What to See in Cologne

The city of Cologne sits in western Germany, and is easy to access from many popular European destinations.

It’s well worth stopping here for a few days if you are on an extended European trip, or planning a special break here around Christmas. Cologne is famous for its Christmas market, which runs from the end of November to the end of December.

To visit the market, head for the iconic cathedral, one of the city’s main attractions all year-round. In fact, this huge building is a pilgrimage site full of religious art.

Right near the cathedral is the Ludwig Museum, a huge space dedicated to art from after 1900. There are many Picassos and a number of Russian Avant-Garde pieces, as well as Pop Art from Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.

It’s also worth wandering around the historic Old Town, packed with picturesque squares, as well as the botanical gardens in the north of the city, which sprawl more than 11.5 hectares, and house gardens, greenhouses and a glass palace. You should also make time for a boat ride on the magnificent Rhine river, with many different companies offering a variety of day-long routes.