By 50 AD Cologne was the largest Roman settlement north of the Alps with a population of 45,000…read more The Romans called it Colonia, Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (Colony of Claudius and Altar of the Agrippines). It was the massive Roman settlement that is the basis of the museum's collection. The first major find occurred in 1941 when while digging for an air raid shelter a large mosaic floor tile from a first century Roman Villa was discovered. It depicted the world of Dionysos (220/23). The find and other artifacts found represents the basis of the museums collection. Other notable objects are the reconstructed sepulcher of legionnaire Lucius Publicus (40 AD), the largest collection of Roman glass vessels and a unique collection of Roman and Medieval jewelry. The museum has three floors for viewing and countless objects. The Adult admission price is 9 Euros. Large bags are checked at the front desk. No credit cards are accepted. Some English translations and no English audio. the Cologne Welcome Card gets you a 20% discount. It's open Tues-Sundays 10-5. It's rather old school in the way objects are displayed with limited interaction and technology but the objects are well lit and there is much natural sunlight. I was impressed by the collection itself.

One of my all-time favorite museums!…read more After my first visit 6 years ago and then later while I studied in Cologne 4 years ago, the Romisch-Germanisches Museum came to feel like a home, connecting and emphasizing years of study at university in the US and bringing the culture and art of the Romans to life again. It highlights the history of Cologne as a "colonia" of Rome under the early emperors (from which its name derives) and its transition into Late Antiquity. The highlights of any visit are the in situ mosaic of Bacchus and funerary monument of Publicius, around which the museum is constructed and centers. Thanks to this set-up, you can view the mosaic from multiple levels and angles, taking it in in all its glory. The rest of the museum tour and collection is arrayed on a few floors and allows you to get up close and personal with the statues, busts, and other artifacts. Unless you're working on an archaeological site, this is the closest you'll get to such objects. I have loved every visit here and will definitely be back when I can!

When traveling in Europe, one of the most popular attractions you will see are various town squares…read morewhere people congregate. Heumarkt is a great example of that in Cologne. The highlights? You'll find an equestrian statue of Friedrich Willhelm III. Back in the day, this used to be Cologne's hay market. Now, it's a popular town square for both locals and tourists alike. It's located north of Cologne's old town, close to the River Main. There are bars and restaurants close by. So, walk around, take in the sights, and then grab a Kolsch (Cologne's most popular beer), at a bar or restaurant close by. And the good news is, since it's a town square, you can visit both during the day and in the evening to get a different vibe. No matter which options services you best, or both, it makes for a quick stop.

I came here with a buddy of mine to watch Manchester United take on Bayer Leverkusen in UCL play…read more The stadium is pretty nice from the outside as we walked towards it. It was a bit weird though walking through a fully wooded park from the train station to get to the stadium. Once we got there, we got to our seats then visited the concessions. I hate this Bundesliga system of having to buy a debit card to purchase anything. They charge you a ridiculous fee just for the card, but you can turn that card in after the match to get your money back. What they don't tell you is that the line to turn your card back in is ridiculously long. Our seats were pretty comfortable and we got a great view of the match from behind the south end. The away fans were put into the corner to the left of us and they were loud & clear in their chants (of course it helped that they were dominating). The food was alright here, but the beer sucked. They only had bitburger even though their signed said they had kolsch. Also, no one here seemed to really speak English or at least pretended like they didn't which I was really surprised.

Would highly recommend the Premium VIP Lounge West, it's such an awesome place to hang out before…read moreand after the game and eat some awesome food-- I was told when we got there that the food they have for each of the games are dependent on the team Leverkusen is playing that day...which I thought was pretty cool.

Guys, I think I may have found my favorite German Christmas market. The Weihnachtsmarkt is what…read moreyou're looking for if you want the holy trifecta of atmosphere, charm, and legit awesomeness. Located in Cologne, this market is one of the best in the world, and I will die on that hill. With a twee gnome theme, the market has mugs that will drive collectors wild. There's a series of a dozen DIFFERENT GNOME THEMED MUGS that you can collect by ordering gluewein. Don't cheat and buy them outright: just keep ordering spiced, mulled wine and see which random one you're afforded! Not only are the mugs so much fun, but the food booths are absolutely top-notch in every way! There's melty cheese, pretzels, chocolates, potatoes, and more, and there's something for everyone here (foodies are going to LOVE this market). Admittedly, you won't find a lot of the more unusual food offerings, but there are lots of options here that will please everyone in your party. The market has a charming ice skating rink, and it's something I'd consider a must-do. Skating under twinkling lights in the most beautiful country (especially at Christmastime) is a once-in-a-lifetime memory that you simply have to do. The crafts and shopping didn't excite me much, as it's mostly the same old stuff that you find at any random Christmas market across Europe. I only saw a few truly unique artisan booths, which was a little disappointing. But don't let that keep you away from the market! It's touristy, yes, but much less so than the main market located next to the Cologne cathedral. Take a bit of a trek to go here, you won't regret it.

The market can be overwhelmingly crowded, so it is good to go mid week if possible, but it's…read morecrowded for a reason, great booths with wonderful crafts and decorations to buy for the holidays and as gifts, great food, and the gnome theme is adorable. If you book way in advance, you can do curling. Ice skating is also possible.