from the central area.
Brands: Apple, Armani, Bonitta, MAC, Mango, Michael Kors, Pandora, Saturn, Zara.
Aachener Str. 1253, 50858
2. City-Center Köln Chorweiler
The City Center Köln Chorweiler is located 15 km from the central area.
Brands: Tom Tailor, Douglas, New Yorker.
Mailänder Passage 1, 50765
3. Karstadt Cologne
Karstadt is a German department store chain with many stores in Germany.
The company features brands like Cacharel, Clarins, Coach, Desigual, Estée Lauder.
Breite Str. 103-135, 50667
4. Galeria Kaufhof Cologne
Galeria Kaufhof is a German department store chain with many stores in Germany.
The company features brands like Esprit, S. Oliver, Tom Taylor, Gerry Weber, Tommy Hilfiger, Bugatti, Olymp.
Hohe Str. 41-53, 50667
Plan your Trip
Cologne has easy train access from various cities in Germany. Famous cities nearby: Düsseldorf, Essen, Bonn, Dortmund, Frankfurt, Koblenz, Aachen.
Distances
Düsseldorf – 45.1 km (28 miles)
Essen – 72 km (44.7 miles)
Bonn – 34 km (21.2 miles)
Dortmund – 94.4 km (58.7 miles)
Frankfurt – 189 km (118 miles)
Koblenz – 114 km (70.9 miles)
Aachen – 83.2 km (51.7 miles)
Cologne Germany Map
Book Your Trip
Book Your Accommodation
Book your hotel with Booking.com as they consistently provide the cheapest and lowest rates.
Book Your Flight
Find cheap flights to Germany by using Momondo. Momondo is a flight search engine that searches a lot of different airlines, including many of the budget carriers.
Book a Train Ticket
Check the train routes and schedules with Omio. Omio is an authorized Deutsche Bahn ticket seller, which compares and combines transport options for complete flexibility.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, and cancellations. It’s a protection in case anything goes wrong. You can book your travel insurance with Travelexinsurance.com.
See also
10 Best Palace & Castle Hotels on Rhine River Germany
10 Suggested Itineraries for Germany + Top Destinations
Outlets & Department Stores in Germany: Shopping Guide
