Join us on a one-day journey through Cologne — from climbing the iconic cathedral to sampling local Kölsch and discovering the birthplace of Eau de Cologne. Our relaxed itinerary captures the best of this vibrant German city, all in just one unforgettable day.

Overview

During our Interrail adventure across Europe in April 2025, we decided to spend 1 day in Cologne, travelling from Brussels on a comfortable ICE train. Cologne, one of Germany’s oldest cities founded by the Romans in 38 BC, has long been a cultural and trade centre.

Famous today for its perfume industry and the towering Cologne Cathedral, the city proved to be a wonderful destination to explore at a leisurely pace. Packed with a rich tapestry of history, vibrant streets, and of course, its world-renowned Eau de Cologne, it was a highlight of our journey.

Travel to and Around Cologne

Getting to Cologne from Brussels was straightforward and stress-free. We hopped onto the ICE train early in the morning, arriving at Cologne Central Station (Köln Hauptbahnhof) in less than two hours.

The train station has lockers which have 2 hour or 24 hour options. Obviously the 2 hour one is meant to encourage tourists on a short connection to go out and visit the Dome. We left our luggage in the morning at the lockers and picked it up as we finished our tour.

The station is located right in the heart of the city, making it very convenient to start exploring on foot.

Public transport within Cologne is efficient and easy to navigate, with trams, buses, and the U-Bahn. We particularly found the trams useful when crossing the river. We think the Cologne city card offers value for money offering public transport also as part of the package.

However, for our one day visit, we mostly chose to walk to soak in the atmosphere and discover hidden gems along the way.

Where is Cologne in Germany?

If you’re wondering where is Cologne located, it’s in western Germany, on the banks of the River Rhine. It’s the largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia and the fourth largest in Germany overall, answering the common question, how big is Cologne?

With a population of over a million people, it’s a bustling yet manageable city, ideal for a short visit.

Best Time to Visit Cologne

April turned out to be a great time for our trip. The spring weather was mild, the cherry blossoms were in bloom, and there was a buzz in the air as locals enjoyed the first signs of summer.

What to Do in Cologne in One Day

If you’re wondering what to do in Cologne in one day, below we outline how we spent our day in Cologne.

If you don’t want to plan your own day or if you just have a few hours, you can join this Cologne Guided Highlights Tour with a Local.

Morning

1. Marvel at Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)

No visit to Cologne would be complete without standing in awe of the city’s magnificent cathedral, the Kölner Dom. Construction began in 1248 and remarkably, it wasn’t fully completed until 1880.

Its towering Gothic spires dominate the skyline and symbolise the city’s medieval significance as a major pilgrimage site. Inside, the cathedral houses one of its most treasured relics: the Shrine of the Three Kings, believed to contain the remains of the Biblical Magi brought from the Milano Dome.

We also saw the treasury of the Cathedral which houses a good amount of religious art but also many pieces of jewellery. We really enjoyed this section as it offered a glimpse into the wealth of this region.

We were lucky enough to climb to the top, rewarded with a spectacular view over the city and the winding River Rhine.

The ascend to the top is cardio intensive without any lifts. The access is through a very narrow tower staircase for both up and down. We highly recommend you don’t underestimate the climb.

We also suggest you avoid peak times as the ascend can prove to be more difficult given all the people descending.

2. Admire the Heinzelmännchen Fountain

A few minutes’ walk from the cathedral, this charming fountain depicts Cologne’s folklore about helpful little gnomes. It added a bit of whimsy to our day.

3. Visit the Great St. Martin Church (Groß St. Martin)

This beautiful Romanesque church offered another stunning example of Cologne’s rich architectural heritage. It’s a very simple church on the inside, so if you are pressed for time you could considering skipping this one.

Afternoon

4. Lunch at Peters Brauhaus

For lunch, we stopped at Peters Brauhaus. The interior of the restaurant evoked a 20th century feel and look with very bright stained glass and decorative pieces on the walls.

As we were blessed with 25 degrees outside, we decided to sit out on the terrace. One note, here is that the terrace is in the main square of the Town Hall, unlike the restaurant which is on a side street.

I opted for the pork knuckle — a hefty and satisfying choice — while Hristina had the schnitzel, which seemed homemade, though not the most memorable. The real star was the fried potatoes with bacon, which were absolutely delicious.

And of course we tried the popular Kölsch Beer served in the iconic, slim, tall glasses called Stange.

If you’re not aware, Kölsch is a bright, dry, and hoppy beer that is brewed according to rules laid out by the region’s brewers association. Think, IPA meets lager.

To transport multiple small glasses of Kölsch beer at once, servers use a special round tray called a “Kranz,” the German word for wreath, fitting up to a dozen Stangen neatly inside.

Each time they bring a new beer, they mark a tally on your coaster to keep track. When you’ve had enough, you simply place your coaster over your Stange to signal that you’re finished drinking.

5. See the Historic Town Hall (Historisches Rathaus)

After lunch, we wandered past Cologne’s historic town hall, another impressive landmark reflecting the city’s medieval history.

Unfortunately, most of Cologne was flattened in World War II (WWII). What remains however, of the original building is the tower that once stood next to the old building.

If you liked the Cologne beer, why not join this Cologne Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings.

6. Discover the Fragrance at the Farina Fragrance Museum

Given that Cologne is the German city famous for perfume, we couldn’t miss the Duftmuseum im Farina Haus, the birthplace of Eau de Cologne.

Here, you can book tours offering a glimpse into the history and legacy of the scent that put Cologne on the map. We didn’t manage to go on the tour as there are no tours on weekends.

7. Wander Through the Old Town (Altstadt)

Wandering through the charming cobbled streets of the Old Town was one of the cool things to do in Cologne. Colourful houses, quaint shops, and inviting beer gardens gave it a lively but relaxed atmosphere.

Again, worth noting, most of them are simply rebuilt following the air raids in WWII. They simply serve to remind us how the city used to look like.

8. Visit the Mustard Mill & Shop

We stopped by the Mustard Museum and Shop, where I picked up some local mustard. Mustard, was another product typical of Cologne and the tradition and history is represented here.

Although a museum, this is more of a shop, where you can sample multiple local mustard. I opted for the traditional mustard which had a sweeter flavour and was mixed with whole grain mustard seeds — absolutely brilliant when paired with cured meats.

Late Afternoon

9. Visit the Cologne Chocolate Museum

We didn’t go to the Lindt Chocolate Experience since we went to the one in Zurich but if you have 45 minutes to an hour, definitely visit this place and enjoy lots of chocolates.

10. Stroll Along the Rheinpromenade Köln-Deutz

Crossing over to the other side of the Rhine, we enjoyed a relaxed walk along the Deutz riverside promenade, offering great views back across the river. We stood here a good 1.5 hours and really soaked in the views towards the Dome but also enjoyed seeing the city skyline.

If you prefer, you can do a boat trip as well. Check out this Cologne Panoramic City Cruise.

11. Cross the Hohenzollern Bridge

Before heading back, we crossed the famous Hohenzollern Bridge, adorned with thousands of love locks. The bridge is full with tourists, cyclists and everyone else in between.

It can absolutely get crowded in the late afternoons. For us, it provided a wonderful view back towards the cathedral, especially as the sun began to set.

12. Have a Treat at Cafe Reichard

Later in the afternoon, we treated ourselves at Cafe Reichard. I had an apple strudel and Hristina chose an ice cream sundae. Both desserts were tasty, but unsurprisingly pricey given the prime location near the cathedral.

Having said this, the view is really why you cоme here. So whilst savouring your treat, make sure you savour the Dome with every look.

Other things to do in Cologne, Germany

Final Thoughts

Our day trip to Cologne was a memorable chapter in our Interrail journey.

Despite only having 1 day in Cologne, we felt we captured its essence: the magnificent dome, its impressive history, its love of perfume, and its welcoming charm. If you’re planning your own European adventure, make sure to carve out time for this vibrant city.

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