Cologne cruise port guide
Why go?
Germany’s oldest major city – and its fourth largest – boasts a 2,000 year-old heritage that effortlessly combines Roman and medieval landmarks with oodles of contemporary art and culture.
Its attractive harbour, located at the edge of the Old Town, enables visitors to travel along the the Rhine; south to Rodenkirchen or Porz, or north to Mülheim.
Cruise port location
River cruises and roundtrip tours leave from the main docks, which run for around a mile along the Rhine at the edge of the Old Town, close to the distinctive Hohenzollern bridge.
From here it’s always only a five to 10 minute hop to the city centre, with convenient bus and train services available from Dom/Hauptbahnhof, Breslauer Platz and Heumarkt stations.
Can I walk to any places of interest?
Boats dock along the edge of the Old Town, which means it’s possible to walk easily to many of the city’s main sights in around 15-20 minutes, some of them less.
Highlights within a mile or two include the Köln Cathedral, the Roman-German and Ludwig museums, and of course the charming cobbled streets of the Old Town itself.
Getting around
The main centre of Cologne is fairly easy to navigate on foot, but there are also several options if you want to travel more quickly and conveniently, or further afield.
The city’s bus, tram and underground services are very good quality, well-connected and easy to use. A single trip ticket, usable on all transport modes, costs €2.90 (£2.55), and a day ticket €8.60 (£7.56).
A KölnCard, which lasts 24 hours and includes reductions for sights, shopping and restaurants, costs nine euros.
What can I do with a half a day in Cologne?
Given many of Cologne’s primary sights and landmarks are within, or on the fringes of, the city’s picturesque Old Town, it’s possible to cover a lot in half a day.
Two major landmarks are easily visible from the harbour: the picturesque Hohenzollern Bridge, which arches across the Rhine, and the looming Unesco-heritage Dom (cathedral), whose highlights include the renowned Shrine of the Three Magi, Gerhard Richter’s resplendent stained glass window, and the cathedral’s viewing platform, which offers stellar views of the city and beyond.
Next door is the Romano-Germanic museum, which explores the city’s Roman and pre-Roman via local archaeological finds such as weapons, ornamental and artistic objects, and a superb Dionysus mosaic; and the neighbouring Ludwig Museum, which showcases a contrastive array of 20th century artworks, including American pop art by the likes of Warhol and Lichtenstein, and a slew of German Expressionists.
From here it’s a hop to the Old Market Square, with its cute town houses, mostly built between the 14th and 17th centuries, and the impressive Romanesque church of Great St. Martin.
Also within easy striking distance is Peter Zumthor’s stunning Kolumba Museum, worth visiting for the architecture alone, and the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, home to a brilliant collection of European paintings from the 13th to the early 20th century.
What can I do with a bit longer?
The rest of the city is quite spread out, but also easy to navigate on foot or by public transport. Continue west of the Altstadt to find the main centre and its bustling collection of shopping streets; cross the Hohenzollernring and you’ll arrive at the trendy Belgian Quarter (Belgisches Viertel), with its indie boutiques and atmospheric cafes.
Eat and drink
The city has a very large number of pubs and restaurants serving traditional Kölsch fare. Kölsch beer, served in 0.2-litre glasses called Stangen, is available at most bars, including the historic Malzmühle brewery. Enjoy it with a Halve Hahn, which even though the name translates as “half a chicken”, is actually a rye-bread roll served with Dutch cheese and mustard.
Don’t leave Cologne without…
The best places to head for shopping are the pedestrian zones of Schildergasse and Hohe Straße. For something higher end, the exclusive boutiques of Mittelstraße or the trendy Belgian Quarter have lots to offer.
An ideal gift would be the original Eau de Cologne from Farina Haus (Obenmarspforten 21, 50667 Cologne +49 (0)221 399 8994, farina.org), which doubles as a museum.
Need to know
Safety
Violent crime is a rarity in Cologne but, being a busy city, it is prone to theft and other criminal activities. Be aware of valuables in the more touristy areas of the city, such as around the cathedral and main train station.
Best time to go
Between May and June and September and October – the city tends to be less crowded, but the weather is still pleasant for riverside strolls and city walks. The Christmas season is good thanks to the local Christmas markets, which run from the end of November until December 23 each year.
Closures
Museums around Germany usually close on Mondays, but it does differ from venue to venue, so check in advance to be sure.
