# What to do in Cologne **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 4, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-cologne/636694 "2012-10-04T14:24:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-cologne/636694/1 "2012-10-04T14:24:38Z")
My SO and I are going to see Radiohead in Cologne (Germany) soon, and he doesn’t know yet as it’s a surprise trip. 😃 It’s really difficult to not plan a trip together, to not be looking at things to do together with him. So will you Dopers help me please? We’ll be there for the weekend, and then the gig is on Monday. We love all forms of (historical) city stuff, museums, the Dom etc. I wouldn’t mind a day outside the city if there are any recommendations for stuff to do out in some beautiful countryside. Suggestions for where to eat would also be very helpful! ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-cologne/636694/2 "2012-10-04T16:54:55Z")
First, which you won’t be able to miss, is the enormous Cologne cathedral. Well worth checking out, and if you are up to the hike up the spiral staircase, you can climb up the tower to get an awesome view of the city and the area. Cologne is right on the Rhein, and there are ferries and plenty of day boat trips up/down the river. I would highly recommend at least a morning or afternoon trip. You will travel through the scenic wine country, and there are little castles and such dotted about. I seem to recall Koblenz being not to far, but you could hop off at any of a number of the small towns and wander about. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Butterfly\_s\_Ghost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_butterfly_s_ghost/32/3462_2.png) [@The\_Butterfly\_s\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Butterfly_s_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-cologne/636694/3 "2012-10-04T19:30:54Z")
Cologne Doper here - I just PM’ed you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-cologne/636694/4 "2012-10-04T20:37:03Z")
I’m sure that **Rheintochter** has already wallala weia’d all sorts of useful info your way, **gracer** , and I’m a poor source of tips anyway, since I’ve spent way more time driving past Cologne than into it, but there is one very important thing that I’ve never been able to act on myself but wouldn’t ever forgive myself if I didn’t pass it along to you: _I have heard that Cologne has a chocolate museum._ Someday, sweet Cologne, someday … ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-cologne/636694/5 "2012-10-04T22:25:26Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > I’m sure that **Rheintochter** has already wallala weia’d all sorts of useful info your way, **gracer** , and I’m a poor source of tips anyway, since I’ve spent way more time driving past Cologne than into it, but there is one very important thing that I’ve never been able to act on myself but wouldn’t ever forgive myself if I didn’t pass it along to you: _I have heard that Cologne has a chocolate museum._ > > Someday, sweet Cologne, someday … I enjoyed the tour of the chocolate museum. I bought a bunch of chocolate to take home in the gift shop. Expensed it as “lunch”, and bought a ham sandwich from a street vendor for my real lunch. Shame I was only there for a weekend. But I did stay at the Dom Hotel. Fancy. 🙂 -D/a ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-cologne/636694/6 "2012-10-05T12:55:55Z")
If you’re into history, don’t miss the [Romano-Germanic Museum](http://www.museenkoeln.de/homepage/default.asp?s=169) which is near the Cathedral: > [@](#): > > Römisch-Germanisches Museum (Romano-Germanic Museum) > Built above the Roman town villa with the world-famous Dionysus mosaic the Römisch-Germanisches Museum houses examples of art, culture and everyday life in Roman and early medieval Cologne. A highlight is the worldwide largest collection of Roman glass with the tri-coloured cage cup (c. 330/340 AD) and the miniature portrait miniature of Emperor Augustus in turquoise glass. The art of barbarian peoples in the early Middle Ages is shown in various types of precious jewellery for women and men - a form of capital in the Migration Period. These objects at the Romano-Germanic Museum form part of one of the richest early European collections. They really have amazing stuff. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-cologne/636694/7 "2012-10-06T12:45:34Z")
Wow thanks guys this is such amazing stuff! Big time yes to cathedral, choc museum, boat trips and the Romano-Germanic museum too! This all sounds brilliant. I’m getting excited for this trip now 😃 Please keep it coming, the more ideas the better. I really love the idea of a boat trip and maybe seeing a vineyard? So if anyone has any specifics I’d love to hear it… ---
**Author:** ![polar\_bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@polar\_bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/polar_bear)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-cologne/636694/8 "2012-10-06T13:36:25Z")
I like the Ludwig Museum quite a bit (especially the Lichtenstein stuff) and it’s just behind the Cathedral. Just sipping a Koelsch on one of the squares is fun as well. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-cologne/636694/9 "2012-10-06T16:15:27Z")
Well, you could buy echt Koelnishe Wasser (real Cologne water) the first, original cologne that was invented in Cologne (surprise, surprise) over 200 years ago and the name brand is “4711” - from the house number where it was developed for medicinal reasons back then. It is still a very popular cologne in Germany, and what better gift to have/bring for someone than to get the first, original cologne in Cologne?! ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-cologne/636694/10 "2012-10-06T18:46:38Z")
I was in Cologne for 3 or 4 days back in 2009 and I think I went to the cathedral every single day, it was that impressive. I also enjoyed the Romano-Germanic museum. There are also a bunch of really interesting Romanesque churches; ask for a brochure at the tourist bureau. Behind the cathedral is the Hohenzollern bridge, with hundreds of engraved padlocks on its metalwork left behind by lovers. It has some great views of the cathedral. If you’re a dude, apparently Cologne has a rocking gay scene. I don’t generally party when I’m travelling, so I didn’t see any of it, but it’s supposed to be great. There are lots of really fascinating sights within a short train ride of Cologne. Aachen, with the beautiful cathedral of Charlemagne, for example, as well as the electoral palace at Brühl. Bonn is also nearby, if you also like classical music (birthplace of Beethoven). ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-cologne/636694/11 "2012-10-06T20:31:46Z")
Drink [Kölsch](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6lsch_%28beer%29)! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Butterfly\_s\_Ghost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_butterfly_s_ghost/32/3462_2.png) [@The\_Butterfly\_s\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Butterfly_s_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-cologne/636694/12 "2012-10-06T20:34:28Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > I’m sure that **Rheintochter** has already wallala weia’d all sorts of useful info your way, **gracer** , and I’m a poor source of tips anyway, since I’ve spent way more time driving past Cologne than into it, but there is one very important thing that I’ve never been able to act on myself but wouldn’t ever forgive myself if I didn’t pass it along to you: _I have heard that Cologne has a chocolate museum._ > > Someday, sweet Cologne, someday … The Chocolate Museum is definitely fun. They have a chocolate fountain and the whole museums smells of warm, liquid chocolate. _yum_ If you ever do visit the musuem, check out the Mustard Museum across the street ([http://www.senfmuehle-koeln.de/](http://www.senfmuehle-koeln.de/)). Doesn’t sound _quite_ 😉 as yummy as the Chocolate Museum but it’s really quite interesting. Their honey mustard is delicious! ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-cologne/636694/13 "2012-10-06T23:16:31Z")
[QUOTE=matt\_mcl] I was in Cologne for 3 or 4 days back in 2009 and I think I went to the cathedral every single day, it was that impressive. [/QUOTE] I love this. I can completely see us doing this too 😃 Kölsch is a definite \*\*August \*\*, very much looking forward to that! **Rheintochter** , true to her name, also had some excellent advice on a boat trip out to a mountain called Drachenfels, with a ruin on the top :eek: 😃 (just putting that up too, just in case anyone else is looking at a Rhine trip…) > [@DMark](#): > > Well, you could buy echt Koelnishe Wasser (real Cologne water) the first, original cologne that was invented in Cologne (surprise, surprise) over 200 years ago and the name brand is “4711” - from the house number where it was developed for medicinal reasons back then. I was just thinking I should look into this history and how the name was related. Thanks! I wonder if there is some sort of museum or original shop or something for that… Next thing to look into! I looked up the museum **polar bear** , that looks amazing… I’m tempted…so many museums…