Things to do in Cologne

20 activities, venues and outings in Cologne, from theatres and live music to parks and tours.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

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1. FC Köln
Die Geißböcke ("The Billy Goats") were promoted in 2025 and now play soccer in Bundesliga, the top tier. The stadium has a capacity of 46,000 and in 2024 hosted matches in the UEFA Finals. The women's team play in their top tier at Franz-Kremer-Stadion, capacity 15,000.
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Ananda Tantra Massage and Coaching
Tantra massage, coaching and workshops, an open minded and liberal attitude essential because the massages include sexually sensitive body parts, however, no sexual services are given by the team of 30 female and male employees.
Daily 09:00-21:00
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Aqualand
Water park with water slides, pools, saunas and a wellness area.
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Claudius Therme
Large spa with pool and lots of different saunas (indoors and outdoors) next to the Rhine, north of Deutz.
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Kölner Philharmonie
Central concert hall, opened in 1986. Main season September to June. Special summer shows.
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Kölner Zoo
Established in 1860, the zoo of Cologne is home to more than 850 animal species from all over the world. Highlights include the Great Ape Jungle House, the Rainforest Hall, the Aquarium, and the houses for elephants, hippos and crocodiles.
Closed · opens 9 am tomorrowAdult €29.50, teenager or student €23, child (aged 4–12) €15
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Metropolis Cinema
If you want to go to the movies while visiting Cologne and you don't know German, this small cinema is for you. It shows movies in their native language, but mostly English. (However, most other cinemas will also show English versions several times a week, so check the listings.)
Open now · closes midnight tomorrow
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Neptunbad
In the popular area of Ehrenfeld in an old renovated bath, to which an attractive "sauna landscape" in Japanese style on two levels has been added. Also a comprehensive fitness centre.
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Oper Köln
Operas are performed in the Staatenhaus while the opera building at Offenbachplatz is being renovated. Season starts in Mid-September.
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Stadtgarten
Concert centre for jazz and contemporary music, with a cafe and restaurant inside and a large beer garden outside which dates back to at least the 1950s. (Also the site of a great Christmas market.)
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Sukon - Thai Art Of Massage
Traditional Thai massage institute, in the city centre. Thai native massage therapists practise in the 160-m² Thai-styled studio: original royal massage, aroma oil massage and foot massage. This place does not offer any erotic massages.
Do Not mapped
KD Rhine River Cruise
Departure times: Daily: 10:30, 12:00, 14:00, 18:00; Köln-Düsseldorf offers cruises of the Rhine river around the Cologne area with an explanation of landmarks.
€6.80
Do Not mapped
Rickshaws: environmentally friendly city tours
Rickshaws are exotic and environmentally friendly tricycles, that bring their passengers slowly and safely to their destination. By Rickshaw you will discover Cologne’s points of interest in a comfortable way.
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Saunas in public swimming pools
Some of the public swimming pools managed by the Cologne city council, notably Agrippabad, do have small Saunalandschaften too, all featuring a Damentag (ladies only day).
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Stattreisen e.V.
This non-profit organization offers excellent tours of Cologne, led by volunteers. The prices are moderate and there is a huge list of tours, including (besides the more regular tours) Koelsch tours (for testing the breweries) or language lessons in the local dialect (again, in a brewery). Ask for English tours, some guides are willing to conduct a normally German tour in English.
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Kölner Seilbahn
Take a ride with the Aerial tramway across Rhine river.
Closed · opens 10 am tomorrowAdult one way €4.50, return €6.50; child (aged 4–12) one way €2.50, return €3.70
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Mauritius Therme
Decent Saunalanschaft in a hotel south of Neumarkt.
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Mediterana
11 saunas and a huge pool.
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monte mare Bedburg
Large spa in the west of Cologne.
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monte mare Reichshof-Eckenhagen
Spa in the east of Cologne.

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