Apart from Grand Cathedral: Things to do in Cologne

Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is a Gothic style Catholic church located in downtown. It is the largest church in northern Europe. It was built in 1248 and took over 600 years to complete. With its magnificent appearance merged with delicate statues, it has become a symbol of the city of Cologne.

Climb up the 509 steps of the church bell tower to see the world's largest church bell and admire the waters of the Rhine and Cologne's magnificent cityscape.

Built in 1907 and 1911, the Hohenzollernbrücke is the oldest bridge in Cologne and consists of three railway bridges and sidewalks. Adjoining the cathedral, the Hohenzollern Bridge across the Rhine definitely offers the most beautiful views.

This is a large steel-framed bridge with two railroad tracks in the middle. Most of the high-speed trains from Cologne pass here. A sidewalk is separated from the rail bridge by a long stretch of iron netting, which is completely covered in padlocks placed there by couples from around the world, to publicly symbolize the strength of their love. That is why the bridge has acquired the nickname “Love Lock Bridge.”

The perfume museum (Duftmuseum im Farina-Haus) opposite the town hall is the former residence of Giovanni Maria Farina, the inventor of eau-de-Cologne. It is the world’s oldest perfume factory and showcases the origins and history of perfume making. Eau-de-Cologne is the world’s oldest perfume brand.

The Cologne perfume museum is divided into three floors, and presents 300 years of perfume culture development. You will have a guide, complete with period costume and wig, to guide you through the perfume manufacturing process, and you can smell the expensive raw materials used to make the perfume.

The Karneval is one of the largest carnivals in the world. It begins every year around the end of February or early March, with the actual date varying from year to year. The event lasts for a whole week. During that time, a festive mood fills the whole city of Cologne, with carnival crowds celebrating everywhere and creating a scene a warmth.

The highlight of the annual Cologne Carnival is the Rose Monday grand parade. Everyone dresses up and joins in. Giant dolls and cartoon floats make up the parade. Candy and flowers are scattered among the crowds as the parade passes by.

When you arrive in Cologne, you must try the famous local Koelsch beer, a bitter ale that should be poured into a tall, thin glass. The beer has a refreshing taste and a light color, and is dubbed by the locals “The Champagne of Beers.” Those who are accustomed to alcohol can drink ten or twenty glasses in a row without feeling the worse for wear.

There are many pubs around the cathedral selling Koelsch, and you can enjoy authentic Koelsch beer in any local restaurant.

The Chocolate Museum (Schokoladenmuseum) is located right on the banks of the Rhine, and is built to look like a ship. The chocolate production workshop on the top floor is the highlight of the museum.

The scent of chocolate permeates the pavilion, as you watch the whole process of chocolate making, from the chocolate beans to the final product. Every machine has real flowing chocolate being processed in front of your eyes, making your mouth water.

Apart from the visit, the museum also offers a tasting. A golden chocolate fruit tree sits on a huge turntable with chocolate flowing under it. A lady dips waffles into the chocolate river and passes them round to the expectant mouths.

The Great St. Martin (Groß Sankt Martin) is an ancient Romanesque cathedral by the Rhine, famous for its majestic quadruple towers and trefoil ground plan. Founded in the 12th century, it was rebuilt after being destroyed in WW2. The church is magnificent with the well preserved outer tower.

Great St. Martin Church is the most spectacular of the 12 ancient Romanesque churches in Cologne. Before the construction of Cologne Cathedral, the Church of St. Martin had always been Cologne’s most representative landmark. Today, Great St. Martin Church and Cologne Cathedral complement each other to give the city's skyline a unique profile.