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Culture in Cologne

Cologne on the Rhine layers centuries of history alongside a thriving contemporary scene. The medieval Alter Markt and the Romanesque church of Groß St. Martin sit close to Kolumba, a museum weaving sacred heritage and modern art together. The Chocolate Museum traces industrial and everyday history along the riverbank, while the Lanxess Arena draws large-scale events from across Europe. Creative life clusters in the Belgian Quarter and the district of Ehrenfeld. The Flora gardens, Cologne Zoo, and the open-air LVR-Freilichtmuseum Kommern add natural surroundings and regional heritage to the mix. Köln Messe in Deutz brings international trade fairs and exhibitions to the city throughout the year.

91 places · Cologne, Germany · Editorially curated

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  • Cologne Cathedral
    Wikimedia Commons

    Cologne Cathedral

    Cologne

    architecturehistoryfamily outings+5

    157 m twin-spired cathedral with the world's largest west façade — UNESCO heritage since 1996.

  • Flora Cologne
    Google · Flora und Botanischer Garten

    Flora Cologne

    Cologne

    architecturenaturehistory+6

    Laid out 1864, ballroom in greenhouse-meets-palace style, plus four themed gardens and a tropical house.

  • Hohenzollern Bridge
    Wikimedia Commons

    Hohenzollern Bridge

    Cologne

    architecturenaturehistory+5

    1911 arch bridge right behind the cathedral, both railings densely covered in love padlocks.

  • Alter Markt
    Wikimedia Commons

    Alter Markt

    Cologne

    architecturehistoryfamily outings+3

    Medieval square ringed by historic brewhouses, the carnival tunnel and the Jan-von-Werth statue.

  • Belgian Quarter
    Wikimedia Commons

    Belgian Quarter

    Cologne

    architecturenaturehistory+4

    Hipster quarter west of the ring road, Brüsseler Platz as the city's outdoor living room in summer.

  • Chocolate Museum
    Wikimedia Commons

    Chocolate Museum

    Cologne

    architecturenaturehistory+5

    Glass pavilion at the Rheinauhafen with a living tropical greenhouse and a 3 m chocolate fountain.

  • Cologne Zoo
    Wikimedia Commons

    Cologne Zoo

    Cologne

    architecturenaturehistory+3

    Founded 1860, 10,000 animals, the historic Moorish-style elephant house and the adjacent Flora botanical garden.

  • Ehrenfeld
    Wikimedia Commons

    Ehrenfeld

    Cologne

    architecturehistoryoutdoor activities+3

    Streetart stronghold with backyard galleries, Turkish bakeries and a night-café scene.

  • Groß St. Martin
    Wikimedia Commons

    Groß St. Martin

    Cologne

    architecturenaturehistory+5

    12th-century Romanesque with the distinctive four-tower crossing — one of Cologne's twelve great Romanesque churches, by the Rhine.

  • Kolumba
    Wikimedia Commons

    Kolumba

    Cologne

    architecturehistorylocal gems+3

    Diocesan art museum built over Romanesque church remnants and WW2 rubble — by Peter Zumthor.

  • Lanxess Arena
    Wikimedia Commons

    Lanxess Arena

    Cologne

    architecturehistoryoutdoor activities+2

    1998 hall in Deutz, 20,000 seats, home of the Kölner Haie and concert venue — the 'Henkel' arch is a Deutz landmark.

  • Rheinpark Cologne
    Wikimedia Commons

    Rheinpark Cologne

    Cologne

    naturehistoryoutdoor activities+3

    1957 Federal Garden Show park in Deutz — Tanzbrunnen, the Rhine cable car and a clean view of the cathedral.

  • Roman-Germanic Museum
    Wikimedia Commons

    Roman-Germanic Museum

    Cologne

    architecturehistoryfamily outings+3

    Built over the Roman Dionysus mosaic — the largest collection of Roman glass in the world.

  • Südstadt
    Wikimedia Commons

    Südstadt

    Cologne

    architecturenaturehistory+5

    Creative neighborhood around Chlodwigplatz and Severinsstrasse — where the locals actually drink their Kölsch.

  • Kölnischer Kunstverein
    Google · Walter Freiherr von dem Bussche Streithorst

    Kölnischer Kunstverein

    Cologne

    architecturehistorylocal gems+1
  • Brüsseler Platz
    Google · Tarek Ojjeh

    Brüsseler Platz

    Cologne

    architecturenaturehistory+3
  • ruhender Verkehr
    Google · Patrick Schallert

    ruhender Verkehr

    Cologne

    architecturehistorylocal gems+2
  • Ehrenstraße
    Google · Mischi

    Ehrenstraße

    Cologne

    architecturelocal gemsshopping+1
  • Hohenzollernring
    Google · Walter Freiherr von dem Bussche Streithorst

    Hohenzollernring

    Cologne

    architecturenaturehistory+3
  • Rudolfplatz
    Google · Gerard

    Rudolfplatz

    Cologne

    architecturehistorylocal gems

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