Cologne is not necessarily the most beautiful place in the world, but it has a big heart.
It’s cheerful and friendly which makes meeting new people easy. And if you want to see how Cologne can party, come for the carnival in February/March. It’s a week-long mega event and I’m a huge fan.
Cologne is a great city break destination, perfect for 2/3 days. But if you are short on time, I have put together an ultimate 24 hour Cologne sightseeing itinerary.
Here’s what my perfect day in the city looks like.
9am
Breakfast at Bastians (Auf dem Berlich 3-5). Watch freshly-made loaves being brought out of the warm oven, perfect for layering with butter and marmalade. We’re pretty indulgent at breakfast time – we’ll have everything from boiled eggs, slices of cheese and cold meat to croissants, fruit, muesli, yoghurt and juices. We might not eat the lot, but we do love a good spread.
11am
Not far from Bastians is the offbeat shopping zone of Ehrenstraße and its network of tiny adjoining streets. I love Dom (Ehrenstraße 18-26) an antiques shop with a beautiful facade and lots of fancy junk inside. On the corner of Ehrenstraße and Hohenzollernring is the Taschen Store, home of the coffee table tome, great for picking up stunning art, film and photography books. After a browse, I’d head to my favourite cafe, Törtchen Törtchen (Alte Wallgasse 2a) or Royal Cupcakes (Alte Wallgasse 5), for coffee and indulgence.
1pm
Hop on the number 5 tube at Friesenplatz to Dom/Hbf for a look at Cologne Cathedral. The huge arched windows, soaring columns and mosaic flooring are stunning. Nearby, famous brewery Fruh (Am Hof 12-18) is a perfect place for lunch and a beer. Try the house beer, Früh Kölsch, and if you don’t want refills, put your beer mat on top of your glass. Otherwise your waiter will top you up each time you’re empty. Soak up the booze with my favourite dish: roast beef marinated in vinegar and herbs, with dumplings and apple sauce.
3pm
I like a post-lunch walk around the winding alleyways of the old town, directly behind the Cathedral. Begin at Heumarkt, then on to Alte Markt and head downwards towards the river Rhine to stroll along the promenade. Take a look at Hohenzollern bridge where hundreds of couples have left symbols of love over the years: they place a lock with their names engraved on it beside the river and throw the matching key into the water.
6pm
Catch the number 16 tube to Ubierring, the newest part of town, not far from the Cathedral, which includes the modern architecture of the Rheinaufen, a regenerated harbour area with hotels, apartments and restaurants. For something special, eat dinner at Chino Latino in the Art’otel, voted the best Asian restaurant in Cologne. There are panoramic views, an outdoor terrace and I love their prawn dim sum with ginger and soy.
9pm
If you are up for some drinks, take tube number 16 or 15 to Rudolfplatz and check out the city’s Belgian quarter, the meeting point for Cologne’s scenesters. Scheinbar (Brüsseler Straße 10), Tausend (Aachener Straße. 57), Sixpack (Aachener Straße 33), Zum Goldenen Schuss (Antwerpener Straße 38) and Zum scheuen Reh (Hans-Böckler-Platz 2) are good for drinks and dancing. I like to find a nice spot in Brussels Square and buy drinks at one of the kiosks there first. It’s a great place to relax and people-watch before you hit the bars.
View more of my Germany travel tips, there are so many great city destinations worth adding to your bucket list. Not to mention some of the best festivals in the world!
