Please recommend other day trips from Cologne besides Düsseldorf. We like scenery, castles and food. Thank you.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8524 posts
Month of the year?
Cologne is well-connected to Aachen, a major historical destination. Especially if you have seen the German movie, "The Warrior and the Princess", the elderly suspended train in Wuppertal is popular.
You did not explain how many museums in Cologne are on your list. Some posters here think the only thing to see in Cologne is the Dom. There are in fact many superb museums in Cologne. Two of the less well-known ones are the medieval mikveh, and the Kathe Kollwitz museum. I have not been to the chocolate or fragrance museums, with six nights total in Cologne.
Train service is so good that you can consider the scenic Middle Rhine, with many castles. Boat rides are somewhat seasonal. (Don't bother with the local Cologne harbor cruise.)
Posted by
Paradise
7758 posts
We like scenery, castles and food.
Take a two-hour scenic train ride south along the Rhine River to the town of Braubach (just south of Koblenz.)
Tour Marksburg Castle: open year-round for tours, the Middle Rhine Valley's best-preserved medieval castle
https://www.marksburg.de/en/circuit/#/
You can find good German food at the Zum Goldenen Schlüssel inn/restaurant on Braubach's market square (Marktplatz.)
Take a walk around this handsome old-world town. Leaf through the 3 pages of photos at the site below for a sneak preview:
If there's time in your day, ride the train south from Braubach to Rüdesheim for more great river scenery.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9578 posts
I would go to Aachen. Cool, old city, with wonderful architecture and a fabulous cathedral where Charlemagne is buried.
Posted by
London
780 posts
We did a day trip from Cologne to Bonn which is very close. If you're interested in Beethoven you can visit his birthplace which is now a museum.
Posted by
OP
57 posts
@ Tim. We are at Cologne right now
Posted by
OP
57 posts
@Russ, can you please be more specific on the train options? it looks I need to take two train down to Braubsch?
Posted by
109 posts
Königswinter, Drachenburg and Drachenfels.
Posted by
Paradise
7758 posts
Trains to Braubach (LIKE TOMORROW??) I will give you the REGIONAL train times to save you some cash...
Train #1: Board the RB train 9:38 at Cologne Hbf (the main station) from Platform #4; Arrive Koblenz 11:19
Train #2: VIA RB train leaves Koblenz 11:28 from Platform #8 for Braubach (ar. 11:41.)
(Next Koblenz > Braubach train is at 12:28 if your first train is late or if you choose to take a lunch break at Koblenz station.)
- Castle is a 25-30 minute uphill walk from Braubach station, or schedule a taxi. Tours in English typically at 1 pm and 4 pm, but you can always join a tour in German and follow along with the handout that is provided at the entrance.
If you do not want to do the uphill walk - or if your first train arrives too late to catch the 2nd train - a smart strategy might be this... After getting off the train in Koblenz, walk out front and get a taxi from there straight to the castle. This is not an especially long trip.
Return any time you like by regional train to Koblenz and change there to any Cologne-bound regional train.
TICKETS: The Deutschland Ticket covers the round trip on all trains. If you don't have one, buy ONE "Day Ticket For Germany" pass (Quer durchs Land Ticket) for €59/2 persons. Covers any regional trains (RB, RE, VIA) that you wish to use, anywhere you choose to go, all day long after 9 am. This day pass is available from ticket machines and on the DB app as well as online.
https://int.bahn.de/en/offers/regional/day-ticket-germany
(The ZGS restaurant should be open on Tuesday but is closed Wed and Thu.)
Here is a map of Braubach. Small town but it may be helpful:
https://www.turismoindependente.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/braubach.jpg
Posted by
OP
57 posts
Thank you @Russ and all others