Date of trip: March 2007

Our trip to Cologne was not something we had been planning but when Continental began offering direct flights there from Newark and I saw how cheap the tickets were ($270/person WITH TAXES!!), I couldn’t resist. Having travelled to Germany before and loved it, we were happy to return. I was shocked at how many people asked me if the only place we were going to was Cologne, as if it’s not a good enough city to stand on it’s own. Even Germans we encountered were surprised to find us there. The truth is, it’s an incredible city with plenty to offer and I hope this new direct flight will encourage more visitors.

Highlights:

-The Dom cathedral in the center of the city is somewhat of a mascot for Cologne. You will see it’s towers printed on everything from T-shirts to store fronts to the labels on Kolsch bottles, the local beer produced and served only in Cologne. It is also the most visited attraction in all of Germany. It’s dark and Gothic inside and out. You can enter the Dom during the day and look around the inside for free as long as there are no services in session. If you want to see the church treasury collection or go up to the roof for a view of the city, there is a charge. Don’t miss the pixel like stained glass window Symphony of Light.

-Much of Cologne was bombed out during World War II and as a result, ruins from the Roman Empire were discovered under the rubble. The Römisch-Germanisches Museum houses a huge collection of Roman artifacts and a beautiful, almost fully intact mosaic called the Dionysis Mosaic which was found during construction of an air raid shelter. You can also go underground and view the remains of the Praetorium, the Roman governor’s house.

-Cologne has a thriving art scene and if you like modern art, you shouldn’t miss Museum Ludwig. It has the largest collection of pop art outside the US…think Warhols and Lichtensteins.

-Although Lindt chocolate is officially Swiss, they have a large factory right outside of Cologne and were thus inspired to open the Schokoladenmuseum located right on the Rhine river. Here you can learn how chocolate is made, watch some Lindt treats being created, and sample or purchase some for yourself. The gift shop is extensive to say the least!

-In case you haven’t yet made the connection, cologne, the perfume product, did in fact get it’s name because it was invented in Cologne, the city. You can visit the 4711 Glockengasse to learn about the invention and buy some of the original scent, 4711 cologne. You can even freshen up at the fountain at the front of the store which flows with (what else?!!) cologne. As a bonus, if you are there on the hour you can watch the clock chime out front.

-I wouldn’t say it’s a flat out must see, but if you have children, or maybe you’re a child at heart, the zoo in Cologne is quite good. It’s large with an attached aquarium. The main attraction when we visited was a baby elephant who we had the pleasure of watching swim and play in a watering hole with his family. Across the street from the zoo is a very pretty and free botanical garden, perfect for an afternoon stroll.

-If the weather is nice you will find everyone in Cologne along the Rhine River. Walking across the Hohenzollern Bridge is a must and provides the absolute best photo views of the city.

-We took a day trip to Bonn, a city only 20 minutes away, to see Beethoven’s family home. It was so cool to see his first ever tiny piano and learn about his life and amazing talent. While in Bonn, we also visited the Kunst Museum where the modern artwork is not as impressive as that in Cologne but the light towers on the roof were fascinating. We also stopped into a mass at the the Münster, the old cathedral in the city’s center.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Cologne Links:
Cologne Official Site
The Dom
Museums of Cologne
Schokoladenmuseum
4711 Glockengasse
Beethoven House
Kunst Museum