Timeline
12:00
Enter the NS-Dokumentationszentrum. This former Gestapo headquarters is now the largest regional memorial in Germany. Spend an hour exploring the exhibitions, prison cells, and media library to understand the city’s dark past.
13:00
Walk eight minutes east to Brauhaus FRÜH am Dom. This is the perfect spot for a late lunch or an early Kölsch. The traditional Colognian atmosphere provides a stark contrast to the solemnity of the museum.
13:30
Head to the Hohenzollern Bridge. It is an eighteen minute walk east from the anchor. Walk along the straight path behind the Kölner Dom to reach the bridge. Stand among the thousands of padlocks attached to the railings and look out over the Rhine.
14:15
End your walk at Lommerzheim. This pub is just ten minutes from the bridge. Order a drink and watch the river traffic pass by. It is a relaxed place to digest your meal and your thoughts.
Local tip
The NS-Dokumentationszentrum is closed on Mondays. Plan your visit for Tuesday through Sunday. The Brauhaus FRÜH am Dom is open from 11:00 on weekdays and 10:00 on Saturdays.
Check before you go
- NS-Dokumentationszentrum: Tue-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat Sun and holidays 11:00-19:00, closed on Mondays
- Brauhaus FRÜH am Dom: Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr 11:00-24:00; Sa 10:00-24:00; PH 10:00-23:00
Worth knowing
- Brauhaus FRÜH am Dom is open at 13:00 only on Mo, Tu, We, Th, Fr, Sa
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Cologne (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).