Discover Cologne

First impressions of Cologne

Cologne (Köln) is one of Germany's oldest cities — founded as a Roman colony in 50 AD — and home to one of its most overwhelming buildings. Kölner Dom, the city's twin-spired Gothic cathedral, took 632 years to build (1248–1880) and is the tallest twin-spired church in the world at 157m, with the largest façade of any church on the planet. Climb the 533 stone steps to the south tower for a stunning panorama; the cathedral itself is free to enter and astonishing inside, with the gold Shrine of the Three Kings (the largest reliquary in Western Christendom, said to hold the bones of the Magi) behind the high altar. The Roman-Germanic Museum next door (currently being renovated but partially open at a temporary location) houses the city's outstanding Roman-era mosaics. Beyond the Dom, the Hohe Straße shopping street, the Cologne Carnival (one of the great street parties in Europe, peaking on Rose Monday before Lent), the historic Altstadt with its tall, narrow merchant houses, and the city's beloved Kölsch beer culture in the brauhaus around Heumarkt are essential. Don't leave without an afternoon at the brilliantly curated Museum Ludwig (one of the finest Picasso collections in Europe alongside Pop Art, Russian avant-garde, and Expressionism). Cologne also has 12 Romanesque churches that pre-date the Dom — a unique cluster in Europe.