1 Day in Cologne – The Highlights
It is very easy to spend 1 day in Cologne (Köln). The old Roman city is one of the best places to visit in Germany due to its beauty, charm and the range of excellent things to do. It is located on the River Rhine and is known for its mix of traditional and contemporary architecture. This is because during World War Two, the city was heavily bombed and a lot of the buildings were destroyed. Fascinatingly, you can see incredible photographs of before-and-after the bombing at the Museum Ludwig. Some people say that Cologne isn’t a pretty city, but we disagree. However, we did visit for the Christmas Markets, so maybe we were charmed by its magic!
You’re probably wondering, is it possible to see the main attractions of Cologne in 1 day? And the answer is absolutely, if you manage your time well you will be able to see and do a lot of the best things in Cologne. Of course, because there is so much to do – you could easily spend longer if you wanted to. It is Germany’s fourth-largest city after all!
How to get to Cologne
BY AIR: Cologne-Bonn Airport is 17km southeast of the city centre. It is a well-connected airport, which means you will have lots of choices for flights from across Europe.
From the airport, the easiest way to reach the city centre is by train but you can get a taxi too! The train journey will take around 15-minutes with departures every 20-minutes in the week and 30-minutes at the weekend.
Good to know: you can also access Cologne from Dusseldorf International Airport and Frankfurt Rhein Main International Airport.
BY TRAIN: next to the Cathedral you will find the main train station Koln Hauptbahnhof.
When is the best time to visit for 1 day in Cologne
Cologne hosts events and festivals throughout the year and if you can time your Cologne trip with one of the following then you definitely should:
- Carnival ‘Karneval’ takes place on the last Thursday before Lent ( February or March). You can experience exciting parades and street parties and it has the nickname ‘Crazy Days’. However, it is said to start much earlier than this (November 11th) and has a whole season dedicated to it.
- Beer gardens are usually open from May to October.
- Gay Pride in July is known to one of the best in Europe.
- In December and early January, there are beautiful Christmas Markets. German markets are famous all over the world and we can confirm that the ones in Cologne are magical. However, the markets attract a lot of tourists so expect crowds!
If you do decide to combine your trip with one of these fun events, then it might be a good idea to spend another day in the city to see what it has to offer. The most popular time to visit is in the summer because of the warm weather, but if you visit in the shoulder seasons late spring and early autumn, the weather is still good enough to do all the best things to do in Cologne.
How to get around for 1 day in Cologne, Germany
It is such a walkable city that if you only have 1 day in Cologne it is likely that you will not need to use public transport. However, if you do there are the U- and S-Bahn Trams, which are affordable but can get very busy. You can buy 24 hr or weekly passes at ticket machines and at stops.
Download offline map apps, such as Maps.me for ease to get around Cologne and read our post for the must have travel apps here.
Useful information for 1 day in Cologne
The official language is German, but English is widely spoken.
The currency is Euro € and you will be able to use cards in most places, but it’s always recommended to carry some cash. For example, some bars did not accept cards!
Top 10 things to do in Cologne
This list includes all of the top attractions and things to do for 1 day in Cologne. This means you will be able to choose what suits your preferences and budget and be able to create your ultimate Cologne itinerary.
How do I spend my day in Cologne?
Cologne Cathedral
Next to the main train station, you will be able to admire and go inside the gothic cathedral. It is free to enter but you can pay to go on a tour if you want to learn more. It’s known to be ‘one of Europe’s most awe inspiring’ cathedrals and was once the tallest building in the world. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of Germany’s most popular monuments. There is also the option to climb the stairs to the top of the spire if you want to, but keep in mind the steps are not even and quite small.
Good to know: please dress respectfully as there is a dress code inside. This means to cover your shoulders and knees.
Opening hours: November-April 6am-7.30pm, May-October 6am-9pm
Museum Ludwig
Museum Ludwig is absolutely fabulous and you should make time in your day to visit. Especially if you love contemporary art because you will be able to see Andy Warhols, Picassos and James Rosenquist’s work. We really enjoyed our visit to this gallery and we also enjoyed escaping from the cold!
Entry costs €13 for an adult ticket.
Taste the beer – Kölsch
You must taste the beer in Cologne. It is quite the experience and you can see that the locals know how to have fun. The waiters will mark your beer mats as a tab, which is a pretty unique experience in this modern world. The beer is light and is made in Cologne so you really need to try it, there is no other option.
Good to know: when you have had enough to drink you should place the beer mat on your glass. Otherwise the beer will keep on coming!
The Old Town
South of the Cathedral you can walk around the beautiful Old Town, full of colourful buildings and narrow streets. It’s like stepping back in time and you can feel the juxtaposition of the Old Town Vs the urban concrete. You will find lots of taverns and gothic architecture. A great spot for photographers.
The Hohenzollern Bridge
The Hohenzollern Bridge spans the entire River Rhine and you will see the thousands of love locks as you walk over it. The bridge was first built between 1907 and 1911 and was reconstructed after bombing in 1945. Since 2008, people have been throwing away their keys into the river to ‘lock’ their love. When we visited it seemed difficult to find a place!
Good to know: take a picture from the other side of the bridge to get the cathedral in the background. It is glorious!
St Martin’s Church
There are so many beautiful Romanesque churches to see , but if you only have 1 day in Cologne, then you should definitely check out St Martin’s Church – even if only from the outside. The characteristics and medieval architecture make it 100% worth it.
If you’re a church lover – then be sure to visit Maria im Kapitol and St. Gereon too.
The Botanical Gardens (Rhine Garden)
The Rhine Garden is the city’s oldest park dating back to the 19th century. It’s truly a beautiful place to visit and has 10,000 types of plants. Truthfully, this is a perfect place to take a breath. Especially if you’ve had a busy day. Be sure to visit the main greenhouse to feel transported to another place.
Rhine River
We couldn’t not mention the Rhine River for a 1 day in Cologne guide. If you want to go on a river cruise there are plenty of options to choose from. Many people say it’s a highlight of their trip. There’s the option to hop on one to go to other cities, such as Dusseldorf, that are on the Rhine River.
Köln Triangle
Did you know that for only 5 euros you can get a wonderful view of Cologne? The Köln Triangle, at 103 metres high is definitely the best lookout in Cologne. A lot of people head here for sunset. So if you’re a sunset lover – be sure to come here for 360 degree views of the city.
Good to know: children under 12 can go up for free.
Chocolate Museum
Who doesn’t love chocolate? Expect to find interactive exhibits at the Chocolate Museum along with mixers churning Lindt chocolate and a large chocolate fountain. Yum! You can learn about the production of the chocolate but we all know you’re there for the tasting. Right? Entry for an adult ticket costs €11.50.
Day Trips from Cologne
If you have longer in the city or are exploring Cologne as part of a German trip. There are many places that you can visit on a day trip.
- Bruhl – to see the Augustusburg and Falkenlust Palaces (UNESCO)
- Dusseldorf – a major German city but with a quieter vibe, the Rhine waterfront and museums.
- Ahr Valley – one of Germany’s best wine regions and a good place to hike.
- Bonn – the home of Beethoven and gummy bears.
- Drachenburg Castle – for early Gothic and Renaissance architecture.
Overall, is Cologne worth visiting for one day?
The short answer is yes – definitely.
It is different to other German cities such as Berlin and Munich but definitely ticks all over boxes for a fabulous place to explore. So what are you waiting for? Enjoy your time in this beautiful city, we hope you can see that there is so much you can see and do in 1 day in Cologne.
Photo Credit: averagelives.com, unsplash.com and Katherine H.
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