Cologne Central Station – Köln Hauptbahnhof
When visiting a city or town for the first time, I typically ask someone who lives or has been there for recommendations. For Cologne, I asked my friend A’s dad who lived there as a boy and goes back often, and he said, the Cathedral, the Rhine, the Carnival, and drink Kölsch.
It’s a pretty short list for exploring a whole city, but fitting when you are on a day trip, sadly we were too early for the carnival.
The gothic cathedral towers the city and the Rhine River runs through it.
Cologne’s architecture is a reflection of its war torn past with restored medieval buildings mixed in with stark structures, and remarkable historic and ultra modern buildings.
Directions for exploring Cologne
Cologne is a compact and walkable city; I enjoyed my day exploring the Old Town and shopping on Hohe Straße, the chocolate museum and crossing the Rhine on bridges with amazing views of the city.
We took breaks in between and drank Kölsch with lunch, of course; did a quick run through the Ludwig Museum, perused a German bookstore and had some quiet time in the cathedral.
The day ended with more strolls in along the Rhine in the Rheinauhafen district (of the Crane Towers), and of course more Kölsch.
Shopping on Hohe Straße in Old Town Cologne
1)The Chocolate museum, 2)Pretzels, 3)Fifty Shades of Grey in German 4)Candy from Pandora
Cologne architecture and a narrow cobblestone street
Inside the Cologne Cathedral
1)Chocolate Museum 2)Trankgasse 3)Kölner Dom 4)Outside the Dom
Roman-Germanic Museum
Imhoff-Schokoladenmuseum and barge on the Rhine
Rheinauhafen – new waterfront complex
Kranhaus – Crane Buildings
1)Old red van 2)Restaurants along the Rhine 3)Ludwig Museum 4)Postcards in German
Waiting at the train station
Other European Day Trips
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