With kids · Cologne · Germany
Cologne with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Cologne is easy with children: the Chocolate Museum, the zoo, river cruises and the cathedral tower are all hits, and Phantasialand is a short trip away. Trams are stroller-friendly and distances in the centre are short. Top picks: Chocolate Museum, Cologne Zoo and Flora and Cologne Cathedral. Families usually base themselves in Südstadt.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 5
- Best area for families
- Südstadt
- Rainy-day options
- 1
Best things to do with kids
Museum · Rheinauhafen
1.Chocolate Museum
On a peninsula in the Rheinauhafen, this museum covers the history of cocoa and chocolate, from Mesoamerica to modern production, with a working mini factory, a tropical glasshouse and a chocolate fountain where staff hand out samples.
Go on a weekday morning; weekends and rainy afternoons bring long queues.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Food
.jpg){kind=link}
Zoo · Riehl
2.Cologne Zoo and Flora
Founded in 1860, Cologne Zoo is known for its elephant park and its hippo house, which recreates an African river landscape. Next door, the Flora botanical garden has a 19th-century glass palace, themed gardens and free entry.
Visit the free Flora garden after the zoo; the two share a boundary.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Religious site · Cathedral
3.Cologne Cathedral
Begun in 1248 and finished only in 1880, the Gothic cathedral has twin spires of about 157 metres and one of the largest church façades in the world. Inside are the gilded Shrine of the Three Kings, the 10th-century Gero Cross and a stained-glass window by Gerhard Richter made of thousands of coloured squares. Entry to the nave is free.
Visit early in the morning or in the evening to avoid the busiest hours, and dress respectfully as services take place daily.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Landmark · Cathedral
4.Hohenzollern Bridge
Trains rumble across this steel-arched railway bridge between the cathedral and Deutz, while the footpaths on either side are covered in tens of thousands of love padlocks. Walking across takes about 10 minutes and leads to the best views of the cathedral and old town.
Cross at dusk and sit on the Rheinboulevard steps in Deutz to watch the cathedral light up.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Couples
- Views
- After dark
_Rhine_River_view_b.jpg){kind=link}
Waterfront · Old Town
5.Rhine promenade and river cruise
The riverside promenade runs from the cathedral past the old town to the Rheinauhafen's crane houses. Sightseeing boats leave from piers along it for one-hour panoramic cruises, and longer trips run upstream towards Bonn and the Siebengebirge hills.
Walk south along the river to the Rheinauhafen and return through the old town for a two-hour loop.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Views
Rainy-day ideas
- Chocolate Museum — Go on a weekday morning; weekends and rainy afternoons bring long queues.
Where families should stay
$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and food lovers
Südstadt
The Südstadt around the Chlodwigplatz and the medieval Severinstor is a residential district with traditional pubs, cafés and shops along Severinstraße and the Volksgarten park with its boating lake. The Rheinauhafen and Chocolate Museum are a short walk away.
- Good
- Local, relaxed feel; Park and playgrounds; Good value
- Watch out
- Fewer hotels; Tram ride to the cathedral
- Nearby
- Volksgarten, Rheinauhafen, Schokoladenmuseum Köln
Family travel tips
- Children under 6 travel free on local transport.
- The Rheinpark in Deutz has large lawns and playgrounds along the river.
- The cathedral tower climb is steep and narrow; it suits school-age children rather than toddlers.
- Go to the Chocolate Museum on weekday mornings to avoid queues.
- Carnival has family-friendly school and neighbourhood parades on the weekend before Rose Monday.
Day trips for families
- Königswinter and the Drachenfels (About 1 hour by train or tram) — A rack railway, one of the oldest in Germany, climbs the Drachenfels in the Siebengebirge hills to a castle ruin with views up and down the Rhine; the neo-Gothic Drachenburg Castle sits halfway up.
- Phantasialand (About 40 minutes by train and shuttle bus) — One of Germany's best-known theme parks, with themed areas and roller coasters; it is a full day out with children or teenagers.
When to go with children
The best months overall are May–September and December. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Cologne good for kids?
Cologne is easy with children: the Chocolate Museum, the zoo, river cruises and the cathedral tower are all hits, and Phantasialand is a short trip away. Trams are stroller-friendly and distances in the centre are short.
+What can kids do in Cologne?
Chocolate Museum, Cologne Zoo and Flora, Cologne Cathedral, Hohenzollern Bridge and Rhine promenade and river cruise.
+Where should families stay in Cologne?
Südstadt: Neighbourhood pubs, a medieval gate and the Volksgarten park south of the centre.