A Perfect Trip to Cologne

As the fourth largest city in Germany, Cologne had a lot waiting for us to explore. Below is a short video of everything we got up to in our jam-packed 3 days in Cologne. Keep reading for more information on a perfect trip to this city!

1. Cathedral – As one of Cologne’s most striking features, the Cathedral and the surrounding area are a must for any eager tourist to visit! Due to damage from the war, the Cathedral is now covered in a layer of black soot. There is currently a city project in Cologne in order to transform the Cathedral back to its original beige colour, of which is estimated to take roughly 30 years. The surrounding area is well-worth taking a look, as just some of the top sights to see include the Roman Museum, Concert Hall and the Altstadt.

 

Quick Fact! The Cathedral took almost 650 years to build due to many invasions and wars which delayed the process. The biggest invasion however was from Napoleon, who apparently enjoyed hosting horse races inside the Cathedral building!  

2. Hohenzollern Bridge – This bridge, along with the Cathedral can be spotted on many postcards in Cologne. As a rail bridge, it offers locals and tourists the chance to commute. If you can handle the occasional rumble of the trains going past, then it is a fantastic photo opportunity that should not be missed, particularly in the evening.

Quick Fact! The Hohenzollern Bridge features many lovelocks on either side. Next time you visit Cologne, buy a lovelock, secure it to the side, and throw away the key into the River Rhein. You could always engrave your initials or a short message to your lovelock and then try to find it again the next time you visit Cologne.

3. Cable car – Not too far a walk away from the Hohenzollern Bridge is Cologne’s cable car. If you’re after fantastic views of the city (and plenty of selfies!) then this is a must. At only £3.50 for one way, this really is an opportunity not to be missed. Be warned however, windy conditions may cause the carts to sway slightly, so perhaps try to plan this for a clear, sunny day in milder conditions!

 

Quick Fact! The locals in Cologne use the cable car as transportation to cross from one side of the river to another…that’s definitely the snazzy way of getting to work!

4. Beer – Known as “Gaffel Koelsch”, this beer is specific to Cologne and is the local one to try. Apparently there is a huge rivalry between Cologne and Duesseldoerf, as both compete against each other and believe their own beer is the best. It would therefore perhaps be seen as slightly insulting whilst in Cologne to ask to try a beer brewed in Duesseldoerf…just a warning!

Quick Fact! If you intend to keep drinking and relying on the restaurant staff to top up your glass then ignore this fact. If not, be aware that if you do not place a coaster on top of your glass, the staff will assume you want a refill. This is fine to a certain limit, but also be aware you are being charged for each refill too!

5. Eau de Cologne – Of course, the famous “Eau de Cologne” must be mentioned. The first part “Eau de” can be linked back to the strong French influence, since more than 300 years ago French was the language of prestige. The famous formula is number “4711” and is a unisex perfume consisting of 96% alcohol and a pungent aroma of lemons.

Quick Fact! Visit the “House of 4711” on Glockengasse to sample this perfume. Immediately when walking in there is a fountain with a running supply of this perfume. I highly recommend you to try it…but only a very small amount is necessary!