The Best Day Trips from Cologne, Germany

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One of my favorite things about living in Europe generally, and western Germany specifically, is the accessibility of local travel. Cologne is in the heart of Europe. Major cities like Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam are all just a train ride away. With major airports in Düsseldorf and Frankfurt, I have never felt like travel was more accessible. But you don’t need to go far to find awesome things to do around Cologne.

Cologne makes a fantastic base for exploring the Rhineland. Within an hour or two, you can be wandering medieval old towns, hiking vineyard-covered hills, exploring fairytale castles, or diving into the history of nearby cities.

Germany’s rail network makes most of these trips straightforward, and many destinations are close enough that you’ll still be back in Cologne in time for dinner. Whether you’re looking for nature, history, charming half-timbered villages, or something a little unexpected, there’s no shortage of worthwhile options nearby. These are my top recommendations for the best day trips from Cologne.

Augustusburg Palace

Distance from Cologne City Center: 18km
Mode of Transportation: Train (30 minutes), Car (20 minutes), Bicycle (40 minutes)
Time Required: 2-3 Hours for tour and gardens

If you are a lover of Rococo style architecture, then a visit to the jaw-dropping Augustusburg and Falkenlust Palaces in Brühl is a must-do day trip from Cologne. It was the residence and hunting lodge for Cologne’s Archbishop. Dating back to the 18th century, this massive palace has been painstakingly restored with marble pillars, gold décor, and hand-painted murals. It’s really a marvel!

The French gardens at the palace are another highlight with tree-lined boulevards, well-manicured flower beds and of course, a variety of fountains and busts to discover along the walking paths.

The gardens are open and free to the public year round, but the only way to see the interior of the palace is on a guided tour. Photography is only allowed in specific rooms. In true German fashion, I am always an advocate for responsible and rule-abiding tourist behavior. Please do not try to sneak photos of the palace interior.

Drachenfels

Distance from Cologne City Center: 40km
Mode of transportation: Train (70 minutes), Car (45 minutes)
Time Required: 3-4 Hours for castle tour and hike around the trails

Towering over a slight bend in the Rhine River with a stunning view of the 7 Hills Nature Preserve, Drachenfels is an ideal day trip from Cologne. It is a large forest reserve next to the Rhine River with a stunning castle inside. If you want some time outdoors, a pretty beer garden and some history sprinkled on top, this is the day trip for you.

You are welcome to hike up the hill, but an easier way to go up is via the funicular. Buy a one way ticket and you can meander your way back down on foot. At the top of the funicular, you will find a large viewing platform offering sweeping views of the region along with a perfectly placed beer garden.

As you make your way down the hill via the well-marked walking paths, you will stumble upon castle ruins and garden houses until you reach the main Drachenburg Castle. The castle was built privately by a wealthy family in the 19th century, but it has changed ownership many times since then. It fell into disrepair during the post-war period, and was only restored within the last few decades. If you want to see the gardens and interior of the castle, you’ll need to purchase a ticket at the entrance for a marginal fee.

Dusseldorf

Distance from Cologne City Center: 45km
Mode of Transportation: Train (30 minutes), Car (50 minutes — can be lots of traffic)
Time Required: Minimum of 6 Hours, but could easily spend a few days

Düsseldorf is a lovely day trip from Cologne, because these two cities have a fierce rivalry. They’re fairly different, so visiting both provides a great contrast. I’ve already written about Düsseldorf on this blog several times, so I recommend that you check out some of my other posts about it. If you’re only going as a day trip, the highlights would be the Mediahafen, Carlsplatz Market, drinking altbier, and eating Asian food, specifically ramen! Here is my guide to seeing the best of Dusseldorf in 48 hours for a full rundown of what to do there.

Bonn

Distance from Cologne City Center: 35km
Mode of transportation: Train (35 mins), Car (45 mins)
Time Required: 6-8 hours depending on how much you want to see

Compared to its more famous neighbors, Bonn is often overlooked but I think it actually has a lot to offer on a day trip. I even made a 1 day Bonn itinerary to help you see all the best things. Bonn is the home of Beethoven and hosts a huge Beethoven festival each spring. Bonn was also the capital of West Germany during the Cold War (1949-1990), and still has many consulates and diplomatic functions along with historical museums. Most importantly (at least to my sweet-toothed husband), Bonn is home to the Haribo candy company. You can visit their flagship store in the Altstadt or their factory outlet store on the outskirts of town.

Eifel National Park

Distance from Cologne City Center: 60km
Mode of Transportation: Car (60 minutes)
Time Required: 4 Hours to relax and hike around the trails

For an escape from the city, the best place to visit near Cologne is Eifel National Park. This 110 square km park is the only national park in North Rhineland Westphalia. This densely forested park sprawls over rolling hill, making for some beautiful vistas. There are endless walking and hiking trails to meander along. The Wilderness Trail is perfect for beginners and offers good signage. If you’re looking more for a driving route, the Volcanic route connects geologic sites in the region such as crater lakes, waterfalls, geysers and more.

On top of beautiful scenery, the Eifel is full of adorable small towns with quintessential German architecture like the wood-timbered houses. I summarize all of my favorite small towns in the Eifel in a separate blog post.

Ahr Valley

Distance from Cologne City Center: 60km
Mode of transportation: Train (90 minutes), Car (55 minutes)
Time Required: 6-8 Hours for hiking & drinking, but also suitable for an overnight stay

Prior to moving to Germany, I must admit that I was pretty ignorant about Germany’s wine production; but I have been educated by proud Germans who like to boast about their domestic wines, especially white wines. Two of the most important wine regions in Germany — the Ahr Valley and Mosel Valley — are nearby Cologne, making for a perfect day (or overnight!) trip.

The Ahr Valley is most famous for its Spätburgunder which is a type of Pinot noir wine. Grapes grow on terraced vineyards in a steep and narrow valley, making the Ahr Valley Germany’s largest red wine growing region. The most fun way to explore is a mild hike on the Red Wine Trail. Called the Rotweinwanderweg in German, this 35 km long stretch of trails connects various towns and wineries in the Ahr. The terrain is easy and the trail is well-marked, so you don’t need to have any gear or knowledge prior to arrival.

The best part about the Red Wine Trail though: drinking local red wine as you hike! Most of the wineries offer tasting rooms and terraces to stop for a rest and drink as you hike. You’ll also find little pop up tents along the walk. Moon + Honey Travel have a fantastic guide full of detailed suggestions about the Ahr Valley if you want more information.

Moselle Valley

Distance from Cologne City Center: 175km
Mode of transportation: Car (120 minutes)
Time Required: 10-12 Hours but best as overnight or multiple nights

Producing more Riesling than anywhere else in the world, many people are familiar with the Moselle Valley’s white wine. In fact, it has been around since the Roman times! The Moselle Valley is a pretty expansive region, and even though you could do it as a day trip, I would recommend spending at least one or two nights in the Moselle. There are tons of cute towns and charming wineries just waiting for you to discover them!

The Roman wine route is the easiest way to get around the region, and it loosely follows the Mosel river. In addition to abundant wineries, there is a surprising amount of castles in this region. The Eltz Castle (mentioned below) is probably the most famous, but don’t miss a stop at the Cochem Castle. Conveniently located at a horseshoe curve in the Mosel River, I’m not sure there is a more beautiful vista!

Eltz Castle

Distance from Cologne City Center: 110km
Mode of Transportation: Car (90 minutes)
Time Required: Roughly 2 hours

Of all the destinations on this list, Eltz Castle (Eltz Castle in German) is the hardest to reach; but the challenge of getting there will be worth the reward! Of all the German castles I’ve visited, this one comes closest to rivaling the iconic Neuschwanstein Castle. Its tucked away location in a perpetually mist shrouded valley in the Moselle region simply screams romance. It’s relatively remote location also protected it during the war periods, which means it remains largely in its original condition.

Construction of the castle dates back to the 9th century, and this castle has been continuously privately owned by the Etlz family, whose 33rd generation of descendants still maintain the castle today. After paying for a ticket at the castle entrance, you will be whisked onto a 45 minute guided tour through the various Medieval styled rooms. Because one family has consistently owned the castle, you will find the rooms filled with original artifacts, like paintings, armor and furniture. Tours are offered in English and no photography is allowed during the tours.

Aachen

Distance from Cologne City Center: 80km
Mode of transportation: Train (75 minutes) Car (75 minutes)
Time Required: 8 Hours for sightseeing + spa visit, but also suitable for an overnight stay

Sitting directly on the German-Belgian border, Aachen is a crossroads for culture, history and even wellness! The easy train connection between Aachen and Cologne makes this one of the most accessible day trips on this list. Like many cities in the heart of Europe, Aachen has a long and storied past dating back thousands of years to the Romans and Charlemagne.

The Aachen Cathedral is the most famous attraction in the city, serving as the coronation site for more than 30 German kings along with the burial place of Charlemagne. If you happen to be in Germany during December, Aachen has a lovely Christmas Market in the Altstadt.

My favorite thing to do in Aachen is a visit to the relaxing thermal waters at Carolus Day Spa. This place is legit with 15+ soaking pools and saunas. This spa is a traditional German style, so there is a swimsuit area and a naked area, both of which are mixed gender. Plan to spend at least a few hours here as you relax and soak all of your stress away!

Koblenz

Distance from Cologne City Center: 105km
Mode of transportation: Train (70 minutes), Car (90 minutes)
Time Required: 8 Hours

Located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, Koblenz has been a strategic outpost in Germany for millennia, with Roman ruins dating back to 8 BC. For sightseeing, Koblenz’s old town hosts a variety of interesting sites, like the Basilica of St. Castor, Romanesque Church of Our Lady and the history columna sculptural marvel that documents the 2,000 year history of Koblenz. If you’re not one for sights, simply wandering the romantic alleys and narrows streets in the Altstadt will keep you occupied.

For great views of the two rivers coming together, ride the cable car up to Ehrenbreitstein fortress. The museum inside the fortress leaves a lot to be desired, but the views are great and the patio restaurants inside are a great place to enjoy a beer and snack.