Germany
Cologne
Markets under the cathedral and in the old town; 2 nights. We have mapped 4 sights, 3 activities and 1 bar or café here, each with a reason to go.
- Places
- 9
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Late Nov – Dec 23
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- August
4 See · 3 Do · 1 Drink · 1 Stay
Cologne, Koblenz & Rüdesheim
from our route notes
25°C / 77°F avg high
5°C / 40°F avg high
about 79 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Cologne
9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
4 sights worth building a day around across Altstadt-Nord, Altstadt-Süd and Altstadt. All 4 are free to visit.
Photo: Superbass · CC BY-SA 3.0SeeWeihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom
Red-roofed stalls on the Roncalliplatz under a canopy of lights, directly below the cathedral's west front.
Tip Go at dusk for the lights against the cathedral.
Photo: Rolf Heinrich, Köln · CC BY 3.0SeeCologne Cathedral
Gothic cathedral with 157-metre twin spires and the gilded Shrine of the Three Kings behind the altar.
Tip Climb the 533 steps of the south tower for the view over the markets.
- See
Markt der Engel
The angels' market on Neumarkt: white stalls under trees hung with thousands of star lights.
Photo: Superbass · CC BY 3.0SeeGroß St. Martin
Romanesque church whose square crossing tower rises over the gabled houses of the Rhine riverfront.
Tip The Rheingarten promenade below gives the classic view of the tower with the cathedral behind.
Do
3 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Altstadt, Altstadt-Nord and Rheinauhafen.
Photo: Corradox · CC BY-SA 4.0DoHeinzels Wintermärchen
Old-town market on the Alter Markt and Heumarkt themed on Cologne's Heinzelmännchen, with an ice rink on the Heumarkt.
Tip Skate rental is available at the rink.
Photo: Raimond Spekking · CC BY-SA 4.0DoHohenzollernbrücke
Railway bridge over the Rhine with a footpath hung with love locks, looking straight at the cathedral.
Tip Walk across to the Deutz bank for the night view back to the cathedral.
- Do
Schokoladenmuseum
Chocolate museum on a Rhine peninsula, with a working production line and a three-metre chocolate fountain.
Drink
Our picks for a drink in Cologne in Altstadt-Nord.
Photo: calflier001 · CC BY-SA 2.0DrinkFrüh am Dom
Big traditional brewhouse beside the cathedral pouring Früh Kölsch, with hearty Rhineland plates.
Tip Try Himmel un Ääd, black pudding with mashed potato and apple.
Stay
1 place to stay we would book in Altstadt-Nord.
- Stay
Excelsior Hotel Ernst
Grand hotel from 1863 facing the cathedral square, a few steps from the market and the station.
How to fit Cologne into a trip
Cologne is stop 1 of 3 on our Cologne, Koblenz & Rüdesheim route. Follow it as-is or lift Cologne into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 3
Cologne, Koblenz & Rüdesheim
Cathedral markets and Rhine wine towns
- Trip length
- 5 days
- Best season
- Late Nov – Dec 23
- Pace
- easy
- Next: Koblenz
Getting here and onward
- Cologne to KoblenzKoblenz is about 79 km / 49 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Cologne month by month
Average daily highs run from 5°C / 40°F in January to 25°C / 77°F in July. August is the wettest month, with about 79 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan5° / 40°F average high
- Feb6° / 43°F average high
- Mar10° / 50°F average high
- Apr15° / 60°F average high
- May19° / 66°F average high
- Jun23° / 73°F average high
- Jul25° / 77°F average high
- Aug25° / 76°F average high
- Sep21° / 69°F average high
- Oct15° / 59°F average high
- Nov9° / 49°F average high, in our recommended season
- Dec5° / 42°F average high, in our recommended season
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Cologne weather and the best time to visit →
Near Cologne
8 other destinations from our guides within about 300 km (186 mi), measured in a straight line.
Cologne questions, answered
How many days do you need in Cologne?
Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Cologne. On our Cologne, Koblenz & Rüdesheim route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 9 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Cologne best known for?
Markets under the cathedral and in the old town; 2 nights. Standouts on our list: Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom (Red-roofed stalls on the Roncalliplatz under a canopy of lights, directly below the cathedral's west front); Cologne Cathedral (Gothic cathedral with 157-metre twin spires and the gilded Shrine of the Three Kings behind the altar); Markt der Engel (The angels' market on Neumarkt: white stalls under trees hung with thousands of star lights).
When is the best time to visit Cologne?
Our Cologne, Koblenz & Rüdesheim route is best Late Nov – Dec 23. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (25°C / 77°F), the coolest in January (5°C / 40°F) and the most rain in August (about 79 mm).
What are the best things to do in Cologne?
Start with Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom, Cologne Cathedral, Heinzels Wintermärchen, Markt der Engel and Groß St. Martin. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 4 sights, 3 activities, 1 bar or café and 1 place to stay.
What is near Cologne?
The closest destinations in our guides are Koblenz (about 79 km / 49 mi), Rüdesheim (about 127 km / 79 mi) and Brussels (about 183 km / 114 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Cologne with your crew
Open the Cologne, Koblenz & Rüdesheim route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.
Plan around Cologne
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- Cologne weather by month