Cologne Travel Guide – Discovering the City of Cologne in 24 Hours

Cologne; the fourth largest city in Germany and the largest city in the North Rhine-Westphalia region. The name “cologne” itself comes from the city of Cologne, where it was first produced in the world. Let’s dive into my full day spent in this beautiful city and the essential information about Cologne that will come in handy. 🙂

Cologne Travel Guide: When to Go?

The best time to visit Cologne is during the summer period between May and August when the weather is pleasant. However, this period is also when tourists flock to the city. If you prefer a quieter experience, September-October is another excellent time to visit Cologne.

Moreover, Cologne hosts numerous events throughout the year. You can plan your trip according to these events if you wish. I visited Cologne in May, and the weather was so nice that I could explore everywhere on foot with just a light jacket.

Cologne Travel Guide: Major Events

If you’re unsure when to go to Cologne, you can plan your visit based on the events held in the city.

Cologne Carnival

Cologne Carnival, one of Germany’s wildest carnivals, starts at 11:11 on November 11th and lasts for months. This carnival, a tradition that dates back thousands of years, has the motto “Kölle Alaaf,” which means “Cologne Before Everything.” People from many cities across Europe travel to Cologne for this carnival. The last week of the carnival, usually falling in February, is called the “Crazy Days” and is celebrated with massive parades and costume parties.

Christmas Market

When it comes to Christmas Markets, Germany stands out a bit from other European countries and hosts some of the most beautiful markets. Some cities here are particularly considered places where Christmas is celebrated most beautifully, and Cologne is one of them. If you have the motivation to see Christmas Markets, you can plan your trip accordingly.

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is a beer festival specific to the Bavaria region of Germany, especially the city of Munich. However, in Cologne, you can see similar events and tents during the same dates. You can check out this festival held in the last two weeks of September.

Cologne Travel Guide: Where to Stay?

Generally, the sightseeing spots in Cologne are close to each other, making it a city that can be explored in 1-2 days. Therefore, choosing a central location will save you a lot of time. My recommendation is to stay in the Altstadt-Nord district on the west side of the bridge without crossing to the other side. You can check the accommodation options in the Altstadt-Nord district here.

Booking.com

Cologne Travel Guide: Internet

If you want to avoid any internet inconveniences while exploring, you can purchase an e-sim from Airalo here. When making your first e-sim purchase on Airalo, use the code IAMONT3974 to receive a $3 discount. 🙂

Cologne Travel Guide: Places to Visit

During World War II, a large part of the population in the city either lost their lives in the war or migrated to other cities. Therefore, during the war, Cologne’s population decreased by 95%, and 61% of the structures in the city were destroyed. Many buildings were repaired or rebuilt in the post-war period. For this reason, Cologne is a city where both the old and the new coexist.

Cologne Cathedral

This magnificent cathedral, a symbol of Cologne, is one of the most beautiful examples of Gothic-style structures. One of the most visited structures in Germany, Cologne Cathedral hosts an average of 20,000 people per day. Construction of Cologne Cathedral began in 1248, with interruptions and breaks, and it was finally completed in 1880. Cologne Cathedral suffered significant damage during World War II, but it still stood despite air raids. I recommend taking some time to examine the details of this cathedral, both inside and out.

Fischmarkt

When you think of Cologne, one of the iconic images that come to mind is the colorful houses in Fischmarkt. This is a sweet square where many restaurants and cafes are located. To get to this square, you pass through narrow and historical streets, and finally, you reach this colorful square.

Tünnes und Schäl

The statues of two of the most famous characters in Cologne’s puppet shows, Tünnes and Schäl. The locals believe that stroking the noses of these statues brings good luck. Of course, I made sure to stroke the noses of both statues to ensure my luck.

Hohenzollern Bridge

This bridge over the Rhine River was initially built for train and vehicle traffic. However, due to the damage it suffered during World War II, it underwent renovations. After these renovations, it started to be used only for trains and pedestrians. This beautiful bridge, adorned with thousands of locks, where everyone declares their love. If you cross the bridge, you will see a beautiful view of this bridge and the Gothic Cologne Cathedral just behind it.

Hohe Straße

Hohe Straße, or the main street, is a car-free shopping street. We can say it’s like Istanbul’s Istiklal Street. Many stores of various brands are located on this street. If you want to shop, you can stop by this street.

Cologne Travel Guide: Activities

In Cologne, you can take a daily boat tour, explore the city with a tour guide, or visit museums and nearby castles. You can check out the activities you can do in Cologne and buy your tickets online here.

Cologne Travel Guide: Food & Drink

There are dozens of breweries called Brauhaus in Cologne. In these places, you can eat traditional German meals and try beers specific to Cologne. We ate at Peters Brauhaus, tried different beers, and were very satisfied.

Cologne Travel Guide: Tips & Notes & Closing

• I pinned the places to visit and restaurants on Google Maps in order. If you save the map below, you can easily reach the locations even without internet
• I was able to explore the important places in Cologne in one day. If you have more time, you can visit the city of Bonn, which is half an hour away from Cologne. Bonn was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990.
• A fun fact about Brauhaus; if you don’t cover the mouth of your beer glasses with the coaster, the waiters bring you a new one as soon as your beer is finished. According to this tradition specific to Cologne, not covering the glass indicates that you don’t want more beer; otherwise, it is assumed that you will continue drinking. 🙂
• You can find my travel guide for another European city I visited in 24 hours, Brussels here.