4-Day Cologne Cathedral, Old Town & Christmas Markets City Break
Gothic twin spires, riverside beer halls and some of Germany's biggest Christmas markets.
- Destination: Cologne, Germany
- Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
- Budget: 369–489 GBP
- Estimated cost: 369 GBP
Day-by-day plan
Day 1: Arrive and the Altstadt
Stay near the Hauptbahnhof or Altstadt.
Morning: Train from the airport to the Hauptbahnhof.
Afternoon: Old Town lanes and the Rhine promenade.
Evening: Kölsch dinner in a brewery house.
Day 2: Cathedral and museums
Museum day around the Dom quarter.
Morning: Cologne Cathedral interior and tower climb.
Afternoon: Museum Ludwig and the Romano-Germanic Museum.
Evening: Sunset at the Hohenzollern Bridge.
Day 3: Belgian Quarter & Ehrenfeld
Local neighbourhood day.
Morning: Coffee and boutiques in the Belgian Quarter.
Afternoon: Street art and cafes in Ehrenfeld.
Evening: Cocktails or live music in Ehrenfeld.
Day 4: Riverside finale
Slow final morning before departure.
Morning: Rheinpark cable car or a final market stroll.
Afternoon: Souvenir stop for Printen gingerbread.
Evening: Fly home from Cologne Bonn Airport.
Budget
- Flights — Return fare anchor: lastminute.com's London-Cologne route page lists return flights from £59 per person (lastminute.com/flights/r_london--cologne, checked 6 Nov 2026); 'from' fares are lead-in prices including taxes and do not guarantee availability on specific dates. — 59 GBP
- Accommodation — 3 nights sole occupancy in a central guesthouse near the Altstadt, budgetyourtrip-style mid-budget estimate. — 165 GBP
- Food & local transport — Around £40 per day covering bakery breakfasts, brewery-house lunches, dinners and tram fares. — 120 GBP
- Activities — Cologne Cathedral is free; the Museum Ludwig and the Fragrance Museum are the main paid sights. — 25 GBP
Tips
- Cologne Cathedral: Twin-spired Gothic landmark with tower climbs and treasury.
- Old Town & Rhine Promenade: Colourful gabled houses and riverside walks.
- Museum Ludwig: Modern art heavyweight with a major Pop Art collection.
- Christmas Markets: Several large markets across the city in the Advent season.