How to spend the best weekend in Cologne Germany

A weekend in Cologne, or Koln, is the ideal length of time for visiting this city. You could definitely spend longer but a weekend in Cologne Germany will give you enough time to see what this German city is all about.

Cologne is just an hour’s flight away from London, pretty cheap to get there if you book early enough and the city has such a great laid back vibe to it that you’ll return home feeling chilled. It quickly became one of my favourites places in Germany to visit.

It’s also just the right size for exploring as you’ll discover in this Cologne itinerary for 48 hours.

It’s one of those cities which you can walk through, from one side to the other, without really noticing. If you were to attempt that in London you’d definitely notice!

But you know me, I like to suggest things that are a little bit different, like this alternative weekend guide to Marrakech. So whilst Cologne, Germany’s cathedral is definitely worth a look (especially inside, it’s gorgeous and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site!) I haven’t included it below as that’s something you’ll see recommended everywhere!

So just what are the best things to do in Cologne, Germany?

Best Cologne things to do

If you’re wondering what to do in Cologne, Germany then look no further! Here are a few of the things we got up to during our weekend in Cologne with a couple of extra Cologne attractions thrown in. I’d highly recommend this city as one of the best places to see in Germany!

Visit a spa

Cologne’s Claudius Therme is the perfect place to while away a Sunday afternoon.

It’s worth noting that on Sundays Cologne’s shops are shut all day so what do you do?

Brunch and spa. So when you visit Cologne why not do as the locals do?

Claudius Therme is situated along the Rhine and prices start at under €20 for a couple of hours. It’s one of the best spas in Cologne and we loved it.

There’s a large indoor/outdoor pool, a few hot tubs/jacuzzi, plenty of deckchairs to chill out on and, if you Fe like embracing your European side and leaving the English side behind, there are some (naked) saunas.

There’s also plenty of saunas and steam rooms outside which I can imagine are great In the summer when it’s warm enough to stroll from one to the other.

To visit the spa you need two towels (you can rent towels there) ideally. One for carrying with you in the spa and for sitting on in the sauna and one for drying with; a dressing gown should you wish to use the spa’s restaurant and to fit in more you’ll want some flip flops to walk around in.

See a gig

Whilst in Cologne we went to see the Foals on their current tour. This was actually our main reason for our cologne weekend and we will take an excuse for a weekend city break in Europe!

The gig was in the Palladium. It was a little out of the way, kind of in an industrial estate, but that added to the “cool” vibe of seeing a gig abroad.

There’s plenty of live music at the Palladium and it’s a fun way to spend a night out other than just drinking beer in a pub!

Wander around the Old Town in Cologne (Altstadt)

Exploring the Old Town (Altstadt) of Cologne is one of the best things to do in Cologne and it is right alongside the beautiful Rhine River which passes through the city.

This is one of the prettiest parts of the city and as you wander along the cobblestoned streets and beautiful Medieval buildings you’ll be amazed by the beauty of this area.

In Cologne’s Old Town, you’ll find art galleries and traditional Brauhauses (breweries) that offer a glimpse into both the artistic and culinary heritage of the city.

Take a beer tour in Cologne

Cologne City is famous for its beer, specifically Kolsch which originates from here.

This beer-tasting tour is a top weekend Cologne activity. You’ll wander around the Old Town in Cologne and learn about the rich history of the city while discovering more about the beers from the city too.

You’ll take a guided tour of four different beer houses in the Old Town. While the tour doesn’t include the tastings, there’s plenty of opportunity to buy the beers as you wander from brewhouse to brewhouse.

Wander the parks in Cologne

The Innerer Grüngürtel Park is a great place to take a Sunday stroll before or after Sunday brunch and one of the best places to visit in Cologne too.

It’s huge and when the sun’s shining there’s not much better than donning some sunnies, coffee in hand, and doing a spot of people watching.

Discover the Ehrenfeld neighbourhood

The Ehrenfeld area of Cologne has a bit of a hipster vibe and should be on your list of things to see in Cologne during your trip.

It’s got several cafés with all-white interiors, artistically stacked bread and pretty colored tulips, cool young Germans strolling the streets, and just seems like the place to be. If I was to ever live in Cologne I think I’d want it to be there.

Our Airbnb was in this area and I loved waking up here before strolling through the park to the city centre.

If you visit the area definitely pop into Cafe Cafe (so good they named it twice!) for breakfast but get there early as it’s small and gets packed early on!

Climb the Köln Triangle

If you’re looking for another great view of Cologne but want to capture the Dom in your pictures, then you should climb the KölnTriangle for an alternative Cologne view.

Of course, you can go and climb the Cologne Cathedral too (it’s one of the most famous landmarks in Germany after all!) and should be on a list of what to see in Cologne.

This Cologne Triangle tower is on the opposite side of the Rhine from Cologne’s cathedral gives you stunning views over the whole city and is the perfect place to capture that photo. It was one of my favorite evenings from our Cologne city break.

Visit the Cologne Chocolate Museum

One of the more alternative things to do in cologne is to visit the chocolate Museum.

The Chocolate Museum is a total must-see in Cologne, especially if you’re there for just a weekend.

Inside the museum, you’ll get to learn more about the history of chocolate which starts with the Mesoamerican civilizations. Plus there are plenty of free chocolate samples for you, which, let’s face it, is what you really want from a chocolate museum!

You’ll also wander through a mock-up of a tropical forest, where they actually grow real cacao trees. And you can finish up at the Grad Chocolate Cafe which is a dream come true for chocolate lovers!

Watch the sunset from Hohenzollernbrücke

Cologne is a bit famed for its gorgeous sunsets and we were treated to one on our last night there. Add catching a sunset from the Hohenzollern Bridge to your Cologne sightseeing checklist.

The sky lit up to a beautiful pinky-orange colour and put on a show for our walk across the Rhine to the train station.

Where is Cologne?

Cologne is in western Germany, Europe in the North Rhine-Westphalia region. It’s the 4th biggest city in terms of population after Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. It’s perfect for a quick city break whether you have 36 hours in Cologne or longer!

Cologne Map

As with many European cities, public transport in Cologne is great and the public transportation makes it super easy to get around the city.

The cheapest way to get around Cologne as a tourist is to buy the Köln Card which, like the Oslo Card, includes free public transport for the duration of your card, as well as discounts on tours and more!

It’s the ideal companion for your Cologne weekend itinerary; especially if you’re visiting over winter like we were when it can be a bit too cold to wander around outside and you’ll want to use public transport in Cologne!

How to get to Cologne from the UK

There are plenty of different ways to get to Cologne from the UK with the most popular being to fly. However, you can also take a bus or even catch trains to Cologne!

Cheap flights to Cologne

There are loads of flights between the UK and Cologne, Germany. They’re pretty cheap too, you can find some return flights for about £40 from London airports.

Skyscanner is what I use to find cheap flights.

Bus from London to Cologne

If you’re coming from the UK, then you can also take the bus which is super cheap! We’re talking about £30!

Omio is a great platform for booking European and UK travel on. You can check train and bus prices and schedules and book super easily!

Best Cologne tours

Solo traveler or looking for something different to do? Check out these awesome tours in the city of Cologne!

• 3 hour Cologne Food Tour
• Cologne Cathedral & Old Town Tour (includes a beer!)
• Walking Tour with Brewery Tour & Beer Tasting
• 3-hour guided cycling tour

Where to stay in Cologne

We stayed in an Airbnb where we only paid for a private room but the couple ended up spending the weekend outside of the city so we had the whole place to ourselves in the end. Alternatively, check out these best hotels in Cologne for your weekend city break.

• Haus Am Dom – has amazing views of the Cologne Cathedral!
• Excelsior Hotel Ernst – where to stay if you’re looking for luxury

Where to eat in Cologne

Looking for the best restaurants in Cologne? I have another Cologne travel blog on what to eat in Cologne but here are a few tips on what to try! If you only have 48 hours in Cologne, that’s still plenty of time to try these things.

• Flammekuchen
• Heaven & Earth
• Schnitzel

Last Updated on November 17, 2023 by Hannah