Best Free Things to Do in Cologne

The Cathedral of Cologne is one of Germany's most important architectural monuments and on our list of the Top Ten Sights in Germany.

This gothic masterpiece, situated in the heart of Cologne, is the third tallest cathedral in the world and boasts the highest church spires ever built.

Guide to the Cologne Cathedral

For a spectacular view of the Cathedral and the cityscape, leave the Old Town of Cologne and cross the Rhine to the other side of the river.
Stroll down the promenade, then walk back over the Deutzer Bridge, which offers stunning views of the city, especially at sunset.

Visit the oldest city hall in Germany at the Alter Markt (Old Square) in Cologne; it dates back to 1150.
Over 130 statues adorn its elaborately decorated façade, but don't miss the wood-carved masc of "Platz-Jabbeck"; when the clock strikes the hour, it opens its mouth and sticks out its wooden tongue.

Go window-shopping on Schildergasse, the busiest shopping street in Europe.
The bustling car-free pedestrian zone in the heart of Cologne boasts international department stores and modern architecture, but the street has a long history and goes back to ancient Roman times.

More about the Schildergasse

Follow your nose to the birthplace of the famous perfume Eau De Cologne 4711 on Glockengasse.
When Cologne was occupied by the French, Napoleon ordered his soldiers to count all the houses; the Eau de Cologne building was number 4711, and the perfume got its name from the historic building.

Every hour, a carillion plays the French anthem; inside the building, you find a shop, a small historic exhibition, and a fountain, where you can dip your hands in pure Eau de Cologne.

Cologne is also on our list Germany's Top 10 Cities - Best Spots for City Breaks in Germany.