I first visited Cologne while I was still living in Brussels back in July 2021. At the time, borders in Europe were just starting to open up again and restrictions were easing as COVID case rates declined so I made the most of my weekends by getting out of Belgium to explore a bit of Europe.
My main reason to go at that time was because I wanted to visit a few castles in western Germany: the Brühl Palaces and Heidelberg Palace. I was eager to finally be in another country for a while!
I'm half-German and have visited Germany many times over the years, but had yet to make it out to this part of the country.
→ Check out all my guides about Germany!
A few years later, now living in Salzburg, Austria, with a partner living in Munich, we did a weekend roadtrip through western Germany (and a few other neighbouring countries), including a night in Cologne and the chance to update my original post from four years ago!
I first visited Cologne in July 2021 and returned for another visit in August 2025 and updated the original post with all the new things I did. This post was first published on 3 July 2021; last updated 10 August 2025.
By flight: Cologne is the fourth-largest city in the country, based in West Germany, so it does have a major international airport servicing it, shared with Bonn. The Cologne Bonn Airport is less than 15 minutes away from downtown Cologne, serviced by both the S Bahn and Mittelrhein Bahn, so getting into town is super quick and convenient.
By car: Of course, if you have your own wheels you can travel to Cologne by car. On our second visit in 2025, we drove up from Munich and parked just outside our hotel at Parkhaus Gerling Ringkarree.
→ Check out where you can park in Cologne.
By train: For my first visit back in 2021, I traveled by train to Cologne, taking an international ICE train across the border from Brussels in neighbouring Belgium. Trains arrive in Cologne from across Germany and Europe. The main train station or Hauptbahnhof is less than a ten-minute walk from the old town of Cologne.
By bus: FlixBus services Cologne with direct connections from 258 cities!
The old town and main part of Cologne is very walkable and allows you to explore at your own pace. You might also want to join a walking tour of Cologne to get insights from a local of the history and learn a bit more about the city.
For further trips, such as out to the Brühl Palaces, or if your staying a bit further out of town, you have a couple of options:
By car: If you have your own wheels, you can easily navigate the city by car, with parking readily available.
→ If you don't have your own car, you can rent one in Cologne.
By public transport: Cologne is well-connected with trains and buses getting you where you need to go.
→ Find all the public transport options and ticket prices in Cologne.
Brühl Palaces
During my first visit in 2021, I stayed in an AirBnb. I didn't like it that much and the location wasn't great but it was affordable!
Now, four years later, we checked into the Ruby Ella Cologne. We were apprehensive - we don't love chain hotels - but this one really pleasantly surprised us. Excellent service, outstanding breakfast, comfortable rooms and a great location right in the heart of town.
The only thing we didn't love was that it's right next to all the bars and clubs so you might find crowds of people outside on Friday and Saturday nights!
→ Book your stay at Ruby Ella Cologne.
→ Check out other places to stay to suit your budget and accommmodation type.
Flora & Botanical Garden
A short tram ride out of the city takes you to the Zoo/Flora station where, next to the Cologne Zoo, you can wander the beautiful Flora & Botanical Garden, completely free to visit. It was developed in the 19th century and sprawls across more than 11 hectares, full of beautiful seasonal flowers.
Cologne Cathedral
The Cologne Cathedral is a massive gothic structure in the heart of the city, the first thing you see as you exit the central train station. Towering high above, with intricate facades, it's no wonder this beautiful structure is now a UNESCO protected site.
Cologne Old Market
If you're after a bite to eat and the liveliest part of the city, the Old Market is where it's happening!
Around the corner is also the world's oldest fragrance factory, hence the name of the city.
Claude Monet Immersive Art Exhibit
After going to the outstanding Van Gogh immersive art exhibit in Paris, we immediately researched where else we could go to experience this new way of engaging with art and found Monet in Cologne, another of my favourite painters.
Admittedly, we weren't as impressed with Monet's exhibit as with Van Gogh; it's a different company and they all have different approaches to it, but it was still fun and hands-on, plus we learned a lot during the video about Monet's life and work.
→ Check out the schedule and prices for Monet's Garden in Cologne.
CHECK OUT MY 2021 VLOG OF COLOGNE & HEIDELBERG!
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
