Cologne’s Old Town is home to Germany’s most famous cathedral, as well as lots of cute squares, bustling shopping streets, and Roman ruins. Here are the top things to do and see in this area!
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I’ve visited Cologne several times since moving to Germany in 2019, and the city blows me away every time. From a historical perspective, I’d argue that it’s one of the most interesting cities in Germany.
Cologne was settled by the Romans, who lived along this stretch of the Rhine River for close to 500 years. The city was later a key player in the medieval commercial and defense network known as the Hanseatic League, and today it’s known for being the friendliest city in Germany.
There are so many things to do in Cologne, but a visit to the Old Town (Altstadt) is always a must. Here’s what I suggest doing in Cologne’s historic Old Town during your visit, no matter the season.
–Claire
Map of the Old Town Attractions
Claire’s Tip: Best Guided Tours of the Old Town
Heads up: Cologne isn’t super pretty. (Even locals will tell you that!) A surefire way to discover just how charming and unique the city is — and to learn why the city looks the way it does — is to book a walking tour of the Old Town.
Freewalk Cologne is my favorite local walking tour company. They offer a couple different free (i.e. pay what you want) walking tours, including a general Old Town tour and a “Dark Side of the Dom” ghost tour on Friday evenings.
Other tours to consider include this more traditional Old Town walking tour and this Cathedral + Old Town walking tour that include a Kölsch tasting.
Cologne Cathedral (+ Treasury)
*The* must-visit attraction in the Old Town is the Cologne Cathedral. With around 4 million visitors annually, it’s the most popular attraction in Germany.
I’m often skeptical of super popular tourist attractions, but having visited it, oh, 4 or 5 times by this point I can confidently say it’s worth a visit.
The Cologne Cathedral is the third largest in the world, and although it took more than 600 years to build, each generation of architects followed the original building plans to a T. Because of this, its Gothic design remains consistent throughout the soaring cathedral.
As a heads up, the cathedral is free to enter. By midday, there can be a fairly long line snaking out the front entrance, but you rarely have to wait for long to go in.
For 8 Euros, you can climb the 533 steps up to the viewing platform on the south tower of the cathedral.
Or, you can pay to enter the treasury, which displays liturgical equipment and reliquaries in the medieval cellar of the cathedral under the sacristy. The treasury is not a “must” when visiting Cologne’s Old Town, but I’d recommend it if you’ve been to Cologne before and are looking for new things to see.
Claire’s Tip: One of the most popular Christmas markets in Cologne takes place in front of the cathedral every year.
Great St. Martin Church (Groß St. Martin)
There are 12 stunning Romanesque churches in Cologne, but I’m assuming you won’t have the time or desire to visit all of them.
However, there’s one church you should see and that’s Great St. Martin’s Church. It’s the best known, probably because its 75-meter-tall spire makes it stand out (literally) against the city’s skyline.
Great St. Martin’s was built during Roman times, on what was originally an island (which you’d have no idea walking around the Old Town today!). It was unfortunately destroyed in WWII, but during the reconstruction work they discovered the foundations of Roman warehouses beneath the church.
Claire’s Tip: If you have time to visit another of the Romanesque churches, I highly recommend St. Ursula’s. Legend has it that Ursula and the 11,000 virgins accompanying her on a pilgrimage to Rome were slain by the Huns while passing through Cologne.
The virgins appeared to Attila in a dream, which stopped him from sacking the city. The Golden Chamber within the church is covered with human bones, allegedly those of the virgins who were martyred saving Cologne.
Notable Squares to Visit
There are number of lovely squares dotted throughout the historic Old Town, but the main ones to know are:
- Alter Markt: The “Old Market” is arguably the prettiest square in the city, with a picturesque fountain in the center and the Historic City Hall on the west side of the square. The City Hall is the oldest in Germany and is now a mish-mash of architectural styles, having had lots of additions built onto it since 1330.
- Fischmarkt: The prime location of this beautiful square on the banks of the Rhine River makes it easy to guess why it’s been called the “Fish Market” since the 13th century. Turn your back to the river and look at the row of brightly painted houses with the spire of Great St. Martin’s Church looming in the background — you’re going to want a photo, trust me!
- Heumarkt: This “Hay Market” dates back to the Middle Ages and becomes yet another popular Christmas market in December (this one has an ice skating rink!).
- Neumarkt: Cologne’s largest square isn’t much to look at, but during the holiday season it transforms into the “Angel’s Market” which I think sells the best food of all the Christmas markets in the city.
Shopping Streets
Cologne might not have the same grand shopping boulevards that neighboring Düsseldorf is known for, but it’s not short on stores!
The Schildergasse is the most famous shopping street in the city, with pretty much any high street chain store you could possibly imagine. (It’s also the second oldest street in Cologne, although you wouldn’t know that just by looking at it.)
If you want to walk the entire length of the Schildergasse, start at the Neumarkt and walk towards the center of the Old Town.
Eventually, it connects with Hohe Straße, which is the other main shopping street in Cologne.
Claire’s Tip: Neither Schildergasse or Hohe Straße boast super unique stores (they’re pretty much all chain stores), so I don’t think shopping in the Old Town is worth a spot on your Cologne itinerary. However, both are good to keep in mind if you find yourself in the city center in need of an extra layer to keep warm, a restock on certain toiletries, that kind of thing.
Three Historic City Gates
The Old Town in Cologne is the historic center of the city, and considering it was founded by the Romans it shouldn’t come as a surprise to hear that the Altstadt has undergone quite a few changes over the centuries.
For a glimpse at what Roman Colonia looked like, look for the three remaining city gates around the perimeter of the Old Town. They were once part of a much larger city wall that was built up during the 1st through 3rd centuries.
The only gates still standing are the Hahnentor, Severinstorburg, and Eigelstein-Torburg. (If you go on one of the walking tours mentioned at the beginning of this guide, you’ll likely be taken to at least one of the gates.)
Museums in the Old Town
Cologne has some fantastic museums, and the ones located within the Old Town are as follows:
- Lindt Chocolate Museum: Learn all about the chocolate production process at Cologne’s tastiest museum.
- Farina Fragrance Museum: Ever heard of Eau de Cologne? This is where it all started! Farina has been producing perfume since 1709, and you can visit the fragrance shop and museum while exploring Cologne’s Old Town.
- Wallraf-Richartz-Museum: My personal favorite museum in Cologne, with art from the Middle Ages through the 19th century.
- Römisch-Germanisches Museum: Undergoing construction until 2026; the temporary exhibit is located within The Belgian House. Having been settled by the Romans, you can only imagine how many artifacts have been uncovered over the years! This museum showcases the prime finds dating from Roman times.
- Ludwig Museum: Europe’s largest Pop Art collection is displayed at this modern art museum.
Hohenzollern Bridge
Cologne’s picturesque bridge takes its name from Germany’s best-known (and final) ruling family.
To leave the Old Town, simply cross the Rhine River via the Hohenzollern Bridge. On your walk, you’ll pass thousands of love locks that have been attached to the bridge. Feel free to add your own!
Claire’s Tip: The best view of the bridge is from the Rheingarten near the Fischmarkt.
Sites of Roman Ruins
One attraction in the Old Town that doesn’t get enough love online are the many Roman ruins that have been integrated into the cityscape.
Because remember: Cologne was originally a Roman colony. And just like Rome itself, the homes, artworks, and factories left by the Romans didn’t magically disappear; they were repurposed, built over, or buried and they’re still there!
My personal favorite Roman ruin in Cologne can be found inside the cathedral’s parking garage, of all places. It’s a big chunk of the original city wall, and you can access it (for free!) via the entrance at Komödienstraße/Trankgasse, across from the tourist information center. Ask at the desk for directions if you can’t find the entrance.
Ongoing archaeological excavations in front of the Historic City Hall have also uncovered the Roman Praetorium, which is where the governor’s office would have been. They’ve set up a small exhibition hall nearby where you can see the most recent findings, but it’s not always open.
If you’re able to enter the crypt of Great St. Martin’s Church, you’ll see what remains of the original Roman foundations the church was built on top of.
All that remains of a 30-meter wide city gate from Roman times is a small archway in front of the cathedral (labeled the “Nordtor” or “Northern Gate” on Google Maps).
Local Breweries Serving Kölsch
When in Cologne, you have to try the local beer, called Kölsch. You won’t find it brewed anywhere else in the world!
Kölsch is served in small, 200ml glasses to ensure each sip is super cold and bubbly.
If you order Kölsch at a brewery, the waitstaff will continue to refill your glass for you until you finally place a coaster over top to signal that you’re done drinking.
Claire’s Tip: The major Cologne breweries all have tasting rooms or pubs serving both food and Kölsch (try Päffgen, Malzmühle, and Peters). Or, book a brewery tour that includes tastings!
Enjoy Your Visit to Germany’s Friendliest City!
If you have more than a day or two to see the city, I highly suggest planning a day trip from Cologne as well. There are so many fantastic places to visit in the area, and my favorites can all be reached via train.
If you have any questions about what to do and see in Cologne’s Old Town, or about visiting the city in general, don’t hesitate to leave me a comment below. I’m always happy to help!
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