Is Cologne Worth Visiting?

If you’re planning a trip to Germany, you might be wondering whether Cologne is worth visiting or if your time is better spent somewhere else. It may not have the half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets you’ll find in some German towns, but that doesn’t make it any less worth visiting.

We’ve visited Cologne more than once, and I’d happily go back again. In fact, it’s one of our favourite cities in Germany at Christmas.

So, is Cologne worth visiting? Yes, but it depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for half-timbered houses and storybook Germany, I’d probably send you somewhere else. But Cologne is easy to explore, makes a great base for this part of Germany, and the Christmas markets were good enough to bring us back for another trip.

Here’s what we liked about Cologne, where it falls a little short and who I think will enjoy it most.

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Why Cologne Is Worth Visiting

The Cologne Cathedral really is worth seeing

It’s impossible to talk about Cologne without starting with the cathedral. Cologne Cathedral dominates the city skyline, and it’s even more impressive when you’re standing underneath it.

You can visit the cathedral for free, but if you’re up for the climb, you can also tackle the 533 steps to the top of the south tower. I’ve done it with my kids, and the views over Cologne and the Rhine are worth the climb.

There’s more to see than just the cathedral

The cathedral might be Cologne’s biggest attraction, but there are plenty of things to do in Cologne beyond it. Walk across the Hohenzollern Bridge, explore the Old Town, wander along the Rhine or head up to the KölnTriangle observation deck for 360° views over the city.

That variety is one of the reasons I think Cologne works well as part of a Germany trip. You don’t need a long list of must-see sights to enjoy your time here, and there’s enough to keep you busy for more than a quick stop at the cathedral.

Cologne is an easy city to explore

One of the things I like about Cologne is how easy it is to arrive by train and start exploring. The main train station is right beside the cathedral, and many of the main sights are within walking distance.

Public transportation makes it easy to reach places farther out, but for a shorter visit, you can see quite a bit of Cologne without spending much time getting around.

Cologne makes a great base for exploring the area

Cologne is also a good choice if you want to explore more of this part of Germany without changing hotels every night. We chose Cologne as a base partly because of its train connections, with several other cities within easy reach.

Bonn is practically next door, while Aachen is another easy train ride — assuming the German trains cooperate! Ours didn’t, and after delays along the way, we eventually gave up and turned around. On an earlier trip, we stayed in Düsseldorf and visited Cologne as a day trip, and it works just as easily in the other direction.

Even with the occasional train issue, staying in Cologne gives you plenty of options for day trips while still having lots to come back to in the evening.

It’s especially good at Christmas

If you’re visiting Germany in late November or December, Cologne becomes an even easier recommendation. Instead of one main market, there are several Christmas markets around the city, and each has its own theme and atmosphere. (Here’s all the details on Cologne’s Christmas Markets.)

Heinzels Wintermärchen was our favourite, with its gnome decorations, skating rink and curling, but the market beneath Cologne Cathedral is hard to beat for the setting. Cologne is one of my top picks if Christmas markets are a big part of your Germany trip.

Reasons Cologne Might Not Be for You

It’s not the prettiest city in Germany

If you’re dreaming of half-timbered houses, cobblestone lanes and small-town Germany, Cologne probably isn’t what you have in mind. Much of the city was destroyed during World War II, and today you’ll find a mix of historic buildings and much more modern architecture.

There are still some beautiful corners, particularly around the Old Town and along the Rhine, but I wouldn’t choose Cologne purely for its looks.

It can get busy

Cologne is a major city and a popular destination, so you won’t have its biggest sights to yourself. The area around the cathedral and main train station can be especially busy, and the Christmas markets draw large crowds in December.

We still found it easy enough to explore, but if you’re looking for a quieter German city, Cologne probably wouldn’t be my first choice.

You may not need very long here

Unless you’re using Cologne as a base for day trips, you probably don’t need a long stay. There’s plenty to fill a day or two, but I wouldn’t necessarily give Cologne four or five days on a first trip to Germany.

For us, that’s actually part of Cologne’s appeal — it’s easy to fit into a larger itinerary without needing to dedicate a huge chunk of your trip to it.

Who is Cologne best for?

I’d choose Cologne if you want a city that’s easy to add to a Germany itinerary without needing to spend several days there. It’s also a great option if you’re travelling by train or want to stay in one place and take a few day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

If the Germany you’re picturing is all small towns, half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets, though, Cologne might not be the best fit. You could still visit for a day, but I’d spend more of your trip exploring some of Germany’s smaller cities and towns.

And if you’re coming to Germany for the Christmas markets, Cologne is an easy yes. With several different markets around the city, it’s one of the places I’d definitely include on a Christmas market trip.

How long do you need in Cologne?

I’d plan on spending two days in Cologne. That gives you enough time to see the cathedral, explore the Old Town, walk across the Hohenzollern Bridge and visit a few other sights without trying to fit everything into one day.

If you’re short on time, Cologne also works well as a day trip. We did exactly that on our first visit, taking the train from Düsseldorf and spending the day exploring before heading back in the evening.

And if you have three or four days, I’d keep the extra time but use Cologne as a base for a day trip rather than trying to fill every day in the city.

Is Cologne worth visiting with kids?

I don’t think you need a city to be packed with kid-specific attractions to make it a good place to visit as a family. For us, it’s more about choosing a few things everyone will enjoy and leaving room for playgrounds and other stops along the way.

In Cologne, my kids climbed the cathedral tower, checked out the views from the KölnTriangle and absolutely loved the playground overlooking the Rhine. They liked it so much that they wanted me to petition our mayor at home to build one just like it!

December adds even more to the experience. My kids loved Heinzels Wintermärchen with its skating rink and little gnome displays throughout the market, although the huge Ferris wheel at the Harbour Christmas Market was another favourite. 

Is Cologne worth visiting at Christmas?

Umm…yes! Cologne at Christmas is seriously impressive. It’s one of the best Christmas market destinations in Germany, and even after visiting Christmas markets across Germany and other parts of Europe, Cologne is still one of my favourite places for the overall Christmas market experience.

I love that the Christmas markets are spread throughout the city and each has a completely different feel. There’s the iconic market beneath the cathedral, Heinzels Wintermärchen with its gnomes and skating rink, the Harbour Christmas Market along the Rhine and the market at Rudolfplatz, plus several others around the city. There’s even a new market opening this year, giving you one more to explore.

You could easily spend two days just experiencing Cologne at Christmas without feeling like you’re visiting the same market over and over again. And because the markets are spread around the city, exploring them also gives you a chance to see more of Cologne along the way.

Our Take: Is Cologne worth visiting?

Absolutely. Cologne is definitely worth visiting, and I’d have no hesitation adding it to a Germany itinerary. It may not have the half-timbered streets and picture-perfect old town you’ll find elsewhere in Germany, but you don’t need either of those things to make a city worth visiting.

There’s plenty to see and do, the cathedral really is as impressive as you’d expect, and Cologne makes a great base for exploring more of the region. And if you’re visiting during the Christmas market season, it would be near the top of my list.

We’ve visited more than once, and I’d happily go back again. Which is probably the best recommendation I can give.

Exploring more of Germany?

If you’re trying to decide between Cologne or Düsseldorf, our comparison can help you choose which city is a better fit for your trip. And if you decide Düsseldorf is worth visiting, here’s some of our recommendations for things to do in Düsseldorf while you’re there. Or, if you can head a little farther south and explore Roman ruins in Trier, one of Germany’s oldest cities.