Cologne travel guide

Experts in travel to Europe
We have years of experience and local knowledge
24/7 customer support
Reach us any time of the day in just a few seconds

Introduction to Cologne

Cologne Cathedral, Cologne Chocolate Museum, and Old Market have one thing in common - they're all three very good reasons to visit Cologne, Germany. Cologne has plenty of experiences to offer curious travelers. This most populous city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany is a travel destination everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. Boasting a variety of natural beauty and architecture, a unique historical background, and a culture as rich as its population of over 1.1 million people, the city of Cologne is truly one of the main highlights of Germany.

Easily accessible from Cologne Bonn airport, Cologne is the perfect base for a memorable and unique vacation in Germany any time of the year.

Travelers curious about Cologne might find it interesting that the city was named after Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium. You'll learn more fascinating facts about Cologne as you explore this spectacular city.

Traveling to Cologne is especially rewarding for anyone eager to connect with locals and learn more about their unique culture and traditions.

Get ready to explore and learn more about the city of Cologne below!

Top services in Cologne

Here on this page, you'll find all the top travel services in Cologne, Germany. Check out the cheapest and most popular flights offered by 345 airlines that fly to Germany. Browse the 98 top-rated tours available to you in Cologne. Compare the rates and services of the 5 types of places to stay in Cologne and the 8 car rental companies offering CDW insurance coverage. We make it easy for you to find and book the top services in Cologne.

Enjoy the convenience of planning and booking every detail of your trip to Cologne, including flights, accommodations, activities, and more, in one place. Book with Guide to Europe to get an expertly-curated and fully-customizable itinerary and experience the best of Cologne on your vacation in Germany.

Get answers to questions about the routes and services offered in Cologne from our free 24/7 customer support. Continue reading to learn how you can enjoy a stress-free and memorable vacation in the city of Cologne!

Learn more about Germany

There are many reasons to visit the city of Cologne, but a trip to Germany needs no explanation.

Exploring Germany, which spans 357,588 square kilometers, is an adventure of a lifetime. Germany offers an abundance of truly magical places to discover, including cultural, historic, and scenic sites of significant value to both locals and travelers.

As the home country of many world-famous attractions like the spectacular Cologne Cathedral, Cologne Chocolate Museum, and the Old Market, you’re all set for a unique and memorable travel experience in Germany.

Click or tap the link below to discover more about Germany.

What to see in Cologne

Photo of Cologne sunset city skyline with Cologne Cathedral and Rhine River, Cologne, Germany.

Cologne has something for everyone. Regardless of age and interest, travelers have the best time exploring every corner of the city.

Read on to discover the best places to visit and find out what to expect from the city of Cologne.

Top attractions in Cologne

Home to plenty of top attractions, Cologne is more than just a wonderful city in Germany. Cologne is a travel hotspot and a great place to experience a mix of the traditional and modern culture of Germany.

One fascinating sight in Cologne is the unforgettable Cologne Cathedral. Considered one of the most well-known attractions in the city, a visit to this spectacular travel destination is something you shouldn’t miss on your trip to Cologne.

For more information about what you can expect during a vacation in Germany, check out our list of top attractions in Cologne below. Discover the best places to visit in Cologne, including the fascinating Cologne Cathedral, Cologne Chocolate Museum, Old Market, Museum Ludwig, and Rhine Garden.

Map of attractions

Use this map to find the location of all top attractions in Cologne.

Things to do in Cologne

Photo of Cologne's cathedral.

Enrich your travel experience in Cologne by joining tours and activities. Cologne offers an exciting selection of top-rated tours and it's easy for every traveler to find something to their liking. Take the opportunity to catch the top attractions on a tour, stay active with an adventurous excursion, or learn something new about the local history or culture of the city.

Discover the most popular experiences in Cologne below.

Most popular experiences in Cologne

Traveling is all about gaining new experiences. You can have that and more in the city of Cologne.

Cologne offers numerous tours and activities for travelers to choose from. Historical Tours, Walking Tours, and City Tours are only a few of the many experiences you can book for your holiday in Germany.

Explore the most popular experiences you can join in Cologne by clicking on one of the top-rated tour categories below.

Top tours & tickets starting in Cologne

Travelers in Cologne can choose from 13 categories of top-rated tours and tickets. If you're curious about what the most frequently recommended experiences in the city are, Cultural Tours is the answer.

The most popular tour in Cologne is the fantastic Cologne City Tour Experience cathedral city on the Rhine. By joining this highly recommended tour, travelers get to learn more about what makes Cologne one of the best travel destinations in Germany.

Cologne also offers plenty of budget-friendly tours and activities that promise travelers a unique experience in the city. The affordable Cologne Self-Guided Audio Tour is the cheapest tour in the city, and is a popular Historical Tour. This experience costs around 5 EUR and allows travelers a great time in Cologne. This Historical Tour is available in 9 languages: German, Portuguese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, and Japanese. Around 4 travelers have given this activity an average rating of 2 stars out of 5.

Secure an unforgettable experience for your upcoming trip to Cologne and book a top-rated tour in the city. Discover the best tours, activities, and tickets in Cologne below.

Find

All Experiences in Cologne

See more

Search for things to do in Cologne

Discover the best things to do in Cologne. Choose from 98 fantastic tours and activities available in the city.

Select your dates and number of travelers in the search bar below to receive the best recommendations for your vacation in Cologne. Click the green button to view your options.

Vacation packages in Cologne

Photo of flora Botanical garden in Cologne.

The best and easiest way to visit Cologne is by booking a vacation package. A vacation package includes everything you need for a worry-free and perfectly planned holiday in Germany.

Booking a vacation package to Cologne means spending less time planning and more time enjoying your vacation. A vacation package includes everything from flight tickets, accomodation, and a rental car, to 24/7 personal travel support and a carefully planned travel itinerary. You can also take your vacation in Cologne to the next level by adding tours, tickets, and activities to each day of your trip.

Apart from providing you with everything you need to travel comfortably, your vacation package to Cologne is also fully customizable. In other words, you can add or remove services at your own convenience, to create the perfect vacation for you and your travel companions.

On our website, you will find 170 unique vacation packages to Cologne, including flight tickets, hotel reservations, and recommendations for the best sightseeing spots, restaurants, bars, and activities.

Continue to the next section to learn more about what types of vacations you can book in the city of Cologne.

Popular types of vacations in Cologne

The most popular way to experience Cologne is by visiting the city as part of a road trip across multiple destinations in Germany. However, it is also common for travelers to go to Cologne on both shorter and longer getaways, to get a break from everyday life, relax, and experience something new.

With Guide to Europe you can find road trips, city breaks, and weekend getaways in Germany, ranging from budget to luxury. Whether you’re planning a multi-day road trip across Germany, or you just want to enjoy a few days exploring Cologne, there is a vacation package for you.

Discover the most popular vacation packages in Cologne below.

Top vacation packages in Cologne

Travelers have a great selection of vacation packages to choose from in Germany. In fact, you can choose from as many as 170 different top-rated vacation packages to take you to Cologne, and even more if you expand your search to include a bigger area of Germany.

To help narrow your choices down, here are some of the best vacation packages for exploring the city of Cologne.

For an epic vacation, discover Cologne and other top destinations in Germany on a top-rated holiday like the 10-Day Germany Road Trip from Cologne to Hamburg, Berlin, Dresden, and Würzburg. This vacation package provides travelers with tons of opportunities to experience not only the most popular attractions in Cologne, but also in other top places to visit in Germany. If Old Market, Cologne Cathedral, Rheinpark, Cologne Zoological Garden, and Cologne Chocolate Museum are on your bucket list, this is the perfect vacation package for you.

If you would like to go on a budget vacation in Cologne, book the popular Cheap 3-Day Germany City Break in Cologne and spend as little as 294 EUR. This vacation will take you on a journey to experience some of the most incredible attractions and sights in Cologne, including the fantastic Old Market, Cologne Cathedral, Cologne Zoological Garden, Rheinboulevard, and Cologne Chocolate Museum.

Get more Cologne vacation ideas on this site and discover the greatest selection of vacation packages in Europe. Scroll down to find the best vacation packages in Germany that match your needs and budget.

Find

All Vacations in Cologne

See more

Find vacation packages in Cologne

Discover and compare 170 vacation packages that take you to the wonderful city of Cologne.

The best flights, hotels, and activities in Cologne get fully booked quickly. Use the search tool below to find the best vacation packages in Germany. Your customized holiday package to Cologne is only a few clicks away!

How to get to Cologne

To get to the city of Cologne the fastest way possible, travelers from outside Germany can travel by plane. International travelers can fly to Cologne by booking flights with any of the 58 airlines that offer direct flights to Cologne Bonn airport. Some airlines that operate flights to Cologne Bonn airport are Ryanair, United Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Azul, and Air China. Go to this page to compare all flights to Cologne.

To reach the city of Cologne, travelers can choose from various airport transfer options available at Cologne Bonn airport.

If you're looking for the best flight ticket deals to Cologne, knowing the cheapest travel time and which airlines offer the most affordable flights is helpful. Luckily, we have this information for you. Discover more about the cheapest and most popular flights to Cologne Bonn airport and Cologne below.

Find cheap flights to Cologne

Photo of happy tourist girl holding a German flag against the Rhine bridge and Cologne Dom Cathedral.

Over the years, more airlines have started offering flexible and direct flights to Cologne, making it one of the most accessible travel destinations in Germany. However, it is usually cheaper to fly to Cologne, Germany, in May.

The cheapest one-way flight to Cologne costs around 18 EUR and is offered by the airline Wizz Air.

The cheapest round-trip flights to Cologne cost approximately 197 EUR in total. The departure flight leaves on June 13 and the return flight is scheduled on June 27. The flight time is around 6 hours per way.

The return flight is operated by Saarbrücken.

Use the search tool below to find the cheapest flights to Germany and the city of Cologne from your city of departure.

Popular flights to Cologne

Travelers visiting Cologne in Germany can fly to Cologne Bonn airport directly from 1709 destinations worldwide.

The three most popular routes to Cologne Bonn airport and the city of Cologne in Germany depart from Cologne Bonn airport in Cologne, Germany, Norman Manley International airport in Kingston, Jamaica, and Cochin International airport in Kochi, India.

Travelers can fly to Germany by choosing from from 2 weekly flight(s) from Cologne; from 5 weekly flight(s) from Kingston; and from 1 weekly flight(s) from Kochi.

The airline that operates most flights to Germany is Cambodia Airways. Cambodia Airways offers 2 scheduled flight routes to Germany.

Discover the most popular flights to Cologne below. Click to view flights to Cologne, Germany from destinations all across the globe.

Where to stay in Cologne

Photo of church Gross St Martin with unique colorful houses in the old town of Cologne, Germany.

An essential factor to consider when traveling to a new place or country is accommodation. While visiting a city as fantastic as Cologne is always exciting, any avid traveler knows that accommodations often make or break the vacation experience.

The best place to stay in Cologne usually depends on travelers' needs and preferences. However, booking accommodation in downtown Cologne offers a ton of benefits.

Staying at the heart of the city allows you to easily walk to many of the top sights and dining areas in Cologne and cut down on your travel expenses. Centrally-located accommodations are also an excellent choice for travelers in Cologne planning to go on a quick tour or drive to the neighboring regions.

In Cologne, you'll find 5 different types of places to stay catering to every taste, budget, and reason for travel. For example, honeymooners or travelers on a romantic getaway in Germany can experience the ultimate relaxation at one of the 5-star or 4-star hotels in Cologne. Travelers whose purpose is sightseeing can also find plenty of mid-range hotels to budget-friendly accommodations in the city, allowing access to many of the top attractions in Cologne.

Learn more about the most popular places to stay and the top-rated hotels in Cologne in the next sections.

Popular types of accommodation in Cologne

A trip to the fascinating Cologne, Germany, means opportunities to relax at any of the 5 different types of places to stay in the city. Overall, travelers can choose from the following: 455 hotels, 198 vacation rental apartments, 7 cottages, 4 guesthouses and 2 hostels. While each type offers varying amenities and rates, there is no denying that Cologne provides a great selection of lodging options ready to cater to every kind of guest.

Among all these choices available in the city, Radisson Blu Hotel Cologne is one of the top picks of travelers in Cologne.

The hotel is located at Messekreisel 3 and boasts many great utilities, including 24-hour front desk, Air conditioning, and Bar.

Budget accommodations are also incredibly popular among travelers in Cologne. Cheaper alternatives allow travelers to save on accommodation costs and have more to spend on other experiences.

In Cologne, travelers looking for an economical yet top-rated place to stay usually choose A&O Koeln Neumarkt. For approximately 23 EUR, guests can book a comfortable Unknown at this popular hotel.

Below is a list of all 5 different types of places to stay in Cologne. Select the type you prefer to compare options under each category and find the best accommodation.

Top hotels in Cologne

Hotels are travelers' go-to accommodations in Cologne for the unique experience they provide. So if you're the kind of traveler who prefers staying at hotels, you'll be glad to know that the city is home to around 666 hotels.

Besides offering basic amenities, many hotels in Cologne provide meals and extras, such as shuttle services, spa facilities, tour desks, and other services. But because not all hotels in Cologne are created equal, finding the best in the city often requires careful research. For your convenience, we've done all the research to make it easier for you to check out all the top hotels in Cologne.

Cologne Marriott Hotel offers the most luxurious rooms and is perfect for travelers looking for the ultimate 5-star hotel experience in Cologne. If comfort, convenience, and affordability are your non-negotiables, check out Radisson Blu Hotel Cologne, the top 4-star hotel in the city. When all you need is a pleasant place to rest and sleep in between your activities in Cologne, the highest-rated 3-star hotel, Moxy Cologne Bonn Airport, is for you.

Below is our hand-picked list of the best hotels in the Cologne. Travelers are encouraged to book early as these hotels quickly reach capacity.

Click the arrows or swipe the list to see each hotel's ratings, reviews, locations, rates, and more. You can read detailed descriptions of each hotel by clicking the cards.

Find

All Hotels in Cologne

See more

Search for accommodation in Cologne

Use the Accommodation Search tool below to find available stays in the city of Cologne on specific dates. This handy feature also allows you to compare prices and amenities.

Enter the preferred check-in and check-out dates. Then, select the number of guests and rooms. Click the Search button to find all the available hotels and places to stay in the city of Cologne that match the information provided.

Car rental in Cologne

Photo of Gross Saint Martin in Cologne, Germany.

Experience the freedom and convenience of a self-drive vacation by renting a car for your adventures in Cologne. Cologne has 8 car rental companies ready to provide you with the perfect vehicle for your travels.

Automatic cars for rent in Cologne start from 48.17 EUR per day or 337.2 EUR per week. The cheapest automatic rental car is an Opel Crossland.

If you prefer driving a manual car, you’ll find multiple options for rent in Cologne, starting from 39.58 EUR per day or 277.03 EUR per week. The cheapest manual rental car is an Opel Adam.

Learn more about the different types of cars you can rent in Cologne, Germany, below.

Popular types of car rental in Cologne

Discover and choose from our broad range of popular car rental options in the city of Cologne to find the best car for your travel plans. Travelers in Cologne can choose from small cars, medium cars, large cars, estate cars, mini vans, SUVs, convertibles, premium cars, camper vans, mini campers, vans, cars. All car rentals come with CDW insurance for added protection throughout your trip.

Renting a car is a popular choice among travelers who want to explore Germany at their own pace. The most popular type of car rental among small groups of travelers in Cologne is a TopLevel.

Another very popular type of car to rent in Cologne is a TopLevel. This car is particularly popular among couples and solo travelers touring the city of Cologne.

Check out all options available in Cologne and book the car rental for your upcoming adventures in Germany below.

Search for car rental in Cologne

Get ready to hit the road and explore the beautiful city of Cologne. Find the best deals on a variety of popular car rentals in Cologne, Germany, or any other destination in Europe by using the search tool below.

Enter your pick-up and drop-off location, driver's age, and dates. Click the green button to view your options.

Popular destinations to visit after Cologne

Photo of detail of the cathedral in Cologne, Germany.

The city of Cologne is just one of the many unique and scenic destinations you can visit in Germany. So if you're itching for another cultural adventure, a relaxing road trip, an action-filled city break, or a memorable weekend getaway, know that Germany has it all.

Germany is calling, and the country is asking you to experience its culture and diversity to the fullest! Take the opportunity to visit other captivating places in Germany that are as magical as the city of Cologne. The most popular travel destinations in Germany are listed below. Click on the name of the place you want to explore next to learn more about it.

All the best destinations in Germany

When unsure of where to go next, use the map below. This map shows the locations of all the best destinations in Germany. Use the map to plan your trip and find the best routes.

Domestic flights from Cologne

Photo of the cozy patio with green in the center of Cologne, Germany.

A taste of Germany through a visit to Cologne can often reignite a traveler's passion for adventure. When this happens, the best way to satisfy this wanderlust is to book a domestic flight from Cologne to another remarkable destination in Germany.

To begin your search for the best or cheapest flights from the city of Cologne to other spectacular locations in Germany, jump to the last section of this travel guide.

Search domestic flights from Cologne

Traveling to another city or region in Germany? Use the flight search tool below to quickly find the cheapest one-way or round-trip flights from Cologne to different local destinations.

Enter all the necessary information and click or tap on the Search button to see a list of the available domestic flights in Germany on the selected dates.

Popular domestic flights from Cologne

Travelers in Germany can catch flights to domestic airports in Munich, Düsseldorf, Dresden, Dortmund, and Bremen. Domestic flights in Germany are operated by 12 airlines: Eurowings, Ryanair, Corendon Airlines Europe, Condor, and Ryanair UK. There are around 43 scheduled flight routes operating to Cologne on a weekly basis.

From Cologne, travelers can book scheduled flights to 22 domestic destinations. The most popular flights from Cologne depart to many top-rated destinations in Germany and are offered by Eurowings, Ryanair, and Corendon Airlines Europe.

Most popular countries in Europe

Link to appstore phone
Install Europe’s biggest travel app

Download Europe’s biggest travel marketplace to your phone to manage your entire trip in one place

Scan this QR code with your phone camera and press the link that appears to add Europe’s biggest travel marketplace into your pocket. Enter your phone number or email address to receive an SMS or email with the download link.