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Things to do · Cologne

Things to do in Cologne

48 ideas for a day or a night in Cologne, by what you’re in the mood for.

By type

Live music · 13Nightlife · 11Walking tours · 9Tours & day trips · 5Outdoors · 3Arts & culture · 3Sport · 2Festivals & events · 2

Live music in Cologne

All 13 ›
J. Cole – The Fall-Off TourThu 15 October, 8pm · LANXESS arenaMajestätisch – Marie Jacquot & Iveta ApkalnaFri 16 October, 8pm · Kölner Philharmonie · From €14Kasalla – 15 Jahre Kasalla: Die JubiläumskonzerteFri 16 October, 8:30pm · LANXESS arena · From €46BausaSat 17 October, 7:50pm · Palladium · From €60Beethoven PurSun 18 October, 4pm · Kölner Philharmonie · From €29Ivo Martin – Mit dir wird mir warm Tour 2026Sun 18 October, 7:30pm · Palladium · From €50James Blake – Trying Times TourSun 18 October, 8pm · E-Werk · From €63Dardan – Dilemma Tour 2026Mon 19 October, 8pm · LANXESS arena · From €63Behemoth & Dimmu Borgir – In League with Satan TourTue 20 October, 7pm · Palladium · From €80koRn – Euro Tour 2026Wed 21 October, 7pm · LANXESS arena · From €80

Nightlife in Cologne

All 11 ›
BootshausDeutzGebäude 9DeutzStadtgartenNeustadt-NordE-WerkMülheimPalladium KölnMülheimSonic BallroomEhrenfeldBaBa ZuLa – 30th Anniversary TourFri 16 October, 8pm · Gebäude 9 · From €25Cosmic Gate presented by Bootshaus & SensesSat 17 October, 8pm · BootshausOliver Magenta and FriendsSat 17 October, 10pm · BootshausDes RocsTue 20 October, 8pm · Gebäude 9 · From €32

Walking tours in Cologne

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FreeClassic Cologne: Free Walking Tour with Freewalk CologneDaily · 2.5 hrs · ★ 4.7 on GuruWalkFreeFunky-fun Tour of Cologne!Daily · 2 hrs · ★ 4.8 on GuruWalkFreeLegends and Stories of Cologne - Guided Tour of the Old Town and City CenterDaily · 2.5 hrs · ★ 5 on GuruWalkFreeCologne Free Walking Tour: The essential and unmissable oneDaily · 2 hrs · ★ 4.5 on GuruWalkFreeFree tour in the old town of CologneDaily · 2 hrs · ★ 4.9 on GuruWalkFreeFree World War II and Nazism TourDaily · 2 hrs · ★ 4.9 on GuruWalkFreeColonia in 90 Minutes: Free Tour of the City's EssentialsDaily · 1.5 hrs · ★ 4.5 on GuruWalkFreeFree tour of the Mysteries and Legends of CologneDaily · 1.5 hrs · ★ 5 on GuruWalkFreeKiosk Pub Crawl with Freewalk CologneDaily · 2.5 hrs · ★ 4.4 on GuruWalk

Tours & day trips in Cologne

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Drachenfels rack railway and Siebengebirge8 hrs · Königswinter (tram from Cologne/Bonn)Schlösser Brühl – Augustusburg and Falkenlust4 hrs · Cologne Hbf (regional train to Brühl) · From €8UNESCO World Heritage Zollverein, Essen8 hrs · Cologne Hbf (train to Essen)Nationalpark Eifel8 hrs · Gemünd / SchleidenRhine cruises from Cologne8 hrs · Frankenwerft, Cologne

Outdoors in Cologne

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FreeCycle tour: Königsforst and Wahner HeideRoute from Stadt KölnFreeCycle tour: Prussian Cologne in the inner green beltRoute from Stadt KölnFreeCycle tour: Rhine from Riehl to WorringenRoute from Stadt Köln

Arts & culture in Cologne

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Along the Color Line – Spuren einer transatlantischen ModerneThu 15 October · Museum LudwigBeerbitches Live 2026Sat 17 October, 8pm · E-Werk · From €491LIVE Köln Comedy-Nacht XXL 2026Thu 22 October, 8pm · LANXESS arena · From €50

Sport in Cologne

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Kölner Haie – Pinguins BremerhavenSun 18 October, 4:30pm · LANXESS arena · From €18Kölner Haie – Schwenninger Wild WingsTue 20 October, 7:30pm · LANXESS arena · From €18

Festivals & events in Cologne

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Three Skies – Festival for Unexpected Music and SoundThu 15 October, 7pm · Various venues (Stadtgarten, Gewölbe, Heilig Kreuz) · From €50Multiphonics Festival 2026Wed 21 October, 8pm · Alte Feuerwache / Altes Pfandhaus
What’s On CologneThis week in Cologne, day by dayTonight, this weekend, the Top 10 and the regular nights.Eat & drinkWhere locals eat in CologneThe restaurants, cafés and bakeries locals love.

Things to do in Cologne, answered

What are the best things to do in Cologne?

Right now: J. Cole – The Fall-Off Tour (live music), Bootshaus (nightlife), Classic Cologne: Free Walking Tour with Freewalk Cologne (walking tours) and Drachenfels rack railway and Siebengebirge (tours & day trips). Each list is refreshed several times a day.

What can I do for free in Cologne?

Classic Cologne: Free Walking Tour with Freewalk Cologne, Funky-fun Tour of Cologne!, Legends and Stories of Cologne - Guided Tour of the Old Town and City Center and Cologne Free Walking Tour: The essential and unmissable one, and 8 more.

What's on in Cologne this week?

What's On Cologne has this week day by day: tonight, this weekend, the Top 10 and the regular nights hotels and hostels run.