Exploring Cologne
Explore our curated selection of top restaurants, bars, and must-see sights in Cologne. An overview of all locations can be found in the interactive map and detailed table below.
Restaurants
| Restaurant | Description | Price range |
| Brauhaus Schäfer | Urban rustic hipster version of the Cologne-style Brauhaus, located in the trendy Südstadt neighborhood. Locally sourced food with an organic twist. Can’t go wrong here. | $$ |
| Maibeck | MaiBeck is a renowned riverside bistro that emphasizes seasonal ingredients. Each dish showcases regional flavors and culinary excellence. | $$$ |
| Gruber’s | Discover a gourmet restaurant with a romantic terrace, offering classic and creative Austrian dishes paired with wines from Austria. Reimagining traditional Austrian cuisine with creative flair. | $$$ |
| Gaffel am Dom | Pub with regional dishes, a brewery, garden terrace, and live music, embodying brewery traditions on a grand scale. | $$ |
| Indian Restaurant Kamasutra | Friendly restaurant with cocktails and regional specialties from across India, including dishes from South India, Hyderabad, Bengal, Rajasthan, as well as classic favorites. | $ |
| 485 Grad | Delicious and creative Neapolitan pizza, paired with a great selection of wines, available at two locations: Südstadt and Kwartier Latäng. | $-$$ |
| Oma Kleinmann | Schnitzel in a lively pub with outdoor seating and beer, located at the heart of Cologne's student quarter on Zülpicher Straße. | $ |
| Mashery | Falafel, shakshuka, and mezze are served in a chic, pastel-colored restaurant offering a wide variety of hummus. | $ |
| Habibi | Lebanese snack bar on Zülpicher Straße, featuring secret recipe shawarma and homemade falafel. | $ |
| Il Bagutta | Il Bagutta offers Italian cuisine in a cosy, rustic-modern setting and features an inner courtyard. The restaurant focuses on top culinary quality; the combinable menus are recommended. | $$ |
| Takumi | Authentic, delicious dishes at a simple restaurant offering traditional ramen. | $-$$ |
| Ginti and More Bar & Restaurant | Modern Indian fusion cuisine in a stylish setting, featuring Indian flavors, Australian Wagyu Blackmore, vegan options, and urban street food selections. | $$ |
| Belgischer Hof | Modern French brasserie cuisine in a rustic-elegant dining room, complemented by a stone oven and a green inner courtyard. | $$ |
| Meister Gerhard | Classic and vegetarian tapas, along with creative Spanish dishes, are served in a rustic-elegant bar with an outdoor area. | $$ |
| Stadtgarten Köln | Biergarten serving food and drinks with a nice outside seating area. | $$ |
| Reissdorf Brewery | Brewery with traditional regional dishes. | $$ |
Bars
| Bar | Description | Price range |
| HENNE. Weinbar | Creative tapas paired with German and international wines in a chic bar and terrace. | $$-$$$ |
| Little Link | Chic industrial-style cocktail bar with outdoor seating, known for sophisticated, delicious cocktails. | $$ |
| Rosebud Bar | Small, elegant cocktail bar that offers stylish ambiance and experienced service, serving high-quality drinks at affordable prices. | $$ |
| Grünfeld | Young and lively bar located in the Belgian quarter, featuring a small beer garden and table football. | $ |
Sights
| Sight | Description | Price range |
| Ehrenfeld | Ehrenfeld's transformation from a former working-class area to a vibrant district filled with clubs, bars, and shops reflects its dynamic history. Its multicultural and alternative atmosphere draws in young people, artists, and families alike. Also, take a stroll along Venloer Straße, Ehrenfeld's main shopping street. | free |
| Stadtwald Forest | Located just minutes from the city centre in the Lindenthal district, Stadtwald Forest offers plenty of opportunities for fresh air and relaxation. Covering an area of 200 hectares, this vast park is perfect for leisurely walks and offers a peaceful escape from city life. | free |
| Flora and Botanical Garden | The Botanical Garden covers approximately 5.5 hectares and is home to some 12,000 species of plants from all over the world. It offers a variety of garden styles to explore, including English landscape and French baroque, and is an ideal place for relaxation and leisurely strolls. | free |
| Cologne Cathedral ("Kölner Dom") incl. tower ascent | The Cologne Cathedral, the third largest Gothic cathedral in the world at 157 meters, is an iconic symbol of the city. It dominates the skyline and offers a breathtaking view of Cologne when climbed. | free (tower ascent: $) |
| Belgian Quarter ("Belgisches Viertel") | In the Belgian Quarter, discover trendy pubs and clubs, vibrant street art, and captivating fashion and design. Experience the neighborhood's dynamic transformation through its various elements, from kiosks and billboards to distinctive architecture | free |
| Cologne Old Town | In Cologne's historic old town, you'll find monuments, fountains and excavations, as well as a variety of pubs, restaurants and breweries such as Früh. Everything is within walking distance, making it an ideal destination for tourists and locals alike. Also, don't forget to take a leisurely stroll along the Rhine promenade. | free |
| Wallraf Museum | The Wallraf Museum offers a captivating journey through 700 years of European art history. From its renowned collection of medieval paintings to the works of Baroque, German Romanticism, and French Impressionism, there's something to inspire every art enthusiast. | $-$$ |
| MAKK Museum | The MAKK Museum offers a vast collection spanning from the Middle Ages to the present day, totaling around 250,000 objects. It provides visitors with an enriching experience, inviting them to explore the dialogue between art and design, where the past and present converge to ignite curiosity and celebrate artistic expression in all its forms. | free (permanent exhibition) |
| Melaten Cemetery | Melaten Cemetery is Cologne's largest graveyard, where art, social history, and personal narratives intersect. With its diverse architectural styles and more than 55,000 resting places, this serene environment provides insight into the lives of numerous individuals across various periods. It shows various architectural styles, from Neoclassicism to neo-Gothic, neo-Baroque, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Modernism. | free |