Things to do in  Rhine River

With its imposing Gothic facade and dramatic twin towers, the 13th-century Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is the city’s most recognized landmark. Protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the magnificent cathedral is one of the most important in Germany and dominates the city skyline. Inside, you can gaze upon treasures such as the 4th-century St. Peter’s Staff and other priceless religious objects.

One of Rüdesheim am Rhein’s top sights—and one of Germany’s most famous streets—Drosselgasse has long been associated with the region’s winemaking traditions. Measuring just 472 feet (144 meters) long and 6.5 feet (2 meters) across, this historic cobbled street is full of wine bars, restaurants, and other entertainment venues.

A riverside highlight, Loreley Rock is one of the Rhine’s most storied landmarks. The slate rock soars some 433 feet (132 meters) in the air, and, according to mythology, was once frequented by a beautiful siren who lured sailors to their deaths. Today, the promontory is a popular sightseeing stop.

The best-known of Cologne’s seven bridges, the Hohenzollern Bridge (Hohenzollernbrücke crosses the famed Rhine River. First debuted in 1911 and later reconstructed following the devastation of World War II, the Hohenzollern Bridge is located near the Cologne Cathedral, and is today celebrated as a romantic destination.

Stretching along the west bank of the Rhine River and presided over by the UNESCO-listed Cologne Cathedral, the Old Town (Altstadt) is both the navigational and historical heart of Cologne. With its colorful old buildings, beautiful Romanesque churches, and scenic riverside promenades, it’s an obvious starting point for any exploration of the city.

Dusseldorf blends historic appeal with avante-garde energy—and nowhere captures that spirit better than the city’s Old Town (Altstadt. Located on the Rhine, the small but perfectly formed district boasts remarkably preserved, medieval architecture. Owing to its many pubs and restaurants, it’s also known as “the longest bar in the world.”

Opened by local chocolatier Hans Imhoff in 1993, theCologne Chocolate Museum (Schokoladenmuseum) is devoted to Cologne’s chocolate-making history. This fun family attractions lets visitors peek behind the scenes of a working chocolate factory, learn about the farming of cacao beans, and sample delicious Lindt chocolate.

Part antiquities collection, part archeological dig, the Roman-Germanic Museum (or Römisch-Germanische Museum) sits atop the last vestiges of the Roman town villa. In the museum's basement is a well-known Dionysus mosaic, undisturbed from its original installation. Remnants of Roman architecture, inscriptions, portraits of Caesar Augustus and his ceramics and more piece together the story of Cologne's development from a Germanic tribal settlement (the Ubii), to the Roman Cologne, to the capital of the Lower Germania. Other highlights of the museum are the 15 meters (50 foot) high sarcophagus of Poblicius, a legionnaire from the first century AD. Like the mosaic and the Roman road outside, this funereal monument was uncovered during excavations in the city. The collection also contains the largest collection of Roman glass, more mosaics and ceramics, as well as the stone, clay and bronze idols specific to various Roman cults. Tours are available, but the museum is fairly easy to negotiate by oneself. Given the wealth of archeological finds in the surrounding area, the Roman-Germanic Museum is one of the most important museums in the world, and is one of the most popular museums in all of Germany.

With rows of designer boutiques and luxury department stores beside a tree-fringed canal, King's Alley (Konigsallee) is undoubtedly one of Germany's prettiest boulevards—and Dusseldorf's busiest shopping street. Dating back to 1802, it's known to locals as "Kö" and stretches for about a ½ mile (1 kilometer).

Known for its twisted spire that legend says the devil warped, St. Lambertus Cathedral is a defining landmark of Düsseldorf’s Altstadt old town. This Gothic church was founded in 1288, the same year as the city of Düsseldorf, but its peculiar tower is not an original feature, rather it settled into this shape after 19th-century renovations.

Cologne’s major modern and contemporary art museum, the Museum Ludwig has been a top cultural stop since its opening in 1976. Housed in a striking wave-like building near the Cologne Cathedral, the museum is known for its expansive range of modernist, pop-art, and surrealist pieces, including an enormous Picasso collection.

Located along the Upper Rhine—35 miles (56 kilometers) southwest of Frankfurt—Worms (pronounced “Vohrms”) is one of Germany’s most history-saturated cities with origins dating to ancient times. Visit to see its religious landmarks, including the Romanesque Worms Cathedral, Jewish Cemetery, and Luther Monument.

Dusseldorf’s historic harbor was given an impressive facelift during the 1990s, transforming the bleak silos and shipping warehouses into a lively cultural hub known as the Media Harbor (MedienHafen). Named for the many media and telecoms headquarters that sprung around the waterfront, it’s now one of the city’s most stylish districts.

A symbol of unified Germany, the Deutsches Eck (German Corner) is a promontory that remains one of the country’s most recognizable highlights. Located in Koblenz at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, the spit of land is a popular viewpoint, and is dominated by the equestrian statue of Emperor Wilhelm I. Today, it has UNESCO World Heritage status.

With its grand Renaissance-style façade and imposing clock tower standing watch over the central Marktplatz, Dusseldorf Old Town Hall (Rathaus Dusseldorf) is one of the city’s most attractive buildings. Dating back to the 16th century, it’s also among Dusseldorf’s oldest landmarks, one of just a handful that remained intact post-WWII.