4 Days in Cologne and Germany's Historic Rhineland

Explore a tremendous collection of modern art from greats such as Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol.

The Museum of Modern Art is a former collection of Peter Ludwig, a German chocolatier who is said to have had the largest private collection of art until his passing in 1996. Ludwig also helped many other museums by donating or lending them pieces from his collection after WWII. In 1976 Ludwig donated 350 art pieces, then valued at $45 million, to the Wallraf-Richartz Museum. The collection donated was so large that the Ludwig Museum of Modern Art was constructed. The collection ranges from Pop Art to Abstract and Surrealism. It is also said to be the largest collection of works by Pablo Picasso in all of Europe. The Cologne Card provides a 20% discount on entrance.

Descend into the basement to find the Roman origins of this distinctive church.

The unusual crossing tower of the Church of Great St. Martin has shaped the Cologne skyline since the middle ages. Built on top of the remains of a Roman warehouse, it actually incorporates the remains. The church was severely damaged during WWII and during the repairs many archeological excavations took place. The reconstruction created a smooth transition from the foundations of the Roman warehouse to the walls of the church aisles. The church is open to the public and the Roman remains may be seen in the basement.

Visit the real-life Willy Wonka Chocolate factory on an island in the Rhine River.

Founded in 1993 by Hans Imhoff and his wife, this museum is dedicated to the history and production of chocolate. The large complex sits on an island in the Rhine. It not only displays the discovery and history of chocolate as it was used by the Mayans and the Aztecs but also includes a walk-through palm house to show the environment in which cocoa beans are grown. The museum is also a working chocolate factory and visitors can see the production of chocolate from start to finish behind glass walls. Visitors even have the opportunity to create a custom bar of chocolate. As one of the most visited museums in the city, the Chocolate Museum is not to be missed. The Cologne Card provides a 25% entry discount.

Old Town

Cologne has a history stretching well back into Roman times, and it is most famous for its massive Gothic Cathedral. While the Altstadt, i.e. the Old Town, is full of small alleyways and historic buildings, many are not in their original form because nearly three quarters of the city was leveled by WWII bombing raids. Indeed, in many ways Cologne feels like a modern city built onto the bones of an ancient city. With that said, there are many sites well-worth seeing, as well as great museums, such as the Romano-Germanic and Ludwig Museums. Taking a walk along the promenade on the Rhine River is also a must.

See Germany's most visited landmark for yourself and then climb a tower that was once the tallest in the world.

Construction began in 1248 but was paused in the 1500's and did not continue until the 19th century. Once completed in 1880, it was the tallest building in the world and to this day it has the tallest twin spires of any Gothic church in the world. The towers’ spires reach a height of 157 m (515 ft). The cathedral is as large as it is strong. During WWII the church was struck with 14 aerial bombs; its enormous size made it a good landmark for the Allied aircraft bombers. Although it was badly damaged by these attacks, it remained standing. The cathedral is home to many treasures, such as the high altar which was constructed in 1322 and is made out of solid black marble. Its most celebrated work of art is the Shrine of the Three Kings. The golden structure is believed to hold the remains to the Three Wise Men, whose remnants were brought from Milan in 1164. Those with a strong constitution can climb 533 steps to a viewing platform on the south tower.

Explore a tremendous collection of modern art from greats such as Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol.

The Museum of Modern Art is a former collection of Peter Ludwig, a German chocolatier who is said to have had the largest private collection of art until his passing in 1996. Ludwig also helped many other museums by donating or lending them pieces from his collection after WWII. In 1976 Ludwig donated 350 art pieces, then valued at $45 million, to the Wallraf-Richartz Museum. The collection donated was so large that the Ludwig Museum of Modern Art was constructed. The collection ranges from Pop Art to Abstract and Surrealism. It is also said to be the largest collection of works by Pablo Picasso in all of Europe. The Cologne Card provides a 20% discount on entrance.

Highlights Walking Tour of Cologne

Your private guide will pick you up from your hotel. During this 2-hour walking tour, you will have a chance to get to know many interesting facts about the history of Cologne and visit the biggest highlights of the town. Among the others you will see: Cologne Cathedral, Hohenzollern Bridge, Roncalliplatz, Rheinboulevard, Heumarkt & Alter Markt, Hänneschentheater, Cologne City Hall, Typical Kölsch brewery. After the end of the tour the guide will be happy to give you the recommendations for the rest of your stay in Cologne.

See Germany's most visited landmark for yourself and then climb a tower that was once the tallest in the world.

Construction began in 1248 but was paused in the 1500's and did not continue until the 19th century. Once completed in 1880, it was the tallest building in the world and to this day it has the tallest twin spires of any Gothic church in the world. The towers’ spires reach a height of 157 m (515 ft). The cathedral is as large as it is strong. During WWII the church was struck with 14 aerial bombs; its enormous size made it a good landmark for the Allied aircraft bombers. Although it was badly damaged by these attacks, it remained standing. The cathedral is home to many treasures, such as the high altar which was constructed in 1322 and is made out of solid black marble. Its most celebrated work of art is the Shrine of the Three Kings. The golden structure is believed to hold the remains to the Three Wise Men, whose remnants were brought from Milan in 1164. Those with a strong constitution can climb 533 steps to a viewing platform on the south tower.

Highlights Walking Tour of Cologne

Your private guide will pick you up from your hotel. During this 2-hour walking tour, you will have a chance to get to know many interesting facts about the history of Cologne and visit the biggest highlights of the town. Among the others you will see: Cologne Cathedral, Hohenzollern Bridge, Roncalliplatz, Rheinboulevard, Heumarkt & Alter Markt, Hänneschentheater, Cologne City Hall, Typical Kölsch brewery. After the end of the tour the guide will be happy to give you the recommendations for the rest of your stay in Cologne.

See Germany's most visited landmark for yourself and then climb a tower that was once the tallest in the world.

Construction began in 1248 but was paused in the 1500's and did not continue until the 19th century. Once completed in 1880, it was the tallest building in the world and to this day it has the tallest twin spires of any Gothic church in the world. The towers’ spires reach a height of 157 m (515 ft). The cathedral is as large as it is strong. During WWII the church was struck with 14 aerial bombs; its enormous size made it a good landmark for the Allied aircraft bombers. Although it was badly damaged by these attacks, it remained standing. The cathedral is home to many treasures, such as the high altar which was constructed in 1322 and is made out of solid black marble. Its most celebrated work of art is the Shrine of the Three Kings. The golden structure is believed to hold the remains to the Three Wise Men, whose remnants were brought from Milan in 1164. Those with a strong constitution can climb 533 steps to a viewing platform on the south tower.

Walk through one of the oldest cathedrals in Europe and marvel at the colorful Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

First built in 805 AD (although with later Gothic additions) the cathedral is one of the most historic in Europe. Indeed it was the first place in Germany to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Over 30 coronations of the King of the Romans took place here. Somewhat confusingly, King of the Romans was the title assumed by the kings of the Germans until they could be crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the pope. The cathedral is the burial site of Charlemagne, who founded the Holy Roman Empire and is considered one of the most important figures in all of European history. The Cathedral Treasury is also home to many sacral art treasures including the Cross of Lothair, the Bust of Charlemagne, and the Persephone sarcophagus. It is recommended that visitors take the Treasury audio guide for more information on the displays.

Experience the thermal springs which first drew settlers to Aachen.

There are more than 30 mineral-rich springs in the Aachen area. One of these springs, the so-called “Rosenquelle”, is located directly beneath the city and continuously supplies the Carolus Thermen with fresh mineral water of 47° celsius (116° F) temperature. With eight indoor and outdoor pools of various temperatures and several other interesting features, it is one of the city's most visited baths.

Smell and taste the sulphurous minerals springs which symbolize the city’s long history of thermal baths.

Located in a neo-classical pavillon built in 1827, you'll find two drinking fountains where you can try the water for yourself. They are prominently featured in a park in the city center, but if you have any trouble finding them, just follow the smell of the sulfur.

Aachen Excursion

Less than an hour from Cologne by train you'll discover Aachen, a small spa city located snugly next to the border with Belgium and the Netherlands. The city is famous not only for its thermal water, but also for its historical ties to the greatest and first Holy Roman Emperor, Charlemagne. Aachen was the place where he and 31 other Holy Emperors were crowned King of the Romans, although in reality it was mostly Germans that they ruled over. Visitors can explore the Charlemagne Route, visit a spa, enter the jaw-dropping cathedral, or just take in the charming ambience of a city whose story stretches back to Roman times.

See the 14th-century city hall built where the coronation feasts were held, and visit a museum exploring Aachen's past.

The Rathaus, or city hall, is still the seat of the mayor and city council. A museum gives visitors a sense for the lavish coronation banquets that took there. Next door in the Center Charlemagne, visitors learn about Charlemagne and other city history, stretching back into antiquity. For instance, it explains how the first settlements were built around the thermal springs and how it later became a Roman bath.

Walk through one of the oldest cathedrals in Europe and marvel at the colorful Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

First built in 805 AD (although with later Gothic additions) the cathedral is one of the most historic in Europe. Indeed it was the first place in Germany to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Over 30 coronations of the King of the Romans took place here. Somewhat confusingly, King of the Romans was the title assumed by the kings of the Germans until they could be crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the pope. The cathedral is the burial site of Charlemagne, who founded the Holy Roman Empire and is considered one of the most important figures in all of European history. The Cathedral Treasury is also home to many sacral art treasures including the Cross of Lothair, the Bust of Charlemagne, and the Persephone sarcophagus. It is recommended that visitors take the Treasury audio guide for more information on the displays.

See a museum dedicated to the Dadaist and surrealist art of Brühl's most famous son.

Max Ernst (1891–1976) was a leading Dadaist and surrealist artist. Ernst was renowned as a provocateur, a shocking and innovative artist who mined his unconscious for dreamlike imagery that mocked social conventions. The pride of the museum in the permanent collection goes to the 36 'D-paintings' that Ernst created as an expression of love for his fourth wife, the American Dorothea Tanning, with whom he lived in Arizona from the late 1940s to the early 1950s (he was earlier married to Peggy Guggenheim, who helped him escape to America when the Gestapo was on his tail). Another highlight is the spooky collage novels, which are graphic works exploring the darkest crevices of the subconscious.

Take a imaginative trip around the world in Germany's second largest theme park.

Phantasialand has 6 themed areas: Berlin (a replica of Germany’s capital in the 1920’s), Fantasy, Mexico, China Town, Mysteryland, and Deep in Africa. The park is split in two halves by a Disney style main street. On one side of the street you'll find the large roller coasters in different county settings such as Africa, China, and Mexico. On the other you'll discover a fantasy land meant for younger kids, with smaller rides and games.

Brühl Excursion

Lying in what at first seems like the industrial suburbs of Cologne, you'll discover the lovely town of Brühl. It is the perfect location for a family day out thanks to the nearby Phantasialand theme park. Also making it worth the 15-minute trip from Cologne's main station is the Brühl Castle, also known as the Augustusburg Palace. This was the sumptuous residence of the prince-archbishops of Cologne and is among the finest examples of Rococo architecture in 18th-century Germany. Just around the corner you'll find a museum paying homage to Brühl's most famous son, the artist Max Ernst, a primary pioneer of the Dada movement and Surrealism who was once married to Peggy Gugenheim.

Visit the beautiful Baroque and Rococo-style palace and gardens of the powerful archbishops of Cologne.

Augustburg is among the most impressive princely residences in Germany. In 1728 work was begun on the magnificent Baroque palace to replace an older castle. The project was given to the Belgian-born architect, François de Cuvilliés, whose work on the Residence Palace in Munich is rightly famous. The palace took 40 years to build, time enough to commission the talents of renowned European artists such as Balthasar Neumann, who designed the magnificent staircase, a marvelous creation full of dynamism and elegance, said to be one of the crowning achievements of the German baroque. The nearby Falkenlust hunting lodge was also built by François de Cuvilliés and is one of the most intimate and exquisite creations of the German rococo era.