Cologne
Cologne Cathedral
The Cologne Cathedral symbolizes the heart of Cologne, with its 144 meters (470 feet) in length, 86 meters in width and 157-meter tall spires. The construction of the cathedral began in 1248, and it was finished in 1880. It has been Cologne's most prominent attraction for centuries, and it is the most famous architectural monument in Germany.
Kölsch Beer
For the people of Cologne, nothing tastes as good as their home-brewed beer, Kölsch. It is a light, top-fermenting beer, which contains about 4.8 percent of alcohol. It is served in special glasses called "Kölner Stangen."
Carnival
Also called the "fifth season of the year," the Cologne carnival starts on Nov. 11 at 11:11 a.m. The city's streets are filled with people in costumes. The celebrations go on for days. The festivities attract around a million visitors into the city.
Cologne Zoo
From spiders to elephants, visitors to the Cologne Zoo come across a wide variety of animal life. The zoo happens about 20 hectares (49 acres) of land in the city's northern suburbs.
4711 Cologne
This eau de Cologne brand was named after its developer's home. During the 18th century the fragrance became progressively more popular. After its original name, Farina, was banned by a court, the owner of the fragrance chose his house number, 4711, as the brand and company name.
Chocolate Museum
A delicious look at the past: The exhibition on three floors of the Chocolate Museum takes you on a journey through the 3,000-year history of chocolate.
High-Street Shopping
Cologne's main shopping street is a paradise for shopping lovers. It consists of Hohe Strasse and Schildergasse, which house affordable clothing and shoe stores, trendy boutiques and fashion houses. The area is one of the busiest shopping quarters in Germany.
Christopher Street Day
Every year, Cologne has a Christopher Street Day parade, where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals (LGBT) and their friends celebrate themselves.
Cologne Trade Fairs
The furniture fair (imm) is among many that take place at Cologne's new convention center, Kölnmesse, which hosts 40 successful trade fairs a year over an area of 286,000 square meters (3,080,000 square meters). Various industries, from gardening and textiles, to food, art and technology take advantage of the hall space.