Cologne between the Cathedral, Art and History
Accommodation in Cologne
Cologne offers impressive culture, traces of different eras and experiences in nature. The Cathedral, the collections of Museum Ludwig, the excavations at Rathausplatz and the diversity of plants at Flora each offer a different focus. There is also an 8-kilometre circular route that passes several places in Cologne along the way. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Cologne, you can consider which of these sides of the city you would like to shape your stay.
The Cathedral and art collections
Cologne Cathedral is an extraordinary achievement of human creativity. Its location near the main train station is useful for finding your way on arrival: the Cathedral is easily accessible by public transport and by car. If you are particularly interested in architecture and city history, you can choose it as one of the starting points for exploring Cologne.
Museum Ludwig offers a different perspective on art. It has one of Europe’s largest and most important photography collections, including works from the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition, its permanent collection represents the major modern movements from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day.
History in the Old Town
At the archaeological excavation site at Rathausplatz, Cologne’s Roman past and its Jewish history in the Middle Ages have been brought to light. Both historical subjects can be encountered here in one place, without being conflated as a single era. The historic Old Town of Cologne is also home to monuments, fountains and excavations associated with numerous stories. Those who enjoy looking more closely can shift their attention from well-known buildings to smaller historical traces.
The Old Town’s culinary character is also shaped by its lanes and buildings: its quaint lanes and traditional buildings are home to numerous pubs, restaurants and breweries. This means you can discover the city not only through art and history, but also through its places to eat and drink. If you are travelling with varied interests, there are different themes to choose from, each of which can take centre stage during a visit to Cologne.
The diversity of plants at Flora
Flora and the Botanical Garden feature 12,000 cultivated plant species from around the world. They grow outdoors and in greenhouses.
The annual programme lists themed Sunday tours for individual visitors at 11 a.m. If you would like to include a tour in your plans, you can refer to the activities listed in the annual programme. Alongside exploring independently, the garden therefore also offers a guided way to learn about its plants and themes.
A circular route through Cologne
The Short Rhine Panorama Tour is an 8-kilometre circular route through Cologne. It starts at Cologne Cathedral, crosses the Hohenzollern Bridge, follows the Rhine and passes through Rheinauhafen and the historic Old Town. You can take the 8-kilometre distance into account when planning your day; the circular route is a clearly defined way to explore Cologne on foot.
Which experiences would you like to define your stay?
For further orientation, you can also explore Lind and the Cologne locality pages for Worringen, Junkersdorf, Cologne-Brück and Gremberghoven.
For the broader travel overview: Cologne.
