One day in Cologne (Köln): The Perfect Itinerary

Cologne is a vibrant German city, full of history, art, and a lively cultural scene. If you only have one day here, you can still see the highlights—from its world-famous cathedral to riverside walks and unique museums. Here’s how to make the most of your day in Cologne.

I had a work event in Cologne, which was a great chance to visit the city! From Zürich to Cologne one can take the train (about 7 h, not direct), or one can fly in a 1 h flight. I took the second option, and landed around 9:30 in the morning, which left me most of the day to visit.

Morning – Cologne Cathedral

The first thing you see once you come out of the Hbf train station is the Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom). No chance to miss it. If you don’t, just walk back to the station, and come back to the other side. The Kölner Dom is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as it’s one of the largest Gothic churches in Europe. It’s also the city’s most iconic landmark.

The church is free to enter, and once inside, you can see wonderful stained glasses, which gives the interior a beautiful soft light. If you’re up for it, you can also climb the 533 steps to the viewing platform for views of the city and the Rhine River. This part costs 6€.

While you’re in the town, walk a bit around. I’m not going to say that Cologne is a very beautiful city, but it certainly has some points of interest and many stores. Worth going for a walk and soak in the city atmosphere.

Midday – Cologne’s Museums

You thought that midday would include lunch, huh? Well, that’s obviously an option, but you can use up this time to visit the museums. Cologne has a really good selection of museums, so you can always find something for yourself. Many people visit the Museum Ludwig, since it’s well-known and given its proximity to the station. In my case, if I have to choose, I usually prefer visiting art museums of the 17-19th centuries, and that’s what I did. The Wallraf-Richartz Museum offers a fantastic collection of perhaps less well-known not nontheless gorgeous pieces. Impressively, I even enjoyed the Middle Ages section, which I have to admit I usually pass by quickly, as it featured less religious art but more everyday scenes.

The other museum I visited was the Fragrance Museum (Farina-Haus), the birthplace of Eau de Cologne. You can only visit the museum with a guided tour, but it’s a really good experience. Our guide explained us that the original Farina came from Italy eight generations ago and made the first Eau de Cologne. Because people at that time didn’t wash so much, the parfum got very popular, especially with the rich and famous of the era. He showed us the changes in the bottle designs over time and explained how there was many fakes originating as well, given the popularity of the cologne. The tour finished with a smelling exercise, where the guide challenged us to smell pure fragances and guess what they were.

Afternoon – Cross the Bridge and enjoy the view from KölnTriangle

After a museum-filled morning, stretch your legs with a walk along the Rhine promenade. This riverside path is perfect to see the old houses and soak the atmosphere. While most tourist will prefer crossing the Hohenzollern Bridge, famous for its thousands of colorful love locks left by couples over the years, I went for the Deutzer Brücke, from which you can see the Cathedral and the Hohenzollen Bridge from a different perspective.

On the other side of the river, head to the KölnTriangle. The ticket to the observation deck on the 29th floor is only 5€ and it gives you a great panoramic view of Cologne. It’s quite windy up there, so bring a jacket unless it’s warm during the day.

Practical Tips

Do I need the KölnCard

The KölnCard includes an entry to several museums and public transport. Most attractions are within walking distance of each other, so you won’t need much public transport. The card might be worth if you plan to visit several of the museums, but check if they are included. The Fragance museum, for instance, is not part of the deal.

How to use the public transport?

Something that always concerns me is whether I can buy the bus/train tickets with card, as I rarely carry cash. However, in Köln I noticed that buses can be paid with a credit card, and metro stations have a ticket vending machine. So buying tickets is easy. You also have one-time tickets, 4-time tickets, and day passes. Consider whether you need to make several trips before purchasing the tickets.

Is one day in Cologne enough?

I would say that for the casual tourist, one day is plenty. You can do the main sights and visit 1-3 museums (depending on your stamina). If you prefer taking things more leisurely, you can expand your visit too.