I had heard of the love lock bridge in Paris, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that…read moreCologne has its own when I was doing research prior to my trip. Hohenzollernbrucke, or love lock bridge, is one of the top attractions in Cologne on TripAdvisor. Here's what you should do to make the most of the experience. Make sure to buy a lock before you arrive. You can buy a lock in the area, but you're going to pay a premium for it. Located in the heart of the city, part of the experience is just walking the bridge and seeing the endless number of love locks that couples have placed on the bridge over the years. It's a beautiful sight to behold. From there, it's time for you to find a spot for yours. As you would expect, pictures happen and a kiss also happens. It's a cool, little romantic experience. Love is in the air! Even if you're not stopping by with your significant other (or you don't have one), it's still a nice attraction to check out where you can snap some photos. And a quick one at that.

There is some website that states there is estimated to be 25,000 locks on this bridge, but I don't…read morebelieve that! It's got to be at least 100,000! There are many bridges that have lots of locks on this, but this one may be the most impressive I've ever seen. Lots of great photos can be taken at/on/near this bridge. This place is definitely worth a visit if you're in Cologne. If you took the train in or out of this beautiful city, you've likely crossed this bridge.

When possible, I have formed a nice little tradition when visiting a city for the first time. Maybe…read moreyou'll find it a worthy approach, too. When exploring a city for the first time, it's nice to see the city from a helicopter level. That way, you start out big before diving into the city in a deeper way. KolnTrianglePanorama is an awesome way to do so. It offers panoramic views of the city from the top of a skyscraper. First off, I will say that it's not easy to find. Even with Google Maps, the directions weren't spot on. There are several skyscrapers in the general vicinity that look very similar, so it took us a while to find both the correct building, and the correct entrance. However, once you're in, for a small fee, you'll take an elevator to the observation deck. You'll have the opportunity to see the city from high above and take some nice pictures. A quick but fun attraction. And one that's listed on TripAdvisor as one of the top attractions in Cologne. Overall, Cologne was an awesome city! Enjoy it to the fullest if you're visiting just like I did.

This is a MUST-VISIT place when you are in Koln…read more As others have said, the views are spectacular, and are somewhat weather-dependent, so keep that in mind. The viewing area is roofless. Rather than with signs, landmarks are noted by delicate line drawings on the Plexiglas. A very nice touch. Admission was 3 Euros, well worth it. Visit this place !

Also known as the Cologne Cathedral, this UNESCO World Heritage site took 632 years to complete…read morebetween 1248-1880 with a 370 year gap for a variety of reasons - Napoleonic War, etc. It took so long to build that the gothic cathedral's original 13th century plans which were 4m tall were lost mid-construction and had to be pieced together from notes drawn up in the interim. The stained glass on the north side were created in the middle ages which the stained glass on the south side were created in the 19th century. Nevertheless, the construction was so solid that while bombs from WWII blew out some windows (the medieval ones had already been taken down for safekeeping), the structure remained standing while everything around it had been near flattened. A baptismal fount dating back to Roman times has been found outside the cathedral, which means that there has been a near continuous Christian services there, even when the building was not yet finished. I remember studying AP art history and looking at paintings of people justaposed against cathedrals from the Romantic period and thinking, they must be exaggerating the scale between the two. Nope, they were not. It is estimated that it takes EUR33,000/ day to maintain the Cathedral. Therefore, we entirely support the fact that it has begun charging admissions since earlier this year. You can see different parts of the exterior has been cleaned to a sparkling cream color. However, I imagine by the time one finishes cleaning the last part of the cathedral, it will be time to clean the parts that were first cleaned. It's that big. It is the 3rd largest spired cathedral in the world and the largest double spired cathedral. It is also the most visited attraction in Germany. We climbed up the north spire. "No joke, no elevators" a signed warned. No kidding, Everything in this cathedral was carried up by hand (and foot!). All the additions, such as safety nets and safety cages had to be brought up through the stairs. All the equipment and materials for the renovations in the south spire have to be carried up the same way. We would all be in better shape if we had to do this several times a day. We visited the Treasury, which was carved into the ground, at times abutting ruins of a Roman wall. A couple of the rooms date back to the earliest days of the cathedral's construction in the 13th century. A couple of tombs of Frankish nobles from the 6th century were uncovered in the 1950s and its contents documented and displayed. They are the 4th and 5th recorded tombs uncovered during the cathedral's construction. However, the first three were either relocated or lost/stolen without any proper record kept about them. Two events were devastating to the Treasury. The first was the secularization in 1803 when nearly 70 ecclesiastical states and 45 free imperial cities were abolished and absorbed by secular princes to compensate them for territories lost to revolutionary France. Many items were lost during this period. The second was the 1975 heist in which three men scaled the cathedral's buttresses and entered the Treasury through a ventilation shaft. Once inside, they violently pried off gemstones. A two year operation saw the return of many of the gems, but the settings had to be painstakingly recreated by master goldsmiths.

We came here September 2026. Cost was $12. Get there early…read morewe came at 2 pm and they were closing at 330 for special event. We stayed the whole time. So Quiet and beautiful. This one took 600 years to build but sat vacant for 300 years. Mosaic floor was very impressive. The outsiders black because all of the soot from all the industries over the years. Hard to clean because it is a gummy film. They have to use a special sand to clean it. I still don't know how they built these with no power tools? Loved it! Shopping area and all kinds of restaurants are right next to the cathedral the river is a short walk away.

Groß St Martin is a lovely church from the 1200s. While it is much more basic than the cathedral,…read moreit is still quite nice and is well worth stopping by as you walk through the old town. The church itself is pretty, but the really impressive part is the excavation Roman ruins in the basement. They aren't huge, but it is a unique experience, and they are well signed and maintained. The church is free, but there is a ,50-cent fee to walk down into the excavation (they have laminated descriptions in four languages, but the signs are in German). Definitely worth the ,50 cents to see the ruins!

Romantic thing to do. Such a neat bridge. Very busy so keep an eye open for bikes! There are locks…read moreon both sides.

The Hohenzollernbrücke bridge across the Rhine in Cologne boasts one of the most impressive love…read morelocks display in the world. Well over 40,000 padlocks inscribed with love messages, dates, names are affixed to the bridge, and the lovers throw the keys into the water. This practice started in 2008 in Cologne, and while quaint, charming (so many different styles, colors), the concerns about the extra weight are valid.