Top Cologne Culture

With its scenic waterfront, grand bridges, and UNESCO-listed Cathedral, Cologne offers an atmospheric backdrop for a cycling tour. This bike tour ensures that you maximize your time, exploring much further than a walking tour. The circuit takes in landmarks such as Cologne Cathedral, Hohenzollern Bridge, and the Rhine River, including plenty of photo stops along the way.

Skip busy group tours and explore Cologne at your own pace with this self-guided scavenger hunt. Using just your smartphone, download the app to solve riddles that lead you around the city. Use clues to seek out hidden gems and uncover facts along the way. Visit landmarks including Cologne Cathedral, Historische Altstadt, and Alter Markt.

Enjoy a 2- or 3-course meal with a little rock’n’roll heritage on the side on this 2-hour skip-the-line Hard Rock Cafe visit in Cologne. Head to the famous Hard Rock Cafe in the heart of Cologne and beat the queues with your skip-the-line entry ticket to head straight inside. Take a seat and admire music memorabilia including Elvis Presley’s sunglasses, Kiss’ bass guitars and Hendrix's vest. Enjoy classic dishes such as honey-mustard chicken sandwich or hickory-smoked bbq ribs with a drink. Upgrade your ticket to choose from the 3-course menu.

During the tour you will learn something about the history of the second oldest city in Germany, e.g. why a Roman empress absolutely wanted to give the city its name, why it took so long until the cathedral was finished, why all the waiters in Cologne have the same name, what we found right in front of the town hall, why the Schmitz family has a monument here has and much more. Everything is presented in an entertaining manner, with a wink and typical Cologne humor.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION : AUDIO GUIDE ONLY. ENTRY TICKET NOT INCLUDED. Since 1 July 2026, Cologne Cathedral charges tourists a separate €12 entry fee, bought directly from the cathedral. You will need it for this tour. Entry stays free for worshippers. This is an independent self-guided audio tour, available only in the Tourific app. After booking, search "Tourific" in your email for access instructions. Questions? Contact our support team. TOUR DESCRIPTION: Step inside one of Europe's most iconic cathedrals, 600 years in the making, and unlock the stories carved into its stones. Your journey opens with the cathedral's history, then pauses at the portal, where sculptures retell the Bible and medieval life. Then into legends like St. Ursula's martyrdom, and the lesser known Rights of the Jews plaque. The climax is the breathtaking Shrine of the Three Kings, believed to hold the relics of the Wise Men. Perfect for travellers who love history and stories.

Save hours reading up on the history of Cologne and learn about the city’s past, present, and hidden gems in a much more fun and immersive way—by going on a private guided walking tour. As well as showcasing the city’s top landmarks—such as Cologne Cathedral and the Historic Town Hall—the tour is also a great way to discover secret haunts that locals love, and get plenty of tips on local food and drink.

The Best Way to Discover Aachen: Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Tour! Play, learn, and walk! Explore at your own pace with a 100% self-guided activity. Start anytime (24/7) with no guides or schedules. Pause for a taste of world-famous Aachener Printen (spiced gingerbread) or a coffee near the historic market and resume whenever you're ready—even the next day. This unique team-building activity is perfect for couples, families, and groups. The "Complete City" Package - Everything you need in one app: Interactive Game: Solve puzzles and discover 10+ major attractions, plus hidden gems revealed along the way. Learn the history/legends of each site. Insider Tips: Access hand-picked local restaurant and shop recommendations. What you will visit: Ponttor, Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche, International Newspaper Museum, City Hall Aachen, Centre Charlemagne, Couven-Museum, Puppenbrunnen, Aachen Cathedral, Kreislauf des Geldes, and Elisenbrunnen.

This isn't a tour about death. It's Cologne's history, told from its most unexpected corner. A leper colony. A Napoleonic decree. The man who invented Eau de Cologne. Two hours, one cemetery, more history than anywhere else in the city. Melaten began as a medieval isolation ward for the sick, built deliberately outside the city walls. Then, in 1804, a single decree from Napoleon turned it into Cologne's new cemetery and it is now one of Germany's most extraordinary burial grounds and a beloved green space in Cologne. Walk the famous Avenue of Millions, where industrialists and carnival royalty built monuments meant to outlast memory itself. Meet the perfumer behind the original Eau de Cologne, alongside generals, artists, and the ordinary Kölners whose graves tell the city's realest stories. Beyond the names, Melaten is alive today with birdsong, centuries-old trees, and a green sanctuary locals still walk through daily.

The water under Aachen smells of rotten eggs, and for two thousand years that has been the city's secret. Romans found it, Charlemagne built his capital on it, and thirty one German kings were crowned beside it. This self guided audio walking tour, narrated through the Tourific app on your phone, traces those springs to the cathedral, the apothecary that produced one of Germany's first chocolate bars, and the spot where Paul Julius Reuter trained pigeons to beat the telegraph. You will meet the Bahkauv, a sulphurous calf locals say climbs onto the shoulders of drunken men, and hear how a young baker once tricked the devil with a tray of hot Printen. Walk at your own pace, pause for a rice tart in a baroque café, and resume when you are ready. The audio runs offline. If you would rather wander than be herded through Aachen in a group, this Aachen audio tour is for you. Over 20,000 travelers have used our self guided tours, and the tour comes with a full refund guarantee.

See more of Cologne in less time—and enjoy an active way to explore—on this private bike tour. Pick between numerous daily departure times, meet your guide in the center of town, and grab your bikes and helmets. You’ll cover roughly 10 miles (16 kilometers) of the city, and will spy the UNESCO-listed Cologne Cathedral, Hohenzollern Bridge, Kölner Philharmonie, and more. As you go, learn all about Cologne’s history.

What was life like in Nazi-era Cologne? Uncover personal stories, tragic fates and dark history of World War II on a private tour. Optional: visit the NS Documentation Centre (EL-DE Haus) and explore the secrets of Gestapo with an Expert Guide. Choose any of these fantastic options tailored to your choice or preference: 2-hour: WWII Traces Guided Tour Uncover WWII history in Cologne's Old Town. See the iconic Cathedral, learn about the Trail of Remembrance, Stumbling Stones, and Kolumba. 4-hour: WWII Traces & EL-DE Haus Guided Tour Uncover WWII history in-depth in Cologne's Old Town and the NS Documentation Center (EL-DE Haus). See the iconic Cathedral, learn about the Trail of Remembrance and more. Uncover the dark history of Cologne’s WWII past on a private walking tour designed by Rosotravel, where a Licensed Guide will share powerful stories of destruction, survival, and remembrance. Follow traces of war that still shape the city today.

Don’t worry about asking strangers to take your photos in Cologne; get better photos and benefit from having time to try out different poses and locations with this private photoshoot experience. Led by a private photographer, you can visit well-known photogenic backdrops, as well as hidden corners of the city that are off the usual tourist trail. Then, after the experience, receive a selection of high-resolution edited photographs.

Step into Cologne’s hidden past and walk the streets where history left deep and lasting marks. On this unforgettable guided tour, you’ll explore the traces of World War II and the powerful legacy of the Jewish community in the heart of the city. You’ll visit the Gestapo headquarters, walk through exhibits in the LDE Museum, and feel history under your feet as you explore areas that once held silence, fear and quiet acts of bravery. This tour is not just about facts. It’s about human stories, uncovering truth, and understanding how a city like Cologne has lived through and risen from its shadows. Perfect for: curious minds, history lovers, and anyone who believes memory matters. Let the stones speak. Walk with us.

WHY CHOOSE FOR US? More than an audio tour - your complete Cologne city guide in one app. Some audio tours cost a little less. With CityAppTour, you simply get more: 34 richly detailed stories, audio & written text, photos, spoken navigation, practical city information and carefully selected local tips. Follow our 6.2 km route through Cologne's historic centre and discover the mighty cathedral, Hohenzollern Bridge, Roman remains, medieval trade, Kölsch culture and the city's remarkable rebuilding after the Second World War. Our stories go beyond short facts, giving you the background, details and context that bring Cologne to life. - 34 richly detailed stories in audio & text - Spoken navigation between stops - Photos, city info & food and drink tips - Works offline - Yours to keep - the tour never expires - Explore at your own pace More stories. More information. More freedom.

How did Cologne endure Nazi terror? Visit EL-DE Haus, the former Gestapo HQ, see prison cells with a Private Guide, and upgrade for Old Town and Cathedral entry. HIGHLIGHTS: - Explore EL-DE Haus with a 5-Star Private Licensed Guide - Enter the former Gestapo HQ and see preserved prison cells - Learn how Cologne faced Nazi terror through powerful exhibits - Read moving wall inscriptions left by prisoners and forced laborers - Visit Old Town and Cologne Cathedral with entry (in the 4-hour option) Step inside the former Gestapo headquarters with Rosotravel for a deeply moving journey through Cologne’s darkest chapter. The EL-DE Haus, remarkably untouched by WWII bombings, now serves as a powerful memorial and documentation center of Nazi terror. Book a private tour and uncover history in the most personal way. Uncover the shadows of the past and discover Cologne with us today.

UNIQUE NIGHT GUIDED TOUR IN COLOGNE: THE IDEAL MIX OF ENTERTAINMENT & KNOWLEDGE Your special night experience on the weekend! You can expect an atmospheric and really extraordinary nightly torch tour with the legendary Till of Cologne: When the sun goes down and sinks in the Rhine, the nocturnal Cologne awakens to new life and shows its other side for the guests of the TILL NIGHT GUIDANCE. In the magic of the night, reinforced by the moonshine, sometimes forgotten history and people come to life. The legendary TILL takes you on nocturnal paths through winding streets and hidden corners of the city. You wander with him through past centuries from Colonia to Kölle back to today's Cologne. TILL will illuminate your path with his torch, so you can see hidden and undiscovered even in the dark.

Immerse yourself in Cologne’s street art scene on this walking tour led by a local guide. Beginning at Goethe-Apotheke, you’ll scout out the side streets of the city, learning about murals, graffiti, and the talented artists behind them. Full of surprises and artistic inspiration, the tour concludes at literature café Goldmund for a warming drink surrounded by books (extra expense).

Make your trip to Cologne unforgettable and have a local photographer capture your best moments for you. The perfect activity for groups, families, couples or friends who want to discover Cologne. I take pictures for them in some of the most beautiful places in Cologne. The duration of the shoot is about 1 hour and can be freely planned. Feel free to contact me to arrange an appointment and a meeting point . I am looking forward to meeting you . Nadiia Meyer

Get an overview of Cologne’s top attractions without getting lost on a private tour. Pick between multiple daily tour times, meet your guide in the city center, and enjoy a seamless way to explore this history-saturated city. Visit the UNESCO-listed Cologne Cathedral (entry own expense), the 900-year-old Historic Town Hall, the Alter Markt (Old Market Square), and more.

Join an exciting 60-minute walking journey through Cologne. Learn all the key facts about the city, dive into the local lifestyle, and feel its unique culture. From Cologne Cathedral to Hohenzollern Bridge, get to discover the city's most defining landmarks. Your Local will also share insider tips on the best cafes, restaurants, and lively bars in Cologne to ensure you get the most out of your stay. • See Cologne through a local's eyes, uncovering the city's true essence. • Discover Cologne's Gothic Cathedral, showcasing the city's historic grandeur. • Get top local tips on the best bars, cafes, and restaurants to visit. • Maximize your time, discovering more of Cologne in less time. • Enjoy the intimacy of a small group, with a maximum of 8 travellers.

On our outdoor puzzle tours you will only reach your goal if you can solve a number of tasks. The private detective communicates with you via text and audio clips via an encrypted messenger service and deals with one or the other challenge on your scavenger hunt. You will only receive the coveted awards if you complete the missions.

Immerse yourself in Cologne’s street art scene on this walking tour. Follow your local guide around the trendiest neighborhoods, stopping to view colorful murals, popular posters, and graffiti by local artists. Learn about the German arts scene and culture through your guide’s engaging commentary. Avoid the discomfort of large tours as this one is capped at 12 participants.

Escape the awkward group walking tours and explore Cologne on your own, traveling back to the Roman era. Using just your smartphone (no WiFi needed), you’ll follow your audio guide across the city’s oldest landmarks, from the Romans' Nothern Gate to the Alter Markt and beyond. Complete your time travel in 90 minutes or soak it in, going at your own speed and style.

Are you visiting our city during the most wonderful time of the year? Be sure to join our Cologne Christmas Lights bike tour – the perfect activity during this joyful season. Cologne hosts the most beautiful X-mas markets in Europe and thus makes the Christmas season the most festive time of the year. Many decorated stalls appear all over the city, offering local delicacies and gadgets, and the beautiful landmarks light up, turning the city into a cozy Christmas wonderland. On this guided bike tour you enjoy a combination of classic sightseeing and visit different Christmas markets. Our knowledgeable local guides share some of their favorite German holiday traditions and know where to find unique handcrafted toys and Christmas souvenirs. Of course there is also enough time to try some traditional foods or a typical mulled wine or freshly brewed cocoa. Cologne at Christmas time has its own unique charm!