Things to Do in Köln

Archaeological museum showcasing Roman Cologne's history, including the original Dionysus mosaic floor from a 3rd-century villa.

🕐 Tue–Sun 10am–5pm (Wed until 8pm). Closed Mon.

💡 Free entry on first Thursday of each month. Check the Roman harbour remains outside the museum—they're always accessible.

Modern art museum with key works by Picasso, Warhol, and Richter. Free entry every first Thursday of the month (16:00–22:00) and for under-18s always.

🕐 Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00, Thu until 22:00; closed Mon

💡 Hit the free Thursday evening slot – it's less crowded than Sunday and you can see the Pop Art collection properly. Check for temporary exhibitions that may have a fee.

Fine art museum with works from the Middle Ages to early 20th century, including a strong collection of German Expressionists and Impressionists.

🕐 Tue–Sun 10am–6pm (Thu until 9pm). Closed Mon.

💡 Free entry for under-18s. Free on first Thursday of the month after 5pm. Otherwise, €9 standard (or ask about the KölnTicket which covers multiple museums).

Archaeological museum showcasing Roman artefacts from Cologne's ancient past, including mosaics and glassware. Entrance is €5 for adults, free for under 18s.

🕐 Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00, closed Mon

💡 The Dionysus mosaic floor is the highlight. Visit on a Thursday afternoon when it's often quieter.

Major modern art collection with Pop Art highlights (Warhol, Lichtenstein) and a strong Expressionist gallery. Entry is €5 on first Thursday evening.

🕐 Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00, Mon closed. First Thu 10:00–22:00

💡 Every first Thursday of the month, admission drops to €5 from 17:00. Arrive by 17:30 to beat the queue.

Exhibits Roman artefacts from Cologne's past, including the Dionysus mosaic and Roman glassware. Currently in temporary location near the Dom.

🕐 Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00, Mon closed

💡 Free entry is limited to certain days—check the museum website for current free days (often first Thursday). Otherwise €9. Allow 1 hour.

Sculpture fountain depicting the legendary Heinzelmännchen (house gnomes) who supposedly did Cologne's chores at night.

🕐 24/7

💡 Look for the tiny figures hidden in the details. Best visited late evening when the square is quiet and lit.

15th-century Gothic town hall with a free-to-view courtyard and the 1404 'Platzjabbeck' figure on the clock. The surrounding cobbled square hosts a daily market (fruit, flowers, cheese) and outdoor cafés.

🕐 Courtyard: Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00, Sat 09:00–14:00; closed Sun

💡 Go on a Saturday morning when the farmers' market is busiest – you can sample fresh produce for free. The Rathaus tower tour costs a few euros but the courtyard is free.

Large riverside park on the right bank of the Rhine, with lawns, rose gardens, and the 60m-tall 'KölnTriangle' viewing platform (€3, optional). Great for a picnic or a stroll along the embankment.

🕐 Always open

💡 The best free view of the cathedral is from the Deutzer Brücke footpath just before the park. Bring a blanket and buy a beer from a kiosk; locals gather here on sunny evenings.

Large riverside park on the east bank of the Rhine, with lawns, flower beds, and a funicular up the hill for views.

🕐 24/7 (park); funicular 10:00-18:00 daily

💡 Pack a picnic and catch the sunset from the top of the park near the Monheimsweg. Free funicular runs every 15 minutes.

A 42-hectare riverside park across the Rhine at Deutz. Lawns, rose gardens, a cable car connection, and wide promenades with clear views of the cathedral.

🕐 Open 24 hours. Cable car runs daily 10am–6pm (April–October, times vary by season).

💡 The Rheinseilbahn cable car (€4.50 single) gives a cheap aerial view of the city. Park benches by the river are perfect for sunset.

Large riverside park with lawns, rose gardens, and a cable car across the Rhine. Great for picnics and people-watching.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Bring a blanket and buy snacks from the small kiosk near the cable car station. The park is quieter on weekdays before 15:00.

Historical botanical garden with a tropical greenhouse, rose garden, and quiet paths. Entry is free, though the greenhouse costs €1.50.

🕐 Park: daily 8:00-dusk; greenhouse: 10:00-16:00

💡 The greenhouse fee is worth it for the tropical plants. Go on a rainy afternoon—it's warm and humid inside.

Historic cemetery founded in 1810, almost a botanical garden with towering trees and ornate graves of local artists, scientists, and politicians.

🕐 Daily 7am–8pm (closes earlier in winter, around 5pm).

💡 Pick up a free map at the main entrance (Ecke Aachener Str./Melatengürtel) to find the graves of Cologne's carnival figures and painter Franz von Stuck.

Massive Gothic cathedral with twin spires and stunning stained-glass windows. Entry to the main nave is free; the tower climb costs a few euros.

🕐 Daily 6:00-20:00

💡 Go early at 8am to avoid crowds. The treasury (paid) has medieval relics worth seeing if you have time.

Massive Gothic cathedral and UNESCO site. The main nave and chapels are free to enter. Climb the 533-step south tower for a panoramic view of the city and the Rhine.

🕐 Daily 06:00–20:00; tower open 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30)

💡 Go on a weekday morning to avoid queues for the tower (€6, 2024 price, but entrance is free). The treasury and guided tours cost extra.

The towering Gothic cathedral, a UNESCO site with twin spires reaching 157m. Climb the south tower's 533 steps for panoramic city views over the Rhine.

🕐 Cathedral: daily 6am–8pm. Tower climb: daily 9am–6pm (last entry 5pm, shorter in winter).

💡 Arrive before 10am to dodge queues for the tower climb—the spiral staircase gets tight mid-afternoon.

Massive Gothic cathedral and UNESCO site. Soaring columns, stained glass, and the Shrine of the Three Kings. Entry to the main nave is free.

🕐 Daily 06:00–20:00

💡 Climb the south tower (533 steps, €6) for panoramic views over the Rhine. Go on a clear morning for best light and fewer crowds.

Dedicated to the German artist Käthe Kollwitz, with over 300 works including drawings, prints, and sculptures. Entry is €5 – cheap for a museum of this quality.

🕐 Tue–Fri 10:00–18:00, Sat–Sun 11:00–18:00; closed Mon

💡 Free on the first Thursday of each month (same as Museum Ludwig). Worth pairing with that visit. The museum is small, so you can see everything in about 90 minutes.

Interactive museum tracing chocolate from bean to bar. Includes a tropical greenhouse and a chocolate fountain. Entry under €12 for students.

🕐 Tue–Fri 10:00–18:00, Sat–Sun 11:00–19:00, Mon closed

💡 Buy tickets online for a €2 discount. Avoid weekends if possible; Tuesday morning is quietest. The free sample fountain is near the exit.