DE
Cologne
A lively Rhine city dominated by its colossal Gothic cathedral, with Roman roots, beer halls and a famous carnival
A lively Rhine city dominated by its colossal Gothic cathedral, with Roman roots, beer halls and a famous carnival
The largest Gothic church in northern Europe, begun in 1248 and completed in 1880. Inside is the Shrine of the Three Kings; you can climb 533 steps up the south tower.
Entry to the cathedral is free; the tower climb has a small fee.
Photo: Superbass, CC BY-SA 4.0
The rebuilt old town between the cathedral and the river, with the historic town hall, Romanesque churches and traditional brewhouses.
Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0
The railway bridge across the Rhine, covered with tens of thousands of love locks, with the classic view of the cathedral from the opposite bank.
Photo: BriYYZ, CC BY-SA 2.0
Drink Kölsch, the local beer, served in slim 0.2-litre glasses that keep coming until you cover yours with a beer mat. Try Himmel un Äd (black pudding with apple and mashed potato) and Halve Hahn (a cheese roll).
Brewhouses (Brauhäuser) around the old town serve hearty Rhineland food.
Cologne/Bonn Airport is about 15 minutes from the main station by S-Bahn, and Düsseldorf Airport is under an hour away. The main station is right next to the cathedral, with fast trains to Frankfurt, Brussels and Amsterdam.
Germany is in the EU and the Schengen area and uses the euro. EU citizens need only an ID card; citizens of the UK, US, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, with biometric registration under the EU Entry/Exit System. An ETIAS travel authorisation is also due to be introduced. Check current rules before you travel.
Cologne is moderately priced; hotels fill up during trade fairs and carnival.
Cathedral, old town and river.
Visit the cathedral and climb the tower, explore the old town and the Roman-Germanic Museum, then spend the evening in a brewhouse.
Walk across the Hohenzollern Bridge for the view, visit the Chocolate Museum and the Rheinauhafen with its crane-shaped buildings.
🛂 Entry rules: EES and ETIAS
Germany is in the Schengen area, which has two EU border systems for non-EU visitors.
EES (in force): since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ passport details, fingerprints and a photo the first time they enter the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip; later crossings are quicker. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
Visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
The Deutschlandticket (€63 a month in 2026) covers local and regional public transport across Germany, but not long-distance ICE or IC trains.
Cards are now widely accepted, but some small bars, bakeries and market stalls still prefer cash.
The carnival season starts on 11 November and peaks in the days before Lent, with street parties and parades.
Place your beer mat on your glass when you have had enough.
Quick answers for planning time in Cologne.
Citizens of the UK, US, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in 180, with registration under the EU Entry/Exit System.
Yes, 533 steps up the south tower, for a small fee.
Cologne’s local beer, served in small 0.2-litre glasses.
The season opens on 11 November; the main street carnival is in the days before Ash Wednesday.
By S-Bahn, in about 15 minutes.
Google Maps works well; the DB Navigator app covers trains and most local transport.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Germany travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.