Germany · TOURS IN COLOGNE
The cathedral is free and takes twenty minutes; everything else in Cologne costs something. These 15 cover the Rhine panorama boats, the brewery tours where the Kölsch keeps coming, and the old town between them.
Spend one hour cruising Cologne’s Rhine waterfront with German and English commentary, covered seating, an open deck, toilets, and an onboard bar serving drinks and snacks. You’ll pass the cathedral, Old Town, Hohenzollern Bridge, South Bridge, Deutz Bridge, the chocolate museum, and Rheinauhafen. Arrive early, since the ship may depart from a different landing stage.
“The commentary in German and English. The staff were also excellent.”
Start near Cologne Cathedral and walk to Heumarkt, stopping at three breweries for Kölsch tastings and stories about Cologne’s beer customs. Guides such as Julian, Helena, Emre, and Felix bring an easy, humorous style, while the exact breweries change with group interests and available space.
“The tour was fantastic! It was a small group (6 total) and we all got along and our guide, Onit, was amazing. I loved learning about kölsch and its culture and getting to enjoy and compare three different brands. I also really appreciated not having to choose between the many amazing kölsch breweries. I went on a Friday night in December so everywhere was packed but our guide did a great job finding us places where there was space, good beer, and good stories to tell. I would definitely recommend this tour!”
Spend 90 minutes aboard MS Rheinperle or MS Rheinland, seeing Cologne from the Rhine. The route passes the Cathedral, Old Town, Rheinauhafen’s crane houses, five bridges, and Rodenkirchen. Recorded commentary plays in English and German on selected departures. Choose an inside table or an open deck, with drinks and snacks available for purchase.
“Great welcome . Clean boat. Fabulous table service. Informative trip.”
Spend a self-guided day tracing 5,000 years of cocoa and chocolate culture at Cologne’s Rhine-side museum. Walk through a tropical house, see historic machines, watch Lindt chocolate being made, taste from a 3-meter-high fountain, and stop at the cafe. The $19 ticket includes museum entry and an information booklet, but not a guided tour.
“Thoroughly enjoyed our chocolate museum trip. It was the highlight of our day, very interesting and fun. We loved the complimentary chocolates and the cafe was amazing.”
Start opposite Cologne Cathedral beside Café Reichard, then ride a 90-minute loop past Cologne’s old town, Chocolate Museum, Rhine banks, Zoo, MediaPark, and Lanxess Arena. A German live guide and multilingual audio commentary provide context, while 14 stops let you hop off and explore at your own pace.
“Needed charging ports for phones on the bus had to get off to charge my phone”
Walk through Cologne’s Melaten Cemetery with a German-speaking guide such as Ede, learning about famous local figures, ornate tombs, the former leprosy hospital area, and the links between life, love, and death. This two-hour, barrier-free tour covers a peaceful 400,000-square-meter cemetery and runs in most weather.
Step into 1920s Cologne with a short film, a recreated hat shop, and a 360-degree VR ride aboard a virtual electric streetcar. Follow hatter Tessa and driver Pitter through the British occupation, Spanish flu, fashion, and carnival. English and German tours run for 45 minutes, with equipment and admission included.
“Unfortunately a few little tech issues. However it was really interesting and the VR trip was excellent, just wished it lasted longer,”
Meet the traditionally dressed night watchman at Cologne’s Rathaus on Alter Markt and follow the lantern through the Old Town for 90 minutes. The German-language tour explains night-watch duties, medieval work, odd church customs, local resistance, and Cologne legends. It suits visitors aged 16 and older and is wheelchair accessible.
Join Cologne’s moving comedy stage at Gereonstraße 16 for 90 minutes of German stand-up and sightseeing. The bus passes major sights, including the cathedral area, while comedians such as Keirut Wenzel, Jessica Sinapi, Dirk Volpert, Timo Hübsch, and Cem Ali Gültekin mix jokes with local stories. One beer is included.
Meet your guide at the Petrusbrunnen beside Cologne Cathedral for a two-hour walk through Roman ruins, Gothic details, old markets, the Rhine, and Hohenzollern Bridge. English and German tours are led by guides such as Sascha and Ralph, with history, humor, and plenty of city orientation.
“Sacha was an exceptional tour guide and was very knowledgeable. He put in every effort, as the weather was snowing, which added to the charm of the tour. I would highly recommend this tour, especially if you have Sascha as a guide. Thank you Sascha.”
Join a German- or English-speaking local guide for a 90-minute walk from the Kreuzblume to Alter Markt. See Cologne Cathedral, the Dionysos mosaic, Museum Ludwig, the Rhine, St. Martin’s, and City Hall while guides such as Andrea, Monika, Oliver, and Melanie explain the city’s past and present.
“The tour guide was very knowledgeable, and she explained to us the history of the cathedral and of the town as we were walking about. The tour was very pleasant, I highly recommend!”
Ride 15 kilometers through Cologne with an English- or German-speaking guide, passing the Eigelstein Gate, Rhinepark, Hohenzollern Bridge, cathedral, Old Market, and Rheinauhafen. Guides such as Sander, Sarah, Tobi, and Ulrike mix city history with local tips. Bikes, helmets, and rain ponchos are included.
“It was Great, Sarah was awesome and it was super way to learn about Köln. Recommend it!”
Walk Cologne’s old town with guides such as Sascha or Ralf, starting at the Petrus Fountain beside the cathedral. In about two hours, you’ll see Roman traces, the cathedral exterior, Rhine viewpoints, historic squares, carnival monuments, and lesser-noticed details that are easy to miss alone. The tour is in English and limited to 30 people.
“Ralf was an excellent tour guide, very knowledgeable with a sense of humour (I know!). Ralf was able to point out many interesting points as we walked through the city which we would have missed and he even treated us to a song in German”
Spend two evening hours cruising past Cologne Cathedral, St. Kunibert, Groß St. Martin, St. Maria Lyskirchen, and the city’s bridges. Choose an open-deck chair or a sheltered seat by large windows. Live lounge music sets the mood, while the onboard bar serves cocktails, beer, snacks, and other drinks. No guide provides spoken commentary.
“Lovely relaxing good d j beautiful weather and nice snack and drink”
Meet at Cologne’s IceBar near Friesenplatz, collect a jacket, gloves, and hat, then enter a compact frozen room filled with ice sculptures of Cologne landmarks, including the Cathedral and FC Köln’s mascot. Three drinks are included: one before entering and two inside. Expect a fun photo stop, friendly staff, and genuine cold.
“It was very unique. We recommend it without any doubts. You get 3 drinks. One outside the iced bar and the other 2 inside the bar. We took beer and cocktails, and they were very nice.”
Pick a river, a century or a beer hall.
