City Breaks along the Rhine
Cologne has many different faces: it’s a university town, a media hub, a city of art and an economic powerhouse with one of Germany’s largest exhibition centres. In short, Cologne lives and breathes history and culture, with something to discover around every corner.
Thanks to its cathedral (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), 12 Romanesque churches and Roman sites, this old city on the Rhine has become a major centre of Western cultural heritage. And when it comes to having a good time, there’s nowhere else quite like Cologne. Every celebration – whether it’s a television gala, a press ball, a carnival party or a student club night – is guaranteed to feature Kölsch, the local top-fermented beer.
Explore Cologne with A-ROSA
Step aboard one of the A‑ROSA cruise ships, and discover the city of Cologne from the water. You’ll travel along the Rhine to Amsterdam, Basel or Antwerp.
During your Rhine cruise, the A‑ROSA AQUA, the A‑ROSA BRAVA, the A‑ROSA SILVA, the A‑ROSA FLORA and the A‑ROSA SENA will dock directly in central Cologne. You can walk into town, where you can kick off your visit straight away by visiting the famous Cologne Cathedral.
Why not pop into one of the many bars in the old town and enjoy a glass of draught Kölsch beer?
Then, discover even more of Cologne with A-ROSA by visiting the Chocolate Museum or the Museum Ludwig.
A-ROSA River Cruises to Cologne
The best Sights and Destinations in Cologne
COLOGNE CATHEDRAL
Today, Cologne Cathedral is still one of the most important buildings in the Christian world. The walls of this masterfully designed place of worship give way to large window areas and delicate tracery. The Gero Crucifix on the north side of the ambulatory is one of the oldest remaining large-scale sculptures from the Middle Ages, and the window designed by Gerhard Richter is one of the most recent highlights.
THE CHOCOLATE MUSEUM
The Chocolate Museum sits like a ship made of glass and metal in the Rheinauhafen, directly in front of the old town and close to Cologne Cathedral. Special facilities for children make for an unforgettable visit: youngsters can go on a tour and learn everything worth knowing about this sweet treat at the chocolate school. They can also take part in special chocolate workshops and have a go at making their own.
MUSEUM LUDWIG
This building houses Cologne’s entire 20th- and 21st-century municipal art collection and is considered the city’s flagship museum. It is named after the collectors Irene and Peter Ludwig, who donated their pop art collection to the city in 1968. Thanks to a generous gift by Irene Ludwig in 2001, following Peter’s death, the museum now has the world’s third-largest Picasso collection, among others.
THE OLD TOWN
South of Cologne Cathedral is Roncalliplatz, with Heinzelmännchenbrunnen on its south-west corner. From here, the old town stretches down to the river, with its cobbled squares and winding alleyways all eventually leading to the Frankenwerft – a promenade along the Rhine lined with typical bars, restaurants and small shops.