Discover art, beer and German festive cheer on a weekend trip to Cologne’s Christmas market
YOU will have heard of the famous scent, yet there’s much more to do in Cologne than just shopping for bottles of eau de.
But while we’re on the subject, a bottle of the 4711 scent made in the city only costs around £19, with the whole range suitable for men and women.
You can buy a bottle of the fresh, vibrant perfume next to the city’s centrepiece, Cologne Cathedral which towers above the flat skyline with its incredible Gothic spires.
Now is the perfect time to visit. On November 16, , a doddle at only 50 minutes and from £27 one-way.
We checked into the trendy and newly opened 25hours hotel. It has a rooftop bar serving experimental cocktails, a mood-lit restaurant with an open kitchen and a prize-winning view from the top floor.
There are even bubbles for breakfast, served from the eighth-floor restaurant, setting up the day well for sightseeing in the beautiful city.
After a 20-minute walk into the heart of Cologne, we spent a few minutes just gawking at Germany’s largest cathedral.
Inside we gazed at the stained glass windows and cavernous ceilings. But we’re really here for the Kolsch beer. It’s only brewed in Cologne, and for beer lovers the city is unmissable for its traditional bars and pubs.
Wander within minutes of the cathedral, towards the Rhine, to find dozens of authentic brewery restaurants and traditional beer houses on romantic cobbled streets.
Portly German gentlemen stand in the doorways and waiters serve beer in tall, thin glasses called Stange.
Kolsch is a strong beer made using a lot of hops but served cold like a lager. It’s not particularly fizzy either, so it provides an unusual but delicious taste.
If you’re keen on learning all about the German cuisine, then visit one of the aforementioned brewery restaurants. Inside these historic eateries, the focus is still really on beer.
Bars brew Kolsch themselves then serve their unique brew to diners with traditional German grub.
Order sauerkraut, schnitzel or the local delicacy of pork knuckle for a warm and comforting feast. Inside the brewery restaurants are beautiful, ornate wooden walls, hung with paintings displaying agricultural and city scenes.
Next, sober up with a walk beside the Rhine, five minutes on foot from the cathedral, where you can explore more enticing watering holes and enjoy some river views.
The Museum Ludwig, a stone’s throw from the cathedral, features some nifty art pieces.
There is a collection of pop art, including works by Andy Warhol, and an interactive room where guests can indulge their creative side and draw their own masterpieces.
Go: Cologne
GETTING/STAYING THERE: Fly from Heathrow from £27 one-way with British Airways ().
A night at 25hours hotel is from £50pp based on two sharing ().
A visit to the hipster district of Ehrenfeld is a must, too.
Here you’ll find more of a neighbourhood feel.
This is where the city’s many artists and creatives congregate and live.
Ehrenfeld is your go-to destination for cute coffee shops, interesting street art and amazing galleries.
Stroll down Koernerstrasse for the best of the area in one street, where wine and cheese shops, fashion labels, art galleries, traditional watering holes and clubs and bars capture your interest and don’t let go.
Don’t miss lunch or dinner at Karl Hermann’s for a more modern take on German cooking. The burgers here are killer, and there is a fabulous weekend brunch menu.
You will notice a lighthouse — yes, a lighthouse — nearby. Head there after hours for some of the best clubbing the city has to offer. If that is not for you, try Gewolbe to dance alongside the locals.
Then there’s Cologne’s Belgian Quarter, which is alive with bustling independent bars within a few sips of each other. I recommend Little Link, Frieda and Lorbass.
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Cologne really flourishes after November 26, though, when the city’s famous Christmas markets burst into life. Each has its own distinctive, warm tipple, so there’s an excuse to visit all of them over one weekend.
Just be sure to fit in a German sausage or two to line the stomach so you don’t feel at your wurst.