Things to Do in Cologne, Germany 2026: 10 Stops, Food and Getting There

Walk out of the main station and it is right in front of you: the Gothic cathedral, completed after 632 years, with towers over 157 metres tall, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. We didn’t climb the tower; we looked at it from KölnTriangle on the opposite bank.

Since 1 July 2026 tourist entry requires a ticket. Ticket prices, opening hours, the tower, the stained glass and the cathedral’s legends are in our Cologne Cathedral guide .

The fountain of Cologne’s sweetest city legend. The story goes that little house gnomes once came out at night and finished the work of the baker, the carpenter and the tailor while everyone slept. The tailor’s wife wanted to know who was doing it, so she scattered peas on the stairs. The gnomes slipped on the peas, got angry and never came back to Cologne.

You can see the tailor’s wife on top of the fountain. It was completed in 1899 (koeln.de).

Locals call it the love lock bridge. Thousands of couples have written their names on padlocks and hung them here, turning the railings into a colourful wall. Trains rumble across, the cathedral rises on the other side; it is one of the most photogenic spots in Cologne. We even found a lock dating back to 2017.

In the video we said 40 tonnes of locks sounded like a lot; the city portal estimates 40 to 60 tonnes (koeln.de).

The best view of Cologne we found. We went up in the lift and paid €5 each; the price is still the same. From the terrace on the 29th floor of the 103.20-metre building you get a 360-degree view of the city, with the cathedral and the bridge straight ahead.

From May to September it is open Sunday-Thursday 11:00-20:00 and Friday-Saturday 11:00-22:00; under-12s go free. The terrace closes in storms (koeln.de, October 2026).

At the entrance there is a small tropical greenhouse where you see real cocoa trees. Then, behind glass, machines show the whole process from roasting the beans to pouring the chocolate into moulds.

The best part is the chocolate fountain: a member of staff dips a wafer into the flowing warm chocolate and hands it to you. Inside there is also a tasting machine where we pressed a button for chocolate, and the museum’s own shop at the exit.

An adult ticket is €17.50 on weekdays and €19 at weekends and on public holidays; under-6s go free. Last entry 17:00. Closed on 24 and 25 December; in November 2026 it is also closed on Mondays 2, 9 and 16 November (schokoladenmuseum.de, October 2026).

Three buildings shaped like an upside-down L, inspired by the old cargo cranes of the harbour; inside are flats and offices, and they stand almost 60 metres tall (koeln.de). We were told this is one of the most popular spots in Cologne; honestly, we didn’t quite see why.

One of the most peaceful places in Cologne. Rent a bike, walk, or grab a coffee and watch the river. It is lovely at sunset. We walked this way from the Chocolate Museum to the Old Town.

The heart of the Old Town: narrow lanes, historic colourful houses and small squares opening onto the river. With its cafés and restaurants, this is where you see the city’s everyday life.

The square with the colourful houses on the riverfront is one of the most photographed places in Cologne; take a slow stroll and stop for a coffee.

Walking around the Old Town we came across a historic fragrance shop. The word cologne comes from this city: in the 1700s a light, fresh scent called Eau de Cologne, literally water of Cologne, was made here, became a favourite across Europe, and the city’s name stuck to it.

The oldest producer still in business, Farina, was founded on 13 July 1709; the German Patent and Trade Mark Office describes it as probably the oldest perfume factory still operating (dpma.de).

Locals and visitors are constantly on the move here. With its shops, cafés and street performers, this street shows the city’s modern side most clearly. The Neumarkt Christmas market is at the end of the street.

At a historic restaurant we ordered the fried potato dumplings the menu called famous: potato that seems boiled and then pan-fried, topped with red pepper, onion and spring onion. Nice, but not a dish that made us say wow. The restaurant is right in front of the Heinzelmännchen fountain.

We stopped when we saw salmon nailed to wooden boards cooking in front of the flames. Fresh crusty bread, smoky salmon, lettuce and a little sauce. I’m not usually a big fan of fish, but I really liked this one; it was delicious. The stall is at the Markt der Engel Christmas market , where you’ll also find the market’s 2026 dates and hours.

They spread batter over a rotating cylinder and put it in the oven; once it bakes a little, they dip it in batter again and back it goes. They told us they repeat this 20 times.

The result is a layered cake with cinnamon. We loved the taste; put it at the top of your list for the markets. Dates for the Neumarkt market are in our Cologne Christmas market guide .

Anyone who watches our vlogs knows how much we love raclette; we joined the queue the moment we saw it. They scrape the melted cheese onto bread and drizzle a garlic and herb oil over it, which adds a flavour of its own. It was good. The market’s hours and its Totensonntag closure are on our cathedral Christmas market card .

At the cathedral market in the evening we queued for a long time just to buy something. At busy times carry your bag in front and don’t keep your wallet in a back pocket. For a more relaxed visit go on a weekday during the day, then come back for a second round in the evening to see the lights. Dates and hours are in the Christmas section below.

The day we visited was sunny but cold, and rain was forecast for the next day. It is windy by the river; bring a hat, gloves and a rain jacket.