Cologne Car Hire

Guide to Cologne

Geography

Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city and one of the country's oldest. Located in North Rhine-Westphalia, it is the state's capital and largest city. Situated on the Rhine's left bank, it's roughly 35 kilometres southeast of Dusseldorf and 25 kilometres northwest of Bonn.

Climate in Cologne

Cologne has cold winters, although not below freezing, and pleasant summers due to its moderate maritime climate. Furthermore, it is a cloudy city with a lot of rain that falls throughout the course of the year rather equally. The yearly average temperature is around 10.7°C.

Culture

Cologne was a significant city in the Hanseatic League and a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. In mediaeval and Renaissance times, it was a major European city. It had been occupied by the French and the British before WWII and was a part of Prussia. It was a heavily bombarded city during World War II. As a result of the postwar reconstruction, the city's skyline now has 31 Romanesque cathedrals as well as city gates. Rhineland's cultural capital today, Cologne houses more than 30 museums and dozens of art galleries. Cologne was historically a Ripuarian-speaking city, but German has mostly overtaken it as the primary language of the city. Many of the city's famous landmarks have English-speaking guides and information available too.

Things to do in Cologne

Admire the spectacular Cologne Cathedral

Cologne Cathedral, Germany's most visited monument, is a beautiful example of High Gothic architecture and the world's tallest cathedral. The building process began in 1248 and was completed after more than 600 years of interruptions. It's now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it gets more than 20,000 visitors a day. This popular monument dominates Cologne's skyline and can be seen all throughout town, thanks to its 157-meter height. To get a bird's eye perspective of the Rhine, you'll have to climb roughly 500 steps to an observation platform about 100 metres above the city. There are also a number of English-language excursions, performances, and services available.

Visit The Ludwig Museum and the Wallraf-Richartz Museum

Köln, Germany's cultural centre, has hundreds of museums and art galleries to offer visitors. The Ludwig Museum, constructed in 1976 to house 350 works of contemporary art, is one of the most spectacular. They later added another 90 pieces, primarily by Picasso. Built in 1824 when Franz Ferdinand Wallraf left a vast collection of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Impressionist art to the city, the Wallraf-Richartz Museum is located in the same building. Stefan Lochner, a Cologne-based artist from the 15th-century, painted some of the most beautiful Gothic paintings seen anywhere. Some of his most well-known works are on exhibit here, including The Last Judgment, Madonna of the Rose Boyer, and the Triptych with the Virgin in the Garden of Paradise.

Tickle your taste buds at The Chocolate Museum

Visit the delicious Chocolate Museum in Cologne while you're there — it's a blast! This chocolate exhibit and factory on the Rhine is a fantastic place for learning about the history of chocolate and the craft of chocolate manufacturing. See how a chocolate bar is made as you walk through the machinery-filled manufacturing room. There is a golden cacao bean plant in the centre, from which a stream of velvety milk chocolate flows, dropping into a sweet longing pool below. You'll be served a waffle dipped in the chocolate river by a member of the team. You'll be able to add whatever ingredient you want to your own chocolate bar here.

Stroll through the lovely Altstadt

You'll pass through the charming Old Town of Cologne as you see the city's many ancient churches and museums in the Innenstadt (city centre) (Altstadt). Many of the ancient houses in the area have been converted into boutiques, galleries, cafés, and restaurants, so you'll find yourself walking through endless lanes lined with them. You'll have plenty of opportunities to stop and take in the views as you plan your route through this old city thanks to the numerous lovely walkways that run along the Rhine. Monuments and fountains abound in this region as well as the Archaeological Zone, which is home to several ancient remains and relics.

Cruise down the Rhine River

Without taking a cruise along the Rhine, you'd be missing out on the best views of this stunning city and its surroundings. On a one-hour cruise around Cologne's Old Town, you'll see the cathedral's twin spires, the Old Town's beautiful houses, and the Hohenzollern Bridge like you've never seen them before. One of the most popular nighttime activities in Cologne is the panorama cruise that takes place in the evenings; they are leisurely two-hour tours that allow visitors to see the city at nighttime illuminated. On 3-4 hour dinner cruises, you may take in the sights while dining on regional delicacies from a buffet.

Eating out in Cologne

Cologne's diverse culinary scene includes both regional specialities and international cuisine. The restaurants and bars here range from lovely al fresco spots to opulent fine dining establishments and lively cocktail lounges. The following are a few of our all-time favourites:

There is a nutritious breakfast menu at Hinz und Kunz, including scrambled eggs, French toast, cereal in a mason jar, and pancakes. 160 years ago, the earthy brewery Brauerei zur Malzmulhle was founded. It offers delicious salads, chicken, red meat, vegetables, and fish as well as other delectables. Speciality items on the menu include Himmel un Ad pudding and the Muhlen Burger, which is a minced beef patty. In Le Moissonnier, you'll find inventive French cuisine and understated elegance that will make your dinner a memorable one. The restaurant has two Michelin stars.

Cologne Transport

Airport

Cologne is easily accessible through public transportation, flights, and rail. Bonn Airport (CGN), which serves both Cologne and Bonn, is the city's international airport. It's in the Cologne-Bonn area, around 12 kilometres from downtown Cologne.

Getting Around Cologne

Cologne's subway (U-Bahn) and above-ground train system are well connected (the S-Bahn). Trams are another option for getting about, although they are inefficient and only go to a few places. Buses can take you almost anywhere. The cost of a bus ticket is the same as that of a train ticket. You may also travel around on a bicycle, and there are several rental businesses to choose from, like Radstation and NextBike. Besides taxis, there are other services like Uber that provide ride-sharing.

Many visitors also opt to hire a vehicle to get around Cologne and its charming countryside with ease and flexibility. Some of the most reliable car hire agencies found in Cologne include Enterprise and Europcar.