Only have one full day in Cologne? Whether you’ll be visiting on a Rhine River cruise or are taking a day trip from elsewhere in the region, here’s what to do, see, and eat to maximize what little time you have in Germany’s friendliest city!
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Yep, you read that right! Cologne is said to be Germany’s friendliest city, and after several visits I can safely say that’s true. You’re definitely going to love your day in this charming city along the Rhine River!
One day in Cologne isn’t enough to see all of the top attractions, but you’ll be able to get a good feel for the history, culture, and food scene — *IF* you plan out your day ahead of time.
Enter: this easy-to-follow 24-hour itinerary for Cologne, crafted with love by yours truly. To maximize what little time you have, I suggest visiting a handful of attractions yourself and letting an experienced local tour guide show you around the Old Town for part of the afternoon.
This will make for a more relaxed day overall, trust me!
–Claire
A Quick Summary of This 1-Day Itinerary
Just want a high-level overview of what you can realistically do in Cologne in one day? Your wish is my command!
Things to Do
- Visit the cathedral
- Take a free walking tour
- See the Roman ruins inside Great St. Martin’s Church
- Take in the view of the Rhine River and Hohenzollern Bridge at the Fischmarkt
- Visit either the Chocolate Museum OR Farina Fragrance Museum
- Finish with a hearty dinner and cold glass of Kölsch at one of the local breweries
Hotels I Recommend
- Hotel Drei Kronen
- Ibis Hotel Köln Am Dom
- XII Apostel Albergo
- Hotel am Augustinerplatz
- Ruby Ella Hotel Cologne
- The Midtown Hotel
Tips to Keep in Mind
- Book your free walking tour in advance
- Buy your entry ticket for the Chocolate Museum in advance …
- … OR book a guided tour of the Farina Fragrance Museum in advance (you can only visit via guided tour)
- Wear comfy walking shoes and bring a water bottle with you, because this entire itinerary can be done on foot!
Have More Than 1 Day in Cologne?
Take a day trip to Drachenburg Castle (or any of these easy-to-reach destinations near Cologne!). And if your visit coincides with the Christmas markets, here’s my full guide to Cologne’s markets.
Cologne Map & Walking Route
Stop 1: Cologne Cathedral
Opening hours: Monday to 10am – 5pm and Sundays 1pm – 4pm
Cost: Free
Time needed: 1 hour to 90 minutes (arrive a little before opening to avoid waiting in a long line!)
For a nearly 160-meter-tall Gothic cathedral that took 600(ish) years to build, Cologne’s most famous landmark looks remarkably uniform.
Why? Because each generation stuck to the original architectural plan that was drafted in the mid-1200s!
If you’ve only got one day in Cologne, the cathedral is the place you have to visit. It’s located mere steps from the central train station, and a walk around the inside will reveal the vibrant stained glass windows, soaring vaulted ceilings, and famous Shrine of the Three Kings which contains the relics of the Magi who visited Jesus after his birth.
Have more time? You can also pay to climb the 533 steps up to the south tower’s viewing platform for a spectacular view of the city (allow 45ish minutes for this). You can also visit the Treasury Museum located in what was once the cellar during medieval times (allow 1 hour to 90 minutes for this).
Stop 2: Free Walking Tour of the Old Town
Recommended tour provider: Freewalk Cologne
Start Time: 12:11pm at the Eigelstein-Torburg (there’s also a tour at 4:11pm, but I suggest choosing the earlier time slot if you’re following this itinerary exactly)
Cost: Free (yay!)
Time needed: 2.5 hours
Freewalk Cologne’s “Classic Cologne Free Walking Tour” is a tour de force of Cologne’s Old Town, with a few off-the-beaten path attractions thrown in for good measure!
What I love particularly love about Freewalk Cologne’s tour is:
- It’s free (but really pay what you want — always tip your guide!)
- You get to see pretty much every top attraction in the Old Town
- The tour guides are always super friendly, knowledgeable, and share interesting tidbits about the local culture, NOT just cut and dry historic information
Since this walking tour really packs in the attractions, you won’t be able to go inside any of the historic sites you learn about. That’s why I suggest starting your day with a leisurely visit to the cathedral because that’s one place you absolutely must visit during your day in Cologne!
Stop 3: Lunch Like a Local
Time needed: 1 hour(ish)
If you take the free walking tour I suggested above, you’ll wind up at the Willi-Ostermann-Brunnen (a lovely fountain) around 2:45pm — and boy will you be hungry!
Luckily, you’ll be just a short walk from two of Cologne’s nicest squares, the Alter Markt (Old Market Square) and Heumarkt (Hay Market).
Here are the restaurants I recommend for lunch:
- Peters Brauhaus (Mühlengasse 1): This is one of Cologne’s best known breweries, so you can expect excellent Kölsch (the local beer) as well as hearty regional fare.
- Fräulein Herborths (Alter Markt 39): Perfect for a quick but filling burger and fries break.
- Haus des Döners (Alter Markt 10): Döner is a popular street food in Berlin (where I live full-time!) that’s become popular throughout Germany. It’s basically a Turkish sandwich made by shaving thin slices of lamb off of a rotating rotisserie and stuffing it into a giant pita and loading it up with sauces and toppings. It’s very filling and so tasty. (Note that most Döner spots have vegetarian options too!)
Stop 4: Great St. Martin’s Church
Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday 1pm – 5:45pm; Friday and Saturday 10am – 5:45pm; Sunday 1pm – 6pm
Cost: Free
Time needed: 30 minutes
Since you’re so close to Cologne’s other famous church, it’d be a shame not to pop inside!
Great St. Martin’s 75-meter-tall spire is one of the most easily recognizable landmarks in the city’s skyline. This gorgeous Romanesque church was built on what’s thought to be the foundations of a Roman warehouse.
There are actually so many hidden places to see Cologne’s Roman ruins, and Great St. Martin’s is one place that often gets overlooked since people don’t realize that some of the findings from the 1970s excavations are actually on display inside.
Stop 5: Fischmarkt
Time needed: 15 minutes
One of my favorite places to visit on a day trip to Cologne is the colorful Fischmarkt. It’s just a short walk from Great St. Martin’s, and this lovely square has an incredible view of the church’s spire soaring high above the brightly colored row of houses in front of it.
If you walk just a couple minutes north of the Fischmarkt, you’ll find yourself in the Rheingarten, a peaceful hangout spot along the Rhine River. I think this is the best place to photograph the Hohenzollern Bridge, which is another famous Cologne landmark.
Stop 6: Your Choice of Museum (2 Options!)
This is the “Choose Your Own Adventure” portion of this 1-day itinerary, because I know it’s nice to have some options!
From the Fischmarkt, you can quickly walk to ONE of Cologne’s most popular museums. The two in the area you’ll have time for are:
Lindt Chocolate Museum
Opening hours: 10am to 6pm (last entry is 5pm; closed on Mondays during certain months so check the website before booking!)
Time needed: 1 hour to 90 minutes
Cost: 16.50 Euros Monday to Friday, 18 Euros on weekends (book your tickets here)
Cologne’s tastiest museum walks you through 5,000 years of chocolate-making history. The museum was completely redesigned in 2020, so the exhibitions are truly some of the best in the country.
As you can imagine, this museum smells amazing, and the onsite Chocolat Shop is a great place to stock up on souvenirs. This is overall a wonderful museum for solo travelers, families, and really just anyone who loves chocolate!
Farina Fragrance Museum
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10am – 7pm, Sunday 11am – 5pm
Time needed: 45 minutes (you can only visit the museum via guided tour)
Cost: 10 Euros on weekdays, 15 Euros on weekends (you must book tickets in advance)
That perfume you’re wearing? Check to see if it’s labeled “Eau de Cologne.” Because guess what — this is where it all started!
The Farina family has been creating perfume since 1709, and you can still purchase their swoon worthy scents today. The 45-minute guided tour of the Farina Fragrance Museum shares the history of Eau de Cologne as well as how it’s made.
Stop 7: Dinner (Washed Down with Kölsch!)
Time needed: However much you need!
After having a fun — but busy! — day in Cologne, take a load off and treat yourself to a fantastic meal.
If you didn’t try the regional fare and local beer (Kölsch) at lunch, definitely do so at dinner. Each of the big Cologne breweries have beer halls where you can stuff yourself silly with good eats and cold beer.
- Brauerei zur Malzmühle (Heumarkt 6): This 150-year-old family brewery serves Mühlen Kölsch.
- Brauerei Päffgen (Friesenstraße 64-66): This is Cologne’s oldest brewery and they still do everything by hand! I suggest making a reservation ahead of time since this is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike.
- Peters Brauhaus (Mühlengasse 1): I also suggested this brewery for lunch, but if it didn’t make the cut earlier in the day, now might be the time to reconsider your choice!
Here are my other suggestions for where to eat, but I strongly suggest a brewery visit since you’re only in Cologne for a day!
Claire’s Tip: If you have the time and energy, I suggest walking across the Hohenzollern Bridge after dark. (Don’t worry, there’s a designated pedestrian walkway.) Once you’re across the Rhine, you’ll be able to look back at the Cologne Cathedral lit up at night. Talk about stunning!
Enjoy Your Day in Cologne!
Now that you know what to do and see in Cologne in a day, it’s time to book those plane, train, or cruise tickets and get your visit on the books! I fall in love with Cologne a little more every time I visit, and I hope you have an incredible time, too.
Don’t hesitate to leave me a comment below with any questions you might have about this 1-day itinerary!
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram to keep up with my daily adventures in Berlin and beyond!
More 24-Hour Itineraries for My Favorite German Cities:
- How to Spend 24 Hours in Berlin (this is where I live full-time!)
- Day Trip Guide to Düsseldorf (right by Cologne, consider pairing the two cities for your visit)
- How to Spend a Day in Mainz (Germany’s wine capital)
- Magdeburg Day Trip Itinerary (seriously underrated day trip from Berlin)
- What to Do in Koblenz in 1 Day (another amazing city along the Rhine)
- Day Trip Guide to Rüdesheim am Rhein (also a popular stop for Rhine River cruises)
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