Cologne Things to Do Tips by Tom_Fields

The Cable Cars (Seilbahn) Seilbahn (Cable Car) Review

The best way to experience Cologne, even better than the river boats, is the cable car, known as the Seilbahn. The view of the city are spectacular. The first car takes you over the Rhine (heading west to east). The second leg of the journey uses a smaller cable car to take you to the botanical gardens. It's a beautiful trip.

Address: Riehler Straße 180 50735 Köln

Directions: Start on the west bank of the Rhine, near the train station. The second line ends at the botanical gardens.

Other Contact: 0221 547-4183 after hours

Phone: 0221 547-4184 10:00-18:00 hr

Website: http://www.koelner-seilbahn.de/english/index.html

Day Cruises on the Rhine

On the banks of the Rhine in Cologne, boat operators offer day cruises on the river, which offer fine views of the city. There are day and overnight cruises. The standard day cruise departs at 9:30 am. This is a great way to tour the Rhine valley.

Directions: The Cologne KD landing point is situated in the Rheingarten, in the Old Town of Cologne between the Hohenzollern and the Deutzer Bridge. Check the website for scheduling.

Website: http://www.partner.viator.com/en/2500/tours/Rhine-River/KD-Rhine-Pass-from-Cologne/d767-3320KDRHINECOL

The Romano-Germanic Museum Römisch-Germanisches Museum Review

Cologne stood on the northern frontier of the Roman Empire. Once, the Romans ventured across the Rhine River into the wild territory beyond. Germanic tribes ambushed and nearly annhilated them in the Battle of the Teutoberg Forest. From that point on, the Romans stayed mainly on the west side of the river. Cologne and Trier (see my tips on Trier) made up part of the Empire's northern border.

The Roman Museum contains many priceless artifacts from that historic period. One of the best-known is an original mosaic depicting scenes from the life of the god Dionysis. The museum also contains many items from the medieval period. A must-see for historians.

Address: Roncalliplatz 4 D-50667 Köln

Directions: U-Bahn: Dom/Hauptbahnhof. Located right across from the Cathedral.

Other Contact: roemisch-germanisches-museum@sta

Phone: 49/221/221-22304

Website: http://www.museenkoeln.de/roemisch-germanisches-museum/

Cologne Cathedral Cologne Cathedral/ Kölner Dom Review

The Dom is the largest Gothic-style Cathedral in the world. Its huge towers stand 147 meters (515 feet) tall, making them the tallest in the world when they were completed in 1880. Construction had begun in 1248, making this a really long-term project. The work had been interrupted several times.

The cathedral contains the holy relics of the Magi (the three wise men who visited the baby Jesus in the New Testament). Another gem is the Cross of Gero, the oldest surviving monumental crucifix in northern Europe, carved in 976.

While Allied bombing devastated the city in World War II (one raid involved over a thousand planes), the cathedral escaped with only minor damage. This is one of the very few pre-war buildings still standing in Cologne.

If you hike up to the stairs to the viewing platform, 312 feet above street level, you'll be treated to a fine view of the city and the Rhine River.

Address: Am Hof, Köln, Germany

Directions: On the west bank of the Rhine, just south of the Hauptbanhoff rail station. Hour: Daily 6am-7:30pm, except during religious services. Towers are open daily 10:00-6:00.

Phone: 0221/92584731

Website: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/germany/cologne-cathedral.htm