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Sightseeing is endless in Cologne


Cologne Triangle

Cologne for Families

Cologne is a city that has many stories to tell ─ even today, the Heinzelmännchen (leprechaun) fountain depicts the legend about busy little helpers, and the cartoon character “Maus” (mouse) from the eponymous television programme has its home in Cologne.

“Pänz” (an affectionate term for children in the local Kölsch dialect) and their parents, thrilling adventures await in the vibrant metropolis on the Rhine. KölnTourismus, in collaboration with Känguru Colonia Verlag, is publishing a special 2008 edition of Cologne: A family experience, which offers families a slew of useful tips and addresses for a fun-filled stay in Cologne. The initial print run of the 68-page booklet will include 25,000 copies. It can be ordered online from KölnTourismus, at info@koelntourismus.de, in exchange for a token fee of one euro plus postage costs.

The first “Expedition Colonia: Cologne for Children” is being held as part of the tourist trade’s focus on “Cologne: A family experience.” The City Discovery Festival, which has been around for adults since 2005, enables children and their families to go on an imaginative exploration of Cologne during the Easter, summer and autumn holidays. Visitors can discover Cologne in a playful way, travelling back in time through Romanesque Cologne, or through the old town on a self-guided family tour with a GPS device, or while hunting for Aztec treasure at the Museum of Chocolate. Exact dates, prices and historical facts can be found at: www.expedition-colonia.de.

A little boy named “Mats Blini” is the image featured on the new quality label of the “Dining with Kids” campaign. Through the Cologne pilot programme, little gourmets can learn about restaurants that feature children's menus. A list of all participating restaurants can be found at www.essen-mit-kindern.de. In addition, four large “Mats Blini” family festivals are being held at Cologne’s Vulkanhalle ─ the first is scheduled for 30 March, with a children's cooking school and an appearance by popular stars from children's TV.

Little culture buffs can enjoy children's opera to their heart’s delight, with performances such as "The Princess and the Pea" and "Puss in Boots". Various stages offer theatrical programs for children, such as Ömmes & Oimel at the Comedia. A rich tradition has been shaped by the “Hänneschen-Theater”─ one of the oldest stick-puppet theatres in the Cologne dialect. And throughout the year, inquisitive young minds can participate in a children’s tour through the Cologne Cathedral, or get a look at how WDR Television produces a popular children’s program, Sendung mit der Maus. Kölner Museumdienst offers specially designed tours for children on current exhibits at the museums of Cologne. The Deutsches Sport- und Olympiamuseum invites children to participate in various activities such as soccer matches on the museum’s rooftop playing field. For every sweet tooth, big or small, the Museum of Chocolate is the right address.

While on an expedition through 3,000 years of the history of chocolate, visitors can discover a real piece of the rainforest, and even have a taste from a chocolate fountain at the end of the tour. Bookworms will find the lit.kid.Cologne fair an absolute must; it takes place each year in March as part of the lit.Cologne festival. Throughout the year, Cologne Zoo, as Germany’s third oldest Zoo, presents a colourful array of animals. At the exact centre of the 20,000 m2 elephant park is The Elephant House, built in 1863 in Moorish style, where visitors can observe resident elephant calves Marlar, Ming Jung and Maha Kumari. The ape rocks and jungle house offer an interesting glimpse at the life of baboons and great apes, while the aquarium provides a fascinating view of brilliant coral reefs and breath-taking piranhas.

As children run around to their heart’s content in the numerous parks and green areas, such as last year’s prize-winning Rheinpark, or the Flora or the Volksgarten, their parents will find these parks a perfect fit to place to have a rest and catch their breath. The Rhine becomes a truly memorable experience on a boat ride, or on a ride with the Rhine Cable Car, also known as the Rheinseilbahn. In the summertime, the Köln-Düsseldorfer Rheinsschiffart (KD) offers a special children’s programme on its tour boats, including such favourites as The Pirate Fest, a participatory children's circus and a fairy-tale ride to the open air theatre in Zons. Nestled away in Brühl, 20 kilometres from Cologne, is Phantasialand ─with its "Black Mamba" roller coaster, its various wild water rides and fairy tale trail, the amusement park is an enticing adventure for both the young and young-at-heart. The little otters in the family will have fun and action at Cologne’s public swimming pools and baths, including the Agrippabad and the Aqualand park ─ and for grown-ups, there's also a broa

At many of Cologne’s hotels, “family friendly” is a main theme. Options range from an in-house babysitter to cooking classes for children inside the hotel kitchen. KölnTourismus provides expert advice in selecting just the right hotel, and ─ in conjunction with local partners ─ offers special family packages for a relaxing and fun stay in Cologne.

Cologne - A vibrant metropolis on the Rhine