48 hours in Cologne
Famous for its carnival (one of the most important cultural events in Germany ) and for its Christmas markets; also known as the " fifth season of the year " and renowned for its gothic cathedral. Cologne It is a city to get to know strolling around and enjoying its innovative spirit.
FRIDAY
Afternoon. We start our visit to the German city by familiarizing ourselves with the latest local art trends in the LudwigMuseum , which also keeps a modern art collection very renowned in which the expressionism, the Russian avant-garde and pop art . The works of important artists such as René Magritte, Andy Warhol, Roy Liechtenstein, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí coexist with those of exponents of German expressionism and influential German 20th-century artists such as Otto Dix, Josef Albers or Wolf Vostell.
welcome to cologne
Special mention also deserves the modern building, designed by the architects Peter Busmann and Godfried Haberer , characteristic of the urban landscape of the city, since it is located between the Cologne Cathedral, the river Rhine and the main station.
Dinner . After having fed mind and soul, it's time to treat ourselves to gastronomy. We headed towards Bier Esel, the oldest mussel house in Cologne , they prepare them in 19 different ways! We recommend you try the Bier Esel , whose stew is made with the local beer Kolsch . Another classic of this Bavarian-style tavern is the Schweinehaxe (pork leg), a small baked ham with crispy skin, suitable for the hungriest.
Bier-Esel, the oldest mussel house in Cologne
Night . For the beer or the after drink, we go through the Zülpicher street , near barbarossaplatz , and we stopped at Stiefel (Zuelpicher Str. 18), a place full of graffiti and great works of art, which has very eclectic decoration and furniture. if you want to go to dance and stay up late , in the Ehrenfeld neighborhood there are many options, among which we highlight Sonic Ballroom (Oskar-Jäger-Straße) or Heinz Gaul (Vogelsanger Str).
SATURDAY
Breakfast . A new day dawns in Cologne and we do it looking for a shot of energy. We head to the center Reichard Coffee , with a decoration 60's style and heated terrace from which observe the impressive façade of the cathedral . You can choose to have a coffee (very good) with some pastries or the buffet style brunch , which has a wide variety of sweet and savory dishes. If you opt for the first option, we suggest you ask for the classic saloon, the Sacher cake or the Aachener Printe , a typical German cookie. It is usually quite a busy place, so try to avoid rush hours.
A good brunch with a view of Cologne Cathedral
Midmorning . A few meters from the cafe we can see Colonia's main course in all its splendor: Cathedral . Of Gothic style, construction began in 1248 and was not completed until 1880; with their 157 meters high It was the tallest building in the world until the completion of the Washington Monument in 1884, 170 meters. It is the most visited monument in Germany and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 . Your best kept treasure is Tomb of the Magi , which can be seen on display, and like all Gothic temples, stands out for its spectacular stained glass windows, among which the one in the Adoration of the three Magi before Mary with the child in the center window.
If you want to enjoy incredible panoramic views, climb the 600 steps of the tower and contemplate the hohenzollern bridge and the church of San Martín from the highest point of the city.
Once down, we take a walk along the Rhine, to see the Cologne skyline from another perspective, and we stop at San Martin street where the homonymous church that gives the name to the street and some colorful houses very characteristic of the city are located.
Detail of the Cologne Cathedral
Food . After taking one of the most iconic photos of the trip, the time has come to stop for lunch and we do so in one of the kneel of the area – traditional pubs and breweries where the local lager is produced -. Don't forget to try the Halve Hahn , literally the 'half gallo', a sandwich of soft rye bread with a slice of Dutch cheese that is usually served with mustard and onion. For the coffee break, you can go to Extrablatt Coffee (Alter Markt, 28) one of the largest cafes in the center, quite busy.
Afternoon. We dedicate the afternoon to the visit of the Documentation Center on National Socialism . This building of appellhofplatz housed the local headquarters of the Gestapo , the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Today, it hosts a permanent exhibition on Cologne at the time of Hitler . It is possible to see some of the best kept Nazi prisons, as well as the rooms where interrogations were held. They still remain around 1,800 written phrases and drawings on the walls of the cells ; and, between photos and documents, the Gestapo files on the city's inhabitants also stand out.
Strolling through Colonia is the best way to get to know the city
dinner and night . Another of the must-sees in Cologne is the belgian quarter . We can get to it by subway, getting off at rudolfplatz either friesenplatz . Here all the streets between Aachener Straße and Friesenplatz are named after Belgian places, in homage to the German victory in the Franco-Prussian War . You'll see endless boutiques, galleries, live music venues, theaters and, of course, bars and restaurants . Specifically, the Brusseler Platz it is the heart of the neighborhood and the meeting point for young people from Cologne. Both for dinner and for a drink, we point you brusseller , famous for its roast chicken and its great selection of beers and gins.
Brusseler, a perfect place to enjoy a meal with a local beer in the Belgian neighborhood of Cologne
SUNDAY
morning . To say goodbye to this great city, we can think of no better plan than to visit the chocolate museum , to play Willy Wonka for a few hours. He is considered one of the best in the world in his genre. You will delve into the history of the cocoa plant, as well as all the elaboration processes of this delicacy (chocolates, truffles, tablets, etc.). At the same time, one can observe plantations and some of the machines used to produce the chocolate. There is also space for interactivity , within the framework of the different workshops in which we can get into the skin of the master chocolatiers.
Midmorning. We can't go home without bringing back a souvenir from Cologne, so we head to the historic perfumery 4711 . Not surprisingly, this German city is famous throughout the world for its eau de Cologne created by Johann Maria Farina in the 18th century (hence the name). In 4711 you can acquire both the classic one and other recently created ones. In addition, you can make your own in a 90 minute workshop , guided by experts who teach you how to mix eau de cologne with other fragrances.
Now yes, well perfumed, the time has come to say: Auf Wiedersehen, Köln!
Auf Wiedersehen, Köln!