What to do in Cologne with kids
Here’s our tried and tested tips on what to do on a day in Cologne, with additional suggestions on what to do with kids or if you have some more time and where to shop.
For us, Cologne, or Köln as it is known in German, is local. We live about 32 km (just over 35 minutes in good traffic) or a short train ride away from the city centre. We go there to shop, visit with friends, see an exhibition or a concert, or just for lunch. It is really only when we have visitors over from Australia that play tourists in Cologne. Here are our tips for what to do in Cologne with kids.
Thanks must go to our Best Man for many suggestions on this list. He lived in Cologne for many years and has shown various family members his Cologne. Many of these activities are based on his expertise – and ours with Miss M of course!
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Where to stay
As we live so close, we are also not the right people to offer tips on where to stay. There are numerous hotels and hostels for every budget. We recommend booking.com for the best range of accommodation.
If your visit to Cologne is part of your European trip, you should also look at getting travel insurance.
Getting to Cologne
We caught the train to the Cologne-Messe/Deutz station to start our day. There were too many of us to fit comfortably in one car.
If you are travelling to Europe (and not living here like us), you might want to include Cologne as one of the stops on your Eurail trip.
What to do in Cologne with kids
Of course, the first stop was the Deutzer Brauhaus to meet up with our Best Man for a warm-up drink (Vorglühen) of the local Kölsch. They serve typical German beerhouse food, with a focus on food from the Rhine region (like Potato pancakes).
Tip: Don’t worry if you get off at the main station. It is right next to the Cathedral, so you can start your tour there. It is even close enough to run out and snap a photo if you have a 20+ minute layover at the station.
KölnTriangle
Once those of us who were not comfortable with heights had gathered some Dutch courage, we headed up to the panorama viewing platform of the KölnTriangle. This offers a great view of the cathedral and the old town. Obviously, this is a view you can’t get from the cathedral itself.
Entry costs EUR 3 for adults. Children 11 years and under visit for free.
Hohenzollern Bridge
After visiting the tower, we made our way across the Hohenzollernbrücke (Bridge) towards the main train station and the old town.
Have you heard of love locks? Newly married couples write their names (and sometimes wedding date) on a lock, attach it to a bridge and then throw the keys into the river to symbolise their unbreakable love. In Cologne, the Hohenzollern Bridge is covered in love locks.
At one stage, Deutsche Bahn, the German railway, tried to remove the locks. The public outcry was so great that it has now become a tourist attraction. Miss M loves pointing out the different colours of the locks.
In case you have any railway enthusiasts in your group: The Hohenzollern Bridge is the most heavily used railway bridge in Germany. More than 1,200 trains cross it daily.
Kölner Dom – Cologne Cathedral
The Gothic Cologne Cathedral (officially known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter) is the highlight of any trip to Cologne with kids.
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The people of Cologne are proud of their cathedral. It pops up in various songs, especially carnival songs. Apparently, apartments with a view of the cathedral (Domblick) are worth more, even if you have to stand at an odd angle and look through a really small window to see it.
You can visit the cathedral on your own, but it is best to take a guided tour. There are multiple guided tours each day, with tours in English at 10.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. most days (except Sundays) during the summer. Tickets cost EUR 8 for adults and EUR 6 for concessions. More details can be found here.
Cathedral tower
If you have the energy (and the knees), you can climb up the southern cathedral tour. The views are great, but there are 533 steps to get there – and there is no lift. The viewing platform is 97 m above the ground, and parts of the stairwell are very narrow.
This is not an activity for anyone with claustrophobia or acrophobia and is not suitable for small children.
The tower climb is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (May-September) and costs EUR 5 for adults. More information can be found here.
The old city and the Rhine River
Once you and your child have seen enough of the cathedral, wander through the old part of the city and along the Rhine River.
Around 70% of Cologne’s old town was destroyed in World War II and was painstakingly rebuilt. Despite this, the old town has a distinctive historical charm.
Stroll along the narrow, cobblestoned alleyways lined by traditional old houses, stop to consider the various fountains and statues and marvel at the Great St Martin Romanesque church and the historic city hall. This is the best way to experience Cologne with kids.
Enjoy a beer at one of the numerous pubs or breweries, or stop for something to eat at one of the many restaurants.
Chocolate Museum
Once you’ve taken our quick city tour, it’s time to do a more kid-friendly activity. After all, this is about seeing Cologne with kids.
Continue to the banks of the Rhine until you get to the Chocolate Museum (Schokoladen Museum).
The museum covers all aspects of chocolate production and trading, from cocoa beans to pralines. It looks at the Aztecs and how chocolate came to Europe and became part of everyday life. There is even a mini palm house.
The highlight though is the production area – and the free samples. It starts with wafers dipped in chocolate from the golden chocolate fountain – for hygiene reasons, a staff member hands out the samples.
For a fee, there is also a ‘make your own chocolate’ option. You don’t actually make the chocolate, but choose the type of chocolate and up to 4 ‘toppings’ from a list of nuts, fruit, and other toppings. I chose dark chocolate with cashews, pistachio brittle, salted caramel balls and coffee nibs. You can watch it getting made, and, by the time you have seen the rest of the museum, it’s ready to take with you.
The riverside restaurant/café has delicious iced coffees and iced chocolate, and great brunch options. The cakes looked delicious, too. If you just want to call in for afternoon tea or brunch, you don’t have to pay to see the rest of the museum.
The museum gift shop is great if you are looking for an edible souvenir. It has every Lindt chocolate you can imagine, and various Cologne-themed gifts, too.
Unwind at a beer garden
Round off the day at a beer garden and try some (more) of the local Kölsch beer. In Winter, visit one of the many pubs.
Our top picks are:
- The beer garden at Rathenauplatz, which specialises in organic food and beer. It also has a fantastic new playground, including a water play area in summer.
- The beer garden in the Volksgarten. You barely even notice that you are still in the middle of a city of one million people. You can even hire a pedal boat and take a ride around the lake.
If you don’t feel like eating at the beer garden, there are numerous restaurants to choose from. We chose Hellers Brauhaus, just around the corner from Rathenauplatz. It offers both German and regional food, and brews its own beer. They even offer brewery tours (unfortunately, only for groups).
More activities in Cologne for kids
Cologne Zoo
We do love a good zoo and would definitely recommend the Cologne Zoo. Highlights include the elephants, gorillas and gibbons, as well as the hippopotamus enclosure, which has a viewing window to watch them swim. In May 2019, the zoo even welcomed a baby hippo to the world. In December 2025, the zoo welcomed new lion cubs and a baby sloth to the world. There is also a fantastic playground for the kids to let off steam.
Tickets cost EUR 23 for adults and EUR 11 for children aged 4 and above. Groupon and discount sites often have discounts.
For an additional thrill, take the ‘Zoo Express‘ from next to the cathedral and see more of Cologne on the way.
For even better views, take the 6-minute-long cable car ride over the Rhine. The views of Cologne, the old town, the Rhine and the surrounding area are great. Tickets cost EUR 5.50 one way and EUR 9.50 return for adults. The cable car leaves from Thermalbad (Claudius Therme).
Lindenthaler Petting Zoo
Lindenthaler Tierpark (petting zoo) is particularly good for small children. The park has over 250 animals, including highland cattle, goats, donkeys, sheep and various birds. Entry is free. You can also buy food to feed the animals.
The park is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from May to August. See the website for more details and other times.
Odysseum
Odysseum closed in June 2025. The new Exploradom will open in April 2026 in Cologne-Ehrenfeld.
Chocolate Museum
The Chocolate Museum also has special courses for children aged 8 years and over (and for adults). These vary in duration from 50 to 90 minutes and include making pralines or decorating chocolates, with the help of the Maître Chocolatier. Adult courses can take up to four hours and include making fillings and decorating pralines. You can find further information here.
Rhine cruise
If you have the time, take a boat trip on the Rhine. There are short, one-hour trips showcasing the Cologne skyline, as well as day trips.
When they visited Europe just after Miss M was born, Mum and Dad took a trip from Cologne to the ‘Drachenfels’ and thoroughly enjoyed it. There is also another highlight for railway fans.
In our opinion, the better views are further down the Rhine, between Koblenz and Mainz. A hop-on, hop-off day tour of the Rhine castles leaves downstream from Koblenz.
Phantasialand
This park in Brühl (about 1 hour from Cologne central station) is constantly voted one of the best amusement parks in Europe. Miss M loves it. It’s family-friendly, with plenty of rides and shows for younger kids and enough thrills for older ones too.
Tickets must be purchased online in advance. Get in early for great discounts.
Where to shop
High Street
For high-street shopping, try Schildergasse and Hohe Strasse, which start at the foot of the cathedral.
Belgian Quarter
For smaller, unique boutiques, try the Belgian Quarter, which can be found between Venloer Strasse, Roonstrasse and Moltkestrasse. You can find everything and anything from art prints, books and home accessories, to eco-fashion and pepper, and other spices.
Are you travelling with a soccer fan who knows who German national player Lucas Podolski is? If you missed his Poldi-Eis in the old town, try his ice cream shop in the Belgian Quarter: Ice Cream United.
The Belgian Quarter is also a great place to go dancing and drinking in the evening.
Christmas markets
The Cologne Christmas markets are some of the best in Germany. The most famous and popular one is right next to the cathedral (4 million visitors annually!) They can get very crowded on weekends, so try to visit during the week if you can.
In 2026, the markets are open from the end of November to 23 December.
What to do in a day in Cologne with kids
We hope you will like our tried and true tips for what to do in Cologne in a day. Cologne is kid-friendly – check out our tips for activities for older and younger kids. And don’t forget to go shopping!
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