Am I crazy? (Koln experts come on in! )

Not an expert but I love Koln! Just walking around the Dom area, having a treat at one of the cafes near the station, perhaps visit one of the museums near the Dom?

I remember it as a beautiful and interesting city, but being as I was 17 then, I wasn't looking for the little boy appeal :-D I did just stumble across the information for the chocolate museum. That could be a fun couple of hours of our day!

Does the Koln train station have luggage storage, or will you just take it along with you?

I've heard/read there is an automated storage facility.

When I was there in 2014 I visited the Dom and the Roman museum, neither of which is probably of much interest to a 6 year old. But I also walked around the old town center and took a boat trip on the river which might appeal to him. I think the boat trip was about an hour long. I also noticed this on a Cologne tourism website but don't know anything about it: http://www.schokoladenmuseum.de/en/. Who doesn't like a chocolate museum?

EDIT: I used the automated luggage storage when I was there in 2014 and it worked well.

There's a tower to climb at the cathedral. I bet he'll like the cathedral: giant statues, large gold reliquaries, candles, arches, huuuuge columns. And a yummy tea room directly across from the main entrance.

Hi,

How are you getting to Krefeld? It has been several years since I was there. Connect from Köln or Düsseldorf?

A train from lux to koblenz and then a train to cologne and then One to Krefeld. It's a little shy of four hours.

Hi,

Coming from Köln Hbf you'll need to transfer to get to Krefeld Hbf. (not direct), you have a choice of where to change trains; I would suggest transferring in Dusseldorf Hbf, then take U-Bahn to Krefeld Hbf, unless you prefer taking RB trains.

It has been a dozen years or so since I was last there, first visited Krefeld as a day trip from Düsseldorf on my first trip in Germany in the summer of 1971.

Anyone you speak to in the tourist business in Cologne or Koblenz will answer you in English. Your son will love the Roman/German museum right beside the Dom, and he might enjoy the Kolumba museum first floor, or the Museum of Applied Arts. The Ethnographic Museum, very modern and digitalized, requires a U-bahn ride, so you may not have time. He'll enjoy seeing a Kolsch barrel being tapped, even if he doesn't drink beer yet. There's a cablecar ride I've never bothered with. Although I don't approve of Locks of Love, they might still be there on the bridge. He also might like the underground Roman heritage site, and possible archaeological excavations right beside the streets. (Haven't been there recently.)

Edit: Try to look up the maximum dimensions for automated luggage storage.

hello campgirlboo,

currently residing in Koln with my husband for his job. I would say yes there is plenty you and your child can do that is walk able from HBF. there is a large area with plenty of shopping, entertainment and restaurants right outside the station. there is also automated storage for your baggage( however i havent used it so i cant speak on the ease). if you walk further down the river walk- you will find the chocolate museum as well. ( any kid or adult would love). there is a cafe attached. there's also a pretty nice observation deck from the top of the chocolate museum that has great views of Dom and the city. there is also an olympic sports museum right next to the chocolate museum( if you are interested in sports memorabilia), hope this helps!

I took my kids at different ages to Cologne and they did like visiting the cathedral and going up the tower. Just don't expect spending hours inside. That leaves you more time to enjoy what's going on outside. There are lways some street artists around to watch!

The Romano-Germanic Museum is also great for kids. And right next to the cathedral.

In November and December you may find that outside events - except of course the Christmas Markets after they kick off - are fairly curtailed due to darkness, overcast, rain and cold. Or you may get a sunny day but it will still be cold.

As I remember from 2008, there are "kiosks" for the luggage system along the D passage (North-South, just inside the Bahnhofsvorplatz and the exits to the Dom). Supposedly you can leave your bags in any kiosk, and they are taken to a central place in the basement; then you can retrieve them at any kiosk. I had a two hour stopover on a SparPreis (then caled Dauer Spezial) ticket, and I didn't want to miss my next train, so I didn't trust the automated system. I took my carryon bag with me when I went out of the Bahnhof.

There is also a check room at the south end of the D passage, where it meets the A passage, near the exit closest to the Dom.

Here is the layout of the Köln Bahnhof.