Explore Cologne

Cologne Cathedral is a Gothic Catholic cathedral and the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne, begun in 1248 and completed to its medieval design in 1880. Its twin spires rise 157 metres, making it the tallest twin-spired church in the world, and it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

TimeRide Cologne is a virtual-reality attraction on Alter Markt in the old town, where visitors wear VR headsets for guided journeys through past eras of the city, including a recreation of 1920s Cologne. The venue also offers themed experiences such as a Cologne Cathedral tour and seasonal editions.

The Romano-Germanic Museum is an archaeological museum in Cologne dedicated to the Roman city of Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, on which modern Cologne stands. Its collection includes the Dionysus mosaic preserved on its original site and one of the world's largest collections of Roman glass. While its building on Roncalliplatz is closed for renovation, a selection of the collection is shown at the Belgian House on Cäcilienstraße.

The Chocolate Museum Cologne opened in 1993 on the Rheinauhafen peninsula, founded by chocolatier Hans Imhoff. Exhibits trace the history of chocolate from the Olmec, Maya and Aztec civilizations to modern manufacturing, with a glass production line showing each step of making chocolate.

Das Kölner Riesenrad is a roughly 48-metre travelling ferris wheel with 36 enclosed, glazed gondolas holding up to six people each. It returns to its home harbour at the Rheinauhafen, beside the Chocolate Museum, for the season running from 23 October 2026 to 3 January 2027, alongside the harbour's Christmas market.

Cologne Zoo opened in 1860, making it the third-oldest zoo in Germany. Spread across more than 20 hectares, it houses over 10,000 animals of more than 850 species, along with an aquarium, and takes part in international breeding programmes for endangered species.