Museums and galleries in Cologne

Museums and galleries in Cologne

1. See

   Agnesviertel

   In the bohemian Agnesviertel, you can find independent designers, bookshops, bars, and art galleries. There are also historical monuments, such as the North City Gate or Eigelsteintorburg in the Agnesviertel, very near to Fort X, built to protect the city from French attacks, and Agneskirche, a late neo-gothic church on the boulevardesque Neusserstraße. Neusserstraße also has a yoga school, an Aikido school, a Japanese restaurant, a well-stocked bookshop, and a range of pubs. Nearby you will find the Alte Feuerwache, where there are regular exhibitions on political topics and a surreal flea market every four weeks in summer. Opposite Alte Feuerwache is the Artclub, with regular exhibitions of contemporary art, and on Ebertplatz there is a cinema (Metropolis) which shows films in the original (mostly English, but sometimes also French or Spanish). On nearby Lübecker Straße, you will find the uncompromisingly Arty Filmpalette cinema. To round off a trip to the Agnesviertel, you might like a kölsch in the Lapidarium (right beside the North City Gate) or a coffee in Cafe Schmitz, Cologne's grooviest poser hangout (they also do a great breakfast.) All of these great places are within a short walk of Ebertplatz U-Bahn.

2. See

   Cologne City Museum

   Kölnisches Stadtmuseum

   Shows exhibits and works of art on the history of the city of Cologne from the Middle Ages to the present day.

   Tue 10:00 to 20:00, Wed-Sun 10:00 - 17:00, every 1st Thu of each month: 10:00 - 22:00·€5, concession €3

3. See

   Kolumba

   Diocesan museum

   A Christian art museum. An architectural wonder designed by Peter Zumthor and a feast for the senses; this museum, built in concordance with the ancient foundations of the shrine of Mary in the rubble contains a selection of historical and contemporary religious art. Worth visiting just to explore the spiritually inspiring spaces and the beautiful walkway through the ruins of the past.

4. See

   Käthe Kollwitz Museum

   Dedicated to the artist Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945), the first woman elected to the Prussian Academy of Arts.

   Tue-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat Sun and holidays 11:00-18:00, closed on Mondays·Regular €5, reduced €2

5. See

   Museum Ludwig

   A museum of modern art, near the central railway station and the Cathedral hosts a worthy regular exhibition and temporary exhibitions.

   Tue–Sun 10:00-18:00, first Thu of the month 10:00-22:00·Admission €12, concessions €8, free under 18 years

6. See

   Museum für Angewandte Kunst

   Museum of Applied Art

   The Museum of Applied Art has a collection of popular design items, as well as temporary exhibitions. The historical collections have been closed for several years due to refurbishment and new exhibition concept.

   Tue-Sun 10:00–18:00·Regular €4, reduced €2, permanent and special exhibitions: price varies from being free to €6

7. See

   Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum für Völkerkunde

   Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum – World Cultures

   North Rhine-Westphalia's only ethnological museum, it has a fine collection of Amerindian and Austro-Polynesian artefacts.

   Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, Thu 10:00-20:00, first Thu of the month 10:00-22:00·Regular €7, reduced €4.50

8. See

   Römisch-Germanisches Museum

   Roman-Germanic Museum

   Römisch-Germanisches Museum explores the history of Roman history in Cologne and the surrounding area. The permanent exhibition is now located in the Belgian House (Cäcilienstraße 46, near Neumarkt). The exhibits of the Dionysos mosaic and Poblicius tomb are closed as of May 2022.

   Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00·€6 (full), €3 (reduced)

9. See

   Schokoladenmuseum Köln

   Museum of Chocolates

   Chocolate museum in Cologne. It's a short visit but very interesting exhibits. Admission €13.50, concessions €8.50, family pass €34.50 (surcharge on weekends).

   Tue-Fri 12:00-18:00, Sat Sun holidays 10:00-18:00, last admittance one hour before closing

10. See

    St. Cecilia's Church

    St. Cäcilien

    A Staufen-period pillar basilica and one of Cologne's twelve great Romanesque churches. It features notable historical elements such as a 12th-century tympanum and remnants of Ottonian architecture. Since 1956, the church building has housed the Museum Schnütgen, which showcases an extensive collection of medieval religious art.

    Tue Wed Fri-Sun 10:00-18:00, Thu 10:00-20:00·Adult €6, concessions €3.50

11. See

    Wallraf-Richartz-Museum & Fondation Corboud

    The Wallraf-Richartz Museum is an art gallery with a collection of fine art from the medieval period through to the early 20th century.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, every 1st and 3rd Thu of the month until 21:00·Permanent collection and special exhibition: €8-12, reduced €4.50-8

12. See

    Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst

    Museum of East Asian Art

    Art, music, books, films and culture from Asia.

    Tue–Sun 11:00-17:00, first Thu of the month 11:00-22:00·€5.50, reduced €4

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Cologne (CC BY-SA 4.0).