I have traveled twice to Cologne, Germany for business with the first time being only a few hours whereas the second trip I was able to spend 2 days exploring Cologne (Koln). The easiest way to travel there is to fly into Frankfurt and take the Deutsche Bahn train (Dbahn or DB) train.  Fares run from $23 to 136 depending on departure time and class of service desired (coach or first class) and only takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

The Cathedral

Arriving in Cologne train station, which sits on the banks of the Rhine river, you are literally 5 minutes away from the Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), the hub from which everything revolves.  Constructed from 1242 through 1880 with fits, starts, stops, fires, and more.  Later damage from 14 aerial bombs sustained during WWII, necessitated even more repairs/upgrades.   Declared a World Heritage site in 1996, and it is Germany’s most visited historical site.  Work on the cathedral has continued through 2015 when new stained-glass windows were added to the south transept.

While not as impressive to me as Notre Dame, the cathedral is an amazing work of art.   If traveling to Cologne don’t miss taking time to view the Cathedral from the outside. It is the largest Gothic church in northern Europe with flying buttress and tall spires.  

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Inside the church be sure to see some of the crypts, and especially the reliquary of the three kings a three chambered sarcophagus said to hold the bones of the biblical three wise men. The pillars are huge and the nave is stunning.

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Don’t forget to get your cardio in by climbing the South Tower to get a birds eye view of the city. The church has 11 bells in the tower with 4 being medieval. The largest bell is named St. Petersglocke. When we were climbing up the tower we had to wait until it was finished ringing as it is so loud that standing nearby when it is struck can damage your ears. It is only a few hundred steps to the top but the views are incredible.

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The City of Cologne

The City of Cologne is fairly modern and is the 4th most populous city in Germany.  Most of the city was destroyed in World War II having almost 35,000 tons of bombs being dropped on it by the Royal Air Force.  Again, Cologne city is situated along the Rhine river in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.  Outside near the church is Roman ruins, the Hohenzollern bridge, gardens, statues and more.

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I enjoyed walking the city, which is very clean, looking in the many shops and enjoyed chatting with the locals.   There are many al fresco dining areas across the city and I recommend slowing down a bit while traveling to enjoy some local food and a nice Kolsch beer.   I enjoyed it so much that I even have brewed several boxes of Kolsch beer (style) at home.   Kolsch beer originated in Koln (Cologne) and the nearby town of Dusseldorf is famous for Altbier.  One thing not to do is order Kolsch in Dusseldorf or an Altbier in Koln.   The two cities are rivals and doing so will cause them to bristle up. I enjoyed the Kolsch so much that I now purchase a Kolsch style beer brewing kit for making it at home!

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Quick side trips from Cologne are Bonn, which is just to the south and birthplace of Beethoven, and Leverkusen just to the north with is the home office for Bayer worldwide and the Bayer Leverkusen soccer team.    

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I hope this quick overview of Cologne has whet your appetite to make it a primary or secondary destination on your next visit to Germany.   I appreciate all feedback, suggestions, or corrections.