by Lorry Patton

Sightseeing City Tours

Taking a overview bus tour of the city is the best way to orient yourself when you first arrive in Cologne. For information on the different tours stop at the tourist bureau across from the Cathedral (you can't miss the Cathedral). There are around 120 tour options to choose from, such as a tour of churches or sport clubs or museums. Or you can take a sightseeing tour and then take notes of the streets and places you want to revisit in depth.

You will see many people on the streets of Cologne. And for good reason. Walking is the only way you'll discover the hidden antique shops in the narrow cobblestone alleys, the only way you'll hear the laughter and the music inside the pubs, the only way you'll smell the fresh bread,the coffee and the blossoms in the flowerbeds that bloom even in the freezing temperatures. The squares, the gardens, the museums, the whole of the old town, including the train bridge that spans the busy river, is made for walking.

Boat Tours

The tourism office has tickets and schedules on boat tours. Best known is the "White Fleet", belonging to Koln-Dusseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt, a shipping line that has been carrying freight up and down the Rhine for many decades. The company also offers speciality cruises, such as dinner and music tours.