Cologne is a fascinating city in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany and a great base for exploring the Rhine Valley. We lived in Cologne for one year and explored everywhere we could in the surrounding region.
In this guide, we’ve compiled all our favorite day trips from Cologne. All of these destinations can be reached by public transit.
- Linz am Rhein – if you love half-timbered houses and vista points
- Ahr Valley – if you love wine
- Brühl – if you love palaces
- Carolus Thermen in Aachen – if you love bathhouses and saunas
- Düsseldorf – if you love modern architecture
- Bonn – if you love history
- Schloss Drachenburg – if you love castles
- Maastricht – if you love vintage and boutique shopping
Where to Stay in Cologne:
Hostel die Wohngemeinschaft (budget), Savoy Hotel (midrange), 25hours Hotel Koeln The Circle (midrange), or Excelsior Hotel Ernst (luxury)
Best Day Trips from Cologne Map
1. Linz am Rhein
If you love half-timbered houses & vista points
Linz am Rhein is a small town in Rhineland-Palatinate, located about 55 km south of Cologne.
The town is situated on the right bank of the River Rhine in the Romantic Rhine Valley. You can reach Linz in one hour from the Cologne Central Station via a Regional Express (RE) train, or take a KD day cruise.
Linz am Rhein’s historical old town (historische Altstadt in German) is delightful, with its many colorful half-timbered houses, charming Marktplatz and Rathaus (town hall).
We came to Linz in order to hike part of the RheinSteig, which is the 320 km trail that goes through the Siebengebirge, Lower Middle Rhine Valley, Upper Middle Rhine Valley, and Rheingau.
What to See and Do in Linz am Rhine
Option #1:
Explore Linz in the morning. Hike Stage 19 of the Rheinsteig Long Distance Trail to Bad Honnef.
The hike takes 6-7 hours. End your day with dinner in Bad Honnef and take the regional train back to Cologne. Learn more about this hike: Rheinsteig Stage 19.
Option #2:
Arrive in Linz. Take a short hike to Burg Ockenfels (25 minutes) to enjoy the view of the Rhine River. Return to Linz for lunch.
2. Ahr Valley
If you love wine
The Ahr Valley (in German: Ahrtal) is a wine region in Rhineland Palatinate known internationally for its spätburgunder (pinot noir) wine. It’s also Germany’s largest red wine growing region.
The narrow Ahr Valley is characterized by a deep gorge framed by steeply terraced vineyards. Red grapes are able to grow and ripen here, because of the warm microclimate created by the volcanic slate cliffs and soil.
The best way to explore the region is by hiking the Rotweinwanderweg, the Red Wine Trail. The trail is easy, mostly flat, and clearly signed with a red grape motif.
As you weave through vineyards, you’ll see castle ruins, a magnificent monastery, churches, and quaint winemaking villages. Whenever you’re ready for a break and more wine, simply walk down to the next town.
Red wines to drink: Spätburgunder, Portugieser, Dornfelder, and Frühburgunder.
We recommend starting the hike in the town of Altenahr. You can reach Altenahr in 1 hour and 45 minutes from Cologne via public transit.
Learn More: Ahr Valley Travel Guide
3. Brühl
If you love palaces
Brühl is a town in the Rhineland located about 17 km southwest from Cologne. The main reason to come to Brühl is to visit the Augustusburg and Falkenlust Palaces, both of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Augustusburg is a beautiful and ostentatious 18th-century Rococo palace. You can only visit the interior via a guided tour. After the tour, enjoy the palace gardens and take a 25-minute walk to the hunting lodge Falkenlust.
Falkenlust can be toured at your own pace with an audio guide (available in 12 different languages). For more info on the palaces and visiting hours, check out the Schösser Brühl website.
After visiting the palaces, head to Brühler Wirsthaus. This rustic yet modern tavern is located directly next to the Brühl train station. Location: Google Maps
4. Carolus Thermen in Aachen
If you love bathhouses and saunas
Carolus Thermen is the ultimate day trip from Cologne when you want to spend a day relaxing and soaking up German spa culture.
German spa culture is a tradition adopted from the ancient Romans. During the time of the Roman Empire, Roman soldiers would bathe in mineral-rich waters after a battle to accelerate healing.
Spa resort towns like Baden-Baden in the Black Forest are built on 2,000-year-old Roman bath ruins.
In Aachen, it was the Celts and Teutons and then later the Romans who first discovered the healing properties of the Aachen spring water.
Today, mineral thermal water of the “Rosenquelle” spring fills up the many thermal pools of Carolus Thermen.
So the tradition of bathing is one of the oldest traditions in Germany and a wonderful insight into German culture.
Carolus Thermen in Aachen is hands down one of the best Thermen complexes in Germany. And, we’ve visited a few.
The Carolus Thermal Bath complex is divided into three main sections:
- Thermalbad (Thermal Baths): indoor and outdoor pools.
- Saunawelt (Sauna World): adults only sauna area with pools.
- Spa: an area for massage and wellness treatments.
Pricing is tiered, based on when you visit (weekdays, weekends and holidays), how long you stay (3:30 hours, 4:30 hours, or all day), and whether you want access to the sauna area (you definitely do). See pricing here.
The best part of visiting Carolus Thermen is the artfully-designed sauna area. In fact, it’s so epic that we recommend spending most of your time in the Saunawelt.
You can easily spend the whole day hopping between steam and dry saunas, indoor and outdoor pools, and relaxation rooms.
And, when you’re hungry, the Saunawelt’s restaurant serves delicious Asian-fusion meals and snacks.
The Sauna World
The Saunawelt is divided into 3 main sections. Upon entering the sauna zone, you’ll be on the upper indoor level, known as the Baltic Sauna Landscape.
Here, you have direct access to several dry saunas, a footbath area, a cold bath, showers, and a fireside lounge.
To access the outdoor sauna garden (“Saunagarten”), follow the stepping stone walkway across the pond. In addition to the Finnish-style saunas housed in log cabins, there’s a cold dipping pool, a warm swimming pool, and a hot tub. There are also lovely places to sit and rest.
One of the most arresting areas of the Saunawelt is the “Orientalische Badewelt,” the Ottoman-style sauna complex on the lower level. You’ll feel transported immediately to a different time and place. It’s splendid!
A large relaxation pool dominates the circular space. As you wrap around the pool, you’ll see doors to different wellness areas including a Balneum, a Hamam, Bingül, Tepidarium, Odorium, and Halvet.
Spa Treatments
For those that want to add a spa treatment to your day of relaxation, don’t hesitate. Kati received a full-body sports massage and I received an anti-stress head massage.
The massages were fantastic. Here’s the massage menu, but you can see all the spa treatment offerings here.
What You Should Bring
Bathing Suit (for the Thermalbad area).
Bathrobe. It’s possible to rent a bathrobe for 7 EUR.
2 Towels. It’s possible to rent towels.
Waterproof Sandals. We always bring our Crocs.
Shampoo/Body Wash.
A good book / your Kindle.
Sauna Etiquette
Visiting a sauna complex in central Europe is a bit of a learning curve. Here are some rules to keep in mind during your visit:
Saunas are textile-free areas. For hygienic reasons, no one is permitted to wear bathing suits.
Phones and taking photographs are strictly prohibited.
Showering is mandatory before entering any pools or saunas.
In dry (wooden) saunas, you must sit on your towel. Your body and feet should never touch the wood.
In the sauna restaurant, you must wear a bathrobe.
5. Düsseldorf
If you love modern architecture
Düsseldorf is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia. It’s located on the Rhine River about 45 kilometers north of Cologne.
From the Cologne Central Station, it only takes 30 minutes via train to reach Düsseldorf.
We recommend walking around the MedienHafen to see the architecture of Frank O. Genry (Neuer Zollhof, 1998), William Alsop (Colorium, 2001), and Claude Vasconi (Grand Bateau, 1998).
The modern architects were given creative license to construct buildings for future tenant usage. The result is a remarkable skyline of organic shapes, colorful facades, and unpredictable structures.
What to See and Do in Düsseldorf
Grab a pastry at Manufactum. If you’re walking from the main train station to the city center, you’ll likely walk by this gorgeous shop, selling premium home products. Housed in this store is a bakery that has delicious Franzbrötchens & Croissants. Location: Google Maps
Drink Altbier in Düsseldorf’s Altstadt (old town). The old town is dressed in cobblestone streets, chocolate and mustard boutiques and over 300 bars and clubs. The Altstadt has been nicknamed “the longest bar in the world,” making it prime pub-crawl territory. To learn more about beer traditions in Düsseldorf, take this informative tour.
Explore Carlsplatz Markt. There is a permanent market (open everyday but Sunday) at Carlsplatz, selling fresh fish, spices, fresh juice, flowers and fruits & vegetables. Location: Google Maps
Eat at Dreas & Dendas. This small lunch eatery in the Unterbilk neighborhood offers a unique menu of 2 to 3 items Monday through Friday. Location: Google Maps
Explore Ackerstrasse in the Flingern Quarter. The Flingern neighborhood is home to beautifully curated shops containing fresh designs and tempting house items. Location: Google Maps
6. Bonn
If you love history
Bonn is a delightful city on the Rhine River about 30 kilometers south of Cologne.
We enjoyed coming to Bonn via train and bike (long ride but doable) to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and baroque architecture.
As a Roman settlement, the former capital of West Germany and the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven, Bonn has a lot to be proud of.
What to Do and See in Bonn
Take a relaxing walk in the Botanical Gardens of Poppelsdorf Palace. Free Entrance. Location: Google Maps
Visit the 18th-century Beethoven-Haus Museum. Location: Google Maps
Eat at Brauhaus Bönnsch. Their beer is delicious and they make a Käsespätzlepfännchen to die for. Location: Google Maps
7. Schloss Drachenburg
If you love castles
Schloss Drachenburg is an enchanting villa, situated above the town Königswinter in the Siebengebirge. You can spend the day hiking to and around Drachenburg.
The Schloss has a long history of changing ownership and restoration, which you can learn about on a guided tour. When we visited, guided tours were only conducted in German.
Visiting Schloss Drachenburg
The fastest way to reach Schloss Drachenburg is by taking a regional express train (RE) or regional train (RB) from Köln Hbf to Königswinter Bahnhof. The train ride takes 40 minutes.
When you reach the Königswinter Bahnhof, follow the Eselsweg pathway to the castle.
On route, you’ll pass the restaurant Felder’s am WInzerhäuschen where you can grab a bite to eat and drink. Location: Google Maps
The walk takes 30 minutes to the castle.
You can also enjoy a round trip Rhine River cruise from Cologne to Königswinter.
Schloss Drachenburg is open all year round. From January 7th to March 3rd, the Schloss is only open on the weekends. Opening Hours.
After visiting the castle, you can continue walking to the old castle ruins of Burgruine Drachenfels. Near the ruins, there’s a viewing platform and restaurant with sweeping views of the Rhine River.
8. Maastricht
If you love vintage and boutique shopping
Not every day trip from Cologne needs to be about seeing historical sites and monuments.
When you want to plan a care-free day full of café hopping and vintage shopping, get on an early train to Maastricht.
Maastricht is a quintessential Dutch city, nestled between the Belgian and German borders.
With its lovely cobbled streets and narrow buildings, you’ll be charmed right away. Here are some shops you shouldn’t miss:
Retro & Chic – vintage store
We-ar Vintage & Design – vintage store
Vintage Island – vintage store
Secondhand4All – second-hand clothing store
Traders Pop – alternative women’s / men’s clothing
By – bar Amsterdam – women’s apparel
Nina’s Boutique – women’s apparel
And, before you leave, make sure to visit the Bookstore Dominicanen, a gorgeous book shop housed in a medieval stone church. Location: Google Maps
Insider Tip | With Love Burrito is a small self-service burrito restaurant. The space is tiny and a bit cramped, but the burritos are mouthwatering. Location: Google Maps
Our Favorite Places to Stay in Cologne
Budget | Art Rock Downtown Hotel is a budget-friendly accommodation located in Cologne’s city center. It takes 7 to 9 minutes to walk to major destinations like Neumarkt, the Cologne Cathedral, the Cologne Central Station and Heumarkt.
Midrange | 25hours Hotel Koeln The Circle is the most stylish and imaginative hotel in Cologne. Each room features a unique concept. You’ll love the rooftop bar and restaurant. And, the breakfast is fantastic.
Luxury | Excelsior Hotel Ernst occupies the most enviable piece of real estate in Cologne, as it’s situated across from the Dom (Cathedral). Flaunting 5 stars, a Michelin star restaurant, a piano bar, and a wellness area, this is the finest place to stay in Cologne for a luxurious getaway.
Look for accommodation in Cologne.
Keep Reading about Germany Travel
Cologne:
Bavaria:
- 10-Day Bavarian Alps & Tyrolean Alps Road Trip
- Best Things to Do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
- Best Hikes in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
- Lake Eibsee
- Partnach Gorge Hike
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Winter
Germany:
- Germany Travel Guide
- Moselle Valley Travel Guide
- Black Forest Travel Guide
- Romantic Rhine Valley Travel Guide
- Eifel Region Travel Guide
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Wow. Absolutely amazing scenery. Germany looks like such a picturesque place to visit. My favorite photo would have to be the of the Ahr Valley. Thanks for sharing.