Weekend trip guide to Cologne: Architecture, Urban culture & food.
Read on to discover a 48-hour trip guide to Cologne, Germany on how to maximise your time visiting, and recommended places to visit.
My 48-hour Cologne iternary for architecture lovers
Day 1 - Iconic architecture & Old Town.
If visiting from Cologne Bonn Airport, the transportation links into the city centre are easy to navigate. The train station is located as you exit the airport and follow the signs for the train station. From there, hop on the S19 line towards ‘Koln Hbf’, which the duration will be 15 minutes and a direct line. Walk 4-minutes from the station towards the centre, and there holds the infamous Cologne Cathedral and Museum Ludwig.
The Cologne Cathedral is known for its captivating gothic architecture, which began construction in 1248. In the 19th century, a renewed sense of national pride and Gothic Revival enthusiasm led to the project's revival. The cathedral took just 600 years to be built, due to engineering complexity, funding, and the thirty years war.
What makes this building stand out is the history that is held within the walls and surrounding area, as well as its central belonging to Cologne. From an architecture student studying the gothic revival and the historical impact of architecture, the Cologne Cathedral is an example of how architecture, especially buildings of worship, hold a strong status to the public because of the architectural design and it’s height against surrounding buildings, as well as the impactful interior - through stained glass, large archways and central focal point, which makes you feel small and in awe of the space.
It is free to visit the Cologne cathedral and look around the space.
Situated just around the corner is Museum Ludwig, which also has great views of Cologne cathedral from the second floor gardens.
Museum Ludwig is known for it’s 20th Century contempory art, with work showcased by Pablo Picasso, extensive collection of pop art by Andy Warhol, modernism and expressionism, and sculptures available to view too.
Tickets are to be purchased at the front desk before entering, which was fairly priced, especially with the extensive art collections avaible to see. The interior space of the mueseum is open floor plan and has lots of natural light, which made the internal experience feel connected to it’s exterior spaces too, making for a better experience of Cologne.
Day 2 - Contemporary Cologne & Urban culture
Allocate a full day for visiting Ehrenfeld district, and surrounding areas.
Ehrenfeld district is known for its creative space boasting street art and array of colourful and distinctive architecture. There is lots to see here, such as large-scale murals, local shops, pubs, and cafes. Ehrenfeld is a hip, multicultural, modern space, which has city landscape views. The centre of the space welcomes visitors with open arms to enjoy live gigs, local cuisine, and take in German culture. One interesting thing that Cologne had to offer as a UK tourist, was finding out that CBD is legal in Cologne, but regulations differ from the UK. Visitors should research current laws and be respectful of local rules.
Top rated food spots that are a must
Cookie couture - flavourful cookies and matcha.
Frittenwerk - loaded fries
Pommes Imperium - loaded fries (which are to die for!)
Balkhausen bakery - local pastries
The coffee gang - specialty coffee
