Things to do in Cologne

The cultural heart of Cologne is concentrated around the city cathedral, the two major museums adjacent to it, and a third one that’s less than 100m away. The centre of the Altstadt beside the river Rhine, and arguably the most attractive part of Cologne, is also very close by, and becomes an attraction in its own right, especially when the weather is warm. The Dom precincts are deliberately bare and open in order to give the best possible views of the city’s pride and joy.

Cologne Cathedral (Klner Dom)

Cologne’s Dom gothic cathedral took more than 600 years to build, and is protected by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Just outside the central train station, the most-visited building in Germany is the first sight you’ll notice when walking out from the main exit. If you’re up to it, take the 509 stairs to the observation platform atop the cathedral to get a panoramic view of the city. Phone: +49 221 179 4020; http://www.koelnerdom.de

Roman tower (Rmerturm)

West on the corner of Zeughaus-strasse and St. Apern-strasse is all that remains of the massive 2.5m wide, 8m high, 4km long Roman wall that was built around the city in the year 50 AD, of which the tower formed the northwestern post. Still in excellent condition, the original coloured mosaics are still clearly visible.

Cologne zoo (Zoologischer Garten Kln)

In the Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer district is the 19.5-hectare Cologne zoo, which houses amongst 7,000 animals and includes an aquarium-cum-reptile house-cum-insectarium that which can be visited separately. Across from the zoo are botanical gardens. Phone: +49 221 77850; http://www.zoo-koeln.de

Rhine cable car (Klner Seibahn)

From the zoo, take a ride on Germany’s famous aerial chairlift on a kilometre-long ride east over the river to the Rheinpark for an excellent and unequaled bird’s eye view of the Altstadt and the rest of the city. The cable car was opened in 1957 for the German National Garden Show at the time. Phone: +49 221 547 4183; http://www.koelner-seilbahn.com

City towers

Just three of the previous twelve towers of Cologne’s last city wall, from the Middle Ages, have been preserved. The Eigelstein Tower, in north Altstadt, has a small statue of a farmer standing in a corner of the tower armed with a sword as a reminder of the beginning point for agriculture. At Rudolfplatz is the Hahnen Tower, through which the French revolution troops marched into the city in 1794. The Severins Tower stands at Chlodwigplatz in the Severins Quarter over the old Roman street towards Bonn in the south.

Glockengasse 4711

The giant 4711 sign is probably one of the first things you’ll see when you arrive at Cologne Hauptbahnhof. 4711 is the original Eau de Cologne, a trademark of the city and the street number of the house where the Mulhens family launched their perfumery in 1772. Situated in the city centre opposite the opera and between the Cathedral and the Neumarkt, the 4711 shop is dedicated exclusively to the scent. Phone: +49 221 925 0450; http://www.4711.com

Rathaus Town Hall

Cologne’s Rathaus has been the city’s administrative centre for more than 600 years, with parts of the building dating back to 1360. The 61m tall Rathaus Tower came into being in 1444, and the Renaissance Bow, the section over the Rathaus entrance was completed in 1571. The interior of the Rathaus is an embrace of both the historic and the modern. http://www.koeln.de

Cologne Arena (Klnarena)

Cologne’s arena is the largest and most modern events hall in Germany. The multi-functional arena, with its 76m tall steel bow on top, has, since it’s opening in 1998, become a highlight and landmark of Cologne. It offers space for more than 18,000 viewers and is Europe’s number one in its class. All of the largest events like the live concerts of the world’s most famous musicians, TV shows, musicals and sport events are held here. Phone: +49 221 80 20; http://www.koelnarena.de

Museums

Cologne owes its title of the ‘city of museums’, in contrast to many other major European cities, not to aristocratic art collectors but to the outstanding commitment to art of numerous ordinary citizens. The Wallraf-Richartz-Museum Fondation Corboud is one of the great traditional picture galleries in Germany. Here visitors can admire the most important collection of old Cologne paintings worldwide, art of the Baroque period including major works by Rubens and Rembrandt. Phone: +49 221 221 22 372; http://www.museenkoeln.de

The Agfa Photo-Historama im Museum Ludwig covers the cultural history of photography. Its collection not only includes photographs from the 19th and 20th centuries and photograph albums, folders and publications from the 19th century, but also a collection of photographic and reproduction equipment of the entire photographic industry of the 20th century. Phone: +49 221 221 26 165; http://www.museenkoeln.de

The Imhoff-Stollwerck Museum or Schokoladenmuseum is located in an extraordinary 2,000 square-metre building of brick and glass on a small promontory close to the Altstadt. The Imhoff-Stollwerck Museum, also known as the Chocolate Museum, celebrates the story of chocolate from bean to wrapper, and part of the exhibition is a walk-through arboretum containing cocoa trees and exotic plants. However, the highlight is a chocolate fountain oozing chocolate, which visitors are encouraged to sample. Phone: +49 221 931 88 80; http://www.schokoladenmuseum.de