RunCity

Cologne on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 11 of Cologne's best-known sights, including 4711 House, Glockengasse, Heinzelmännchen Fountain, Cologne Cathedral and more. It is about 6.5 km on foot, roughly 2.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Cologne leaderboard.

  • 11Stops
  • about 6.5 kmDistance
  • 2.5 hoursWalking
  • about 61 minRunning
Play Cologne in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Cologne
Photo: Raimond Spekking · CC BY-SA 4.0

Cologne's route runs from the Belgian Quarter through the old town to the Rhine and back along both banks, about 6.5 km on flat ground. It starts at the bonus stop, Brüsseler Platz, a square of bars and cafés, and passes the 4711 House on Glockengasse, where Eau de Cologne got its number, and the Heinzelmännchen Fountain with its busy gnomes. The cathedral's twin spires dominate the next stretch, followed by the Historic City Hall, the Alter Markt and Great St. Martin by the river.

The Hohenzollern Bridge, hung with thousands of love locks, crosses to the KölnTriangle viewing platform, the classic view of the cathedral over the Rhine. Back on the west bank, the route ends at the Chocolate Museum and the three Crane Houses in the Rheinauhafen. The cathedral is free to enter outside service times; climbing its tower costs a small fee.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Brüsseler Platz

    Brüsseler Platz Bonus

    A leafy square of bars and cafés in the Belgian Quarter.

    Photo: Firitas · CC BY-SA 4.0

  2. 4711 House, Glockengasse

    4711 House, Glockengasse

    The house where Eau de Cologne 4711 got its name.

    Photo: Raimond Spekking · CC BY-SA 4.0

  3. Heinzelmännchen Fountain

    Heinzelmännchen Fountain Photo

    The busy little gnomes on the fountain.

    Photo: Raimond Spekking · CC BY-SA 4.0

  4. Cologne Cathedral

    Cologne Cathedral Photo

    Both spires from the cathedral square.

    Photo: Raimond Spekking · CC BY-SA 4.0

  5. Historic City Hall

    Historic City Hall Photo

    The Renaissance loggia.

    Photo: Raimond Spekking · CC BY-SA 4.0

  6. Alter Markt

    Alter Markt

    The old market square of the Altstadt, lined with gabled houses.

    Photo: Raimond Spekking · CC BY-SA 4.0

  7. Great St. Martin Church

    Great St. Martin Church

    The Romanesque church with the square tower by the Rhine.

    Photo: Hpschaefer www.reserv-art.de · CC BY-SA 3.0

  8. Hohenzollern Bridge love locks

    Hohenzollern Bridge love locks Photo

    The love locks on the railing.

    Photo: Raimond Spekking · CC BY-SA 4.0

  9. KölnTriangle viewing platform

    KölnTriangle viewing platform Photo

    The cathedral seen from the platform.

    Photo: Raimond Spekking · CC BY-SA 4.0

  10. Chocolate Museum

    Chocolate Museum

    The glass-fronted museum on the tip of the Rheinauhafen.

    Photo: Johannes Fasolt · Public domain

  11. Crane Houses (Kranhäuser)

    Crane Houses (Kranhäuser) Photo

    The upside-down L crane houses.

    Photo: Rolf Heinrich, Köln · CC BY 3.0

Play Cologne in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Cologne on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 11 stops on this route add up to about 6.5 km, roughly 2.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Some stops are far apart, so you may want public transport for a leg.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Cologne is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Cologne?

    Open Cologne in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Cologne leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Brüsseler Platz and finishing at Crane Houses (Kranhäuser). In the game you can take the stops in any order.

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