Cologne Travel Guide
Get the lowdown on things to see and do in Cologne. Check out our Cologne travel guide for information on top Cologne attractions.
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The fourth largest city in Germany, and capital of the North Rhine Westphalia region of Germany, Cologne is a monumentally grand city that manages to be presented in such a way that it remains entirely on a human scale. Cologne is home to very nearly a million people, and sprawls along the banks of the River Rhine for many miles, although the centre of the city has been kept mainly within its medieval dimensions, and is consequently relatively easy to explore on foot.
The city is perhaps best known for Cologne Cathedral, a splendid gothic construction that entirely dominates the skyline of the city - its twin towers punctuating the sky and reaching to a height of nearly 160m above the ground. Other attractions in Cologne include the 31 museums dedicated to various disciplines including the famous fragrance house, which was the birthplace of eau de cologne - the city's main gift to the world; the views over the city from the observation deck on the 266m tall Colonius television tower, and the excellent shopping on Hohe Street.
The main nightlife area of Cologne, where there are a preponderance of various types of dance clubs catering to all demographics is is along the historic Ringe boulevards - Hohenzollernring, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring, and Hansaring are the best known.
Within a short drive of Cologne, you can visit the city of Dusseldorf, which is well known for its nightlife, the former capital of West Germany and lively university town of Bonn, and the major Warner Brothers Movie World theme park in Bottrop.