So I have planned the skeleton of our family trip (myself, husband, 14 year old son), which includes four days of work for me (and Christmas party) at my company's Cologne headquarters. We will be in other locations prior where I have vacation time. We will have a car. While I'm working, my husband and son will want to make the most of time there. What would you do if you had four nights in Cologne? Also looking for day trip ideas. Thanks!
Posted by
St. Louis MO
731 posts
We will be in Cologne for only one day/night and I'm planning on visiting a couple of the Christmas Markets there during that time. I am also curious about the Chocolate Museum!
That is what we are planning on, at least!
Posted by
Kansas City
265 posts
Your husband and son might like a day trip to Aachen. We enjoyed seeing the sites associated with Charlemagne. A visitor also notices the proximity to Belgium and the Netherlands. As I recall, it's an easy train ride from Cologne.
Posted by
California USA
3953 posts
I second the side trip to Aachen to see the unique Byzantine inspired church and the bust of Charlemagne. Your son may have just studied about this time period in his world history class and perhaps the gold and jewel crusted bust was in his textbook, I know it was featured promenantly in our 7th graders' books.
Posted by
OP
73 posts
Thanks so much for the ideas! That's why I love this group. My son is a history buff and will definitely enjoy Aachen, but I wasn't aware of this. Another of our stops (for 3 nights) is Rothenburg where we plan to do a day trip to Nuremberg to see those historical sites. That one is already so full, I didn't need help. :)
Definitely will look into the Chocolate Museum and Christmas markets.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Rick's Germany book has a Cologne chapter. I enjoyed the Roman museum, built around a mosaic that was discovered during WWII, and for something more somber, there's a Nazi documentation center, housed in the building where the Gestapo kept prisoners. I also liked the chocolate museum (you do get a small free sample, but be sure to budget for the gift shop - you WILL want to buy some souvenirs!)
Posted by
Green Bay
20090 posts
I always recommend a stop at Papa Joe's Biersalon for a perusal and use of all the antique (and modern) musical automatons. German pubgrub and local Koelsch bier (and non-alcohol for the young'ens). It is in the Alt Markt square in the Altstadt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEObQiFWqBM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV1djylOiXw
In addition to Aachen, Bonn is a short train ride away, and besides the Ludwig Van Beethoven trail, the Haribo outlet store is a chance to stock up on Gummy-Bears.
Posted by
Atlanta
967 posts
Love Aachen, love Cologne, love the Christmas markets...didn't love the Chocolate Museum. Unless it's changed drastically since 10 years ago, I remember mostly posters with lots of reading and a very little chocolate at the end. And not even great chocolate.