Cologne

The Must-sees of the city

1. Agnesviertel: Cologne’s trendy and traditional old townIf strolling through Cologne’s old town is an interesting experience in itself, the Agnesviertel district is the icing on the cake. It manages to be both trendy and traditional, blending historic monuments with a bohemian atmosphere. Here you’ll find a host of hotels, bars, galleries, designer boutiques and independent booksellers alongside the city’s North Gate, Fort X and the remarkable Agneskirche. If you arrive at Ebertplatz underground station, you’ll go straight to the heart of the best of Cologne’s Veedel (traditional districts). Just a short walk away, you’ll find the Alte Feuerwache, which hosts political exhibitions and an exotic flea market (held every four weeks in summer). You can also visit the bars on Neusserstrasse or the art cinemas on Lübecker Strasse and Ebertplatz. Many of these places feature colourful classical buildings and cobbled streets, making the Old Town a picturesque place to explore.
2. Cologne Cathedral: Meet the Three Wise Men
   The Cologne Cathedral is Germany’s most visited monument, partly because of its popularity among Christian pilgrims. Since 1164, the site has housed the shrine of the Three Wise Men, who came from the East to offer gifts to the infant Jesus. This grandiose Gothic cathedral can become a little cramped when crowds flock to it, but it always evokes a sense of wonder, both inside and out. As well as the ancestral gold reliquary, there are magnificent 16th-century stained glass windows, 10th-century works of art and a 14th-century black marble altar. You can climb the cathedral’s south tower for a small fee, but the 509 steps to the top require good physical condition, comfortable shoes and about an hour’s effort! That said, the view is well worth the effort. Located right in the centre of the city, the Cathedral Quarter is the ideal place to stay.
3. A cruise on the Rhine: a different view of the historic centreAs a mighty river, the Rhine has been a vital part of Cologne for centuries. Although river trade is much less important today, boats are still an excellent way of admiring the historic heart of the city. The typical itinerary takes you south of the Hohenzollern Bridge, past Cologne Cathedral, the charming Old Town and the renovated former port district of Rheinauhafen, with its chic, modern buildings designed to look like old cranes. Finally, after around an hour’s peaceful cruising, you’ll reach the old fishing community of Rodenkirchen.