Exploring Cologne: World Heritage Cathedral and Perfume City
When tourists think of Cologne, they must think of the magnificent Cologne Cathedral! The German word for Cologne is Köln, and the French or English word is Cologne, which is the origin of cologne. In the old days, when people didn’t have running water and couldn’t bathe every day, the rich would come to Cologne to buy perfume to cover their body odor. The business of perfume has boosted the economy of Cologne, which is also located on the banks of the Rhine River and is the fourth largest city in Germany.
I’ve been to Cologne three times, and this blog post is a compilation of the best places to visit during the three trips, as well as a glimpse of my daughter’s baby and toddler photos (ha!).
Map of Cologne Attractions
Kitty has organized a map of the attractions in this blog post, you can simply press the star to save it to your own Google map!
Recommended Sights in Cologne
📍Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)
The Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. This magnificent Gothic cathedral has two spires and stands 157 meters tall, making it the second tallest church in Germany and the third tallest church in the world. Construction began in 1248 and was completed in 1880, taking over six centuries! Due to war damage, many parts are still under restoration. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
The church is so tall that it’s hard to capture in photos. I used a wide-angle camera and stitched the images together in panorama mode.
Looking at the photos now, it seems that the front of the cathedral has finally finished restoration?
Cologne Cathedral attracts 6.5 million visitors every year.
Inside the cathedral, there are relics:
The cathedral’s stained glass windows are also beautiful!
Side note: The world’s tallest church is in Ulm, Germany, near LEGOLAND. If you’re interested, you might want to plan both attractions in the same trip.
A small anecdote: In 2019, when my husband was on a business trip, we tagged along. I explored Cologne with our daughter by myself. I originally planned to climb the stairs to the top, so I asked the staff where I could leave my stroller. They just told me to give up! Carrying a baby up 157 meters would be risky. Haha!
📍Farina Fragrance Museum (Farina Duftmuseum)
The German name for “Cologne” is Köln, and in French or English, it’s “Cologne,” which is exactly where the word “eau de cologne” comes from. So, it made sense to dive into the world of perfume during this trip. I first visited the Farina Fragrance Museum (Duftmuseum), located inside the historic Farina 1709 perfume shop. You can only visit the museum through a guided tour. The tours are available in various languages, including Chinese, English, and German. You can pre-book tickets online or reserve a spot in-store on the same day. The ticket price is €8 per person, and the tour lasts around 45 minutes.
Photography is not allowed inside the museum, so I’ll describe it briefly here:
The tour begins with an explanation of the history of Cologne and perfume. Back then, people didn’t bathe daily, so they used perfume to cover up body odor. The ingredients for making perfume were expensive, making it a luxury item not everyone could afford. Wealthy people would travel for days in carriages, bringing their luggage to Cologne just to buy perfume, stay overnight, and then return home (boosting Cologne’s economy at the time). These rich visitors would arrive at the original Farina 1709 store (yes, the very same building we were in!), where they would sit in comfortable chairs while being offered a welcome drink, and then leisurely choose their perfumes—very high-class!
Next, we went downstairs to the cellar, where we saw the workshop of the founder, Farina. There, we viewed his handwritten perfume formulas. The guide explained that Farina used a secret numbering system for his ingredients to prevent the formula from being stolen. For example, roses were labeled as No. 001. On the handwritten notes, you would only see how many grams of No. 001 and how many grams of No. 002 were used, keeping the recipe hidden. I found his method quite clever!
In the final part of the tour, the guide let us smell various ingredients, like frankincense and ambergris, and shared interesting facts about perfume that expanded our “scent horizons.” As we left, each of us received a small bottle of perfume as a souvenir.
Travel Tips:
- Strollers are not allowed inside, but there is a place to store them. There are stairs inside the museum, so it’s best to bring a baby carrier.
- Before the tour, you’ll need to store personal items in a locker. They provide locks, so you don’t need to bring any change.
- There are no restrooms in the museum or shop, and the tour lasts 45 minutes, so it’s a good idea to take a bathroom break beforehand.
Address: Obenmarspforten 21, 50667 Köln
📍Imhoff Chocolate Museum (Schokoladenmuseum Köln)
Finally, I made it to the Chocolate Museum! I’ve had this museum stuck in my mind ever since I first read about it in a German travel book years ago. Imhoff, an entrepreneur with a passion for chocolate, personally funded the museum, which now stands on the banks of the Rhine and has become one of Cologne’s landmarks.
The museum showcases the entire process of chocolate making: from growing cocoa trees to harvesting the beans, transporting them to Europe, and the extraction, production, and packaging processes inside the factory. You can also explore many historical artifacts related to chocolate.
The chocolate factory is so much fun! You press a button, and a robotic arm brings you chocolate!
In the exhibition, you can find different kinds of chocolate molds.
Don’t miss the museum’s café! You can sit by the Rhine and enjoy delicious Lindt chocolate desserts—such a treat!
For ticket prices and opening hours, check the official website. Note that the museum is closed on certain Mondays during some months, so be sure to plan accordingly. The museum also offers a chocolate tasting workshop, which you can book in advance through the website if you’re interested.
Before leaving, make use of their free restrooms. From what I remember, the restrooms weren’t easy to find. Traveling with a baby, the hardest part isn’t finding attractions—it’s constantly searching for restrooms and changing diapers.
📍Hohenzollern Bridge (Hohenzollernbrücke)
This bridge spans the Rhine River and was completed in 1911. It was rebuilt and expanded after World War II. The bridge is famous for the countless love locks attached to it, each representing a love story!
📍KölnTriangle Observation Deck
After crossing the Hohenzollern Bridge, you can walk to the KölnTriangle. From the observation deck, you get a 360-degree view of Cologne. The windshields have labels of landmarks, making it easy for visitors to identify the buildings.
I still remember coming here in September 2019. Though the visitors were strangers, we all helped each other take photos. After chatting with them, they learned I was from Hong Kong, and they mentioned they had been following the news. Their words of encouragement and comfort really touched me.
Opening hours: Daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The deck closes during thunderstorms.
Ticket price: €5 for adults, and children under 12 enter for free.
Family travel info: The deck is wheelchair accessible and stroller-friendly, making it easy for families with young children to visit.
📍Cologne’s Rheingarten
Taking a stroll along the riverside, you’ll enjoy the beautiful scenery with many small river cruise ships and unique buildings along the way.
Recommended Activities in Cologne
Take a Ride on the Bimmelbahn Sightseeing Train
This little sightseeing train is so much fun! It takes you around the key attractions in Cologne. They offer two routes: the Chocolate-Express or the Zoo Express. We chose a one-way ticket, starting from Cologne Cathedral and getting off at the Chocolate Museum. You can buy tickets near the Cologne Cathedral or book them in advance on the official website.
Family Travel Info: If you fold the stroller, you can bring it on the train.
A Little Story: When I was traveling alone with my one-year-old daughter, I sat her on my lap. Halfway through the ride, I heard some “pfft pfft pfft” sounds — and they weren’t from the train, but from my little baby… That day was a disaster for me (now looking back, it’s hilarious). By the time we got off the train, I was in a total mess. Luckily, I had baby wipes, diapers, and clean clothes for her. As a mom, you often forget about yourself. Not even the Cologne perfume could help me that day. In the end, I went to MUJI and bought myself a new pair of pants.
P.S. The MUJI in Cologne is actually better than the one in Frankfurt (haha). To me, it seems bigger and easier to walk around.
Recommended Restaurants in Cologne
Espresso Perfetto Café
For coffee lovers, this little shop is a must-visit! The store is filled with espressso machines, beans, accessories, and all sorts of coffee-related goodies. Kitty ordered a cappuccino and a slice of pistachio cake. So happy!
Coffee and pistachio cake
Address: Kolumbastraße 8, 50667 Köln
Funkhaus Cafe-Bar-Restaurant
We had breakfast at this restaurant, located right next to Cologne Cathedral. The food was delicious, and the presentation was beautiful.
Address: Wallrafpl. 5, 50667 Köln
Recommended Accommodation in Cologne
Steigenberger Hotel Köln
This four-star hotel offers a convenient location, just a few steps from the U-Bahn station Rudolfplatz, and only a 10-minute ride to the main train station. The rooms include a minibar, and for two adults plus one baby, the rate including buffet breakfast is around €100/night (rate in 2019) — quite reasonable! However, during major exhibitions in Cologne, hotel prices can skyrocket, so it’s best to book in advance when planning your trip.
The buffet breakfast includes a must-try in Germany: raw pork (German: Mett) (yes, you read that right — “raw pork”!). It’s a popular spread, often eaten on bread rolls and typically seasoned with salt, pepper, and onions. Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe to eat and provides a true taste of German culture.
Address: Habsburgerring 9-13, 50674 Köln
Cologne Transportation and Itinerary Planning
The attractions mentioned above are close together and can be reached on foot (excluding the hotel)! You can refer to the map at the top of the article.
Recommended One-Day Itinerary
Below is a quick route for visiting Cologne in one day; if time and budget allow, consider staying one night to leisurely enjoy and appreciate this cathedral and the city of perfume.
Starting from Cologne Central Station > Cologne Cathedral > Take the sightseeing train to the Chocolate Museum (purchase a one-way ticket) > Lunch > Walk along the river to see the parks by the Rhine > Hohenzollern Bridge > KölnTriangle > Perfume Museum (book a later afternoon session).
How to Get to Cologne?
You can refer to the Deutsche Bahn website for the most accurate schedule information.
Travel Tip for Germany: Taking the ICE Sprinter (express train) from Frankfurt Central Station to Cologne takes about an hour. If you’re an early riser who wants to explore, consider a same-day round trip from Frankfurt to Cologne—it’s faster than driving!
Road Trip: Driving from Frankfurt to Cologne takes about 2 hours (190 kilometers).
I previously wrote a blog post about everything you need to know when driving in Germany. Here is the link to the post. 🔗 德國自駕遊懶人包｜德國駕駛注意事項｜真的沒有限速嗎？ (Working in Progress, I am currently translating all my posts to English.)
If you have visited Cologne after reading my post, please let me know about your experience. I would love to hear from you.
