What to do in Cologne when it rains
Rainy days suit Cologne: trade the streets for its galleries and museums, a sheltered market, and a café where you can watch the weather go by.
Museums
Spend a few hours in the city's museums — many are free, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to take your time.
- Cologne Cathedral Domkloster 4, 50667 Köln, Germany
- Schokoladenmuseum Köln Am Schokoladenmuseum 1a, 50678 Köln, Germany
- Museum Ludwig Heinrich-Böll-Platz, 50667 Köln, Germany
- Wallraf-Richartz-Museum & Fondation Corboud Obenmarspforten 40, 50667 Köln, Germany
- National Socialism Documentation Center of the City of Cologne Appellhofpl. 23-25, 50667 Köln, Germany
- Duftmuseum im Farina Haus Obenmarspforten 21, 50667 Köln, Germany
Art galleries
Duck into the art galleries; they're quiet, warm and rarely busier than on a wet day.
- Cologne Central Mosque Venloer Str. 160, 50823 Köln, Germany
- 3D Schwarzlicht Minigolf Köln Aachener Str. 68, 50674 Köln, Germany
- Image and Frame Workshop Rennebergstraße 5, 50939 Köln-Lindenthal, Germany
- Bayenwerft Kunsthaus Rhenania Bayenstraße 28, 50678 Köln, Germany
- KunstWerk e.V. Deutz-Mülheimer Str. 115, 51063 Köln, Germany
- Belgisches Haus Cäcilienstraße 46, 50667 Köln, Germany
Historic sites
Explore the indoor historic sites and their covered galleries.
- Heumarkt Heumarkt, 50667 Köln, Germany
- Eigelsteintorburg Eigelstein 135, 50668 Köln, Germany
- Hahnen Gate Rudolfplatz 1, 50674 Köln, Germany
- Severinstorburg Chlodwigpl. 19, 50678 Köln, Germany
- Ulrepforte Innenstadt, 50677 Cologne, Germany
- Time Ride Alter Markt 36-42, 50667 Köln, Germany
Covered markets
Browse the covered market — street-food stalls, local makers and somewhere dry to graze for an hour.
- toom Neuer Weyerstraßerweg 2, 50969 Köln-Rodenkirchen, Germany
- Heinzels Wintermärchen - Weihnachtsmarkt Kölner Altstadt Köln-Altstadt-Nord, 50678 Cologne, Germany
- Mülheim Wiener Platz Wiener Platz 4, 51065 Köln-Mülheim, Germany
- Wilhelmplatz Wilhelmplatz, 50733 Köln, Germany
- Markt der Engel Neumarkt, 50667 Köln, Germany
- Weihnachtsmarkt Köln Rudolfplatz - Nikolausdorf Rudolfplatz, 50674 Köln, Germany
Cafés
Claim a window seat in a cosy café and watch the rain instead of walking in it.
- Café Buur Richard-Wagner-Str. 28, 50674 Köln, Germany
- Beigel Brüsseler Str. 44A, 50674 Köln, Germany
- die wohngemeinschaft • Café • Bar • Hostel • Meeting Spaces • Theater Richard-Wagner-Str. 39, 50674 Köln, Germany
- ST. LOUIS Breakfast Meister-Gerhard-Straße 30, 50674 Köln, Germany
- Kaffeesaurus Friesenpl. 15, 50672 Köln, Germany
- Rex Am Ring Hohenzollernring 60, 50672 Köln, Germany
Indoor shopping
Hit the covered shopping streets and centres — everything under one roof.
- Köln Arcaden Kalker Hauptstraße 55, 51103 Köln, Germany
- Einkaufsbahnhof Köln Hbf Trankgasse 11, 50667 Köln, Germany
- NEUMARKT Galerie Köln Neumarkt 2-4, 50667 Köln, Germany
- Opern Passagen Schwertnergasse 1, 50667 Köln, Germany
- Quincy Breite Str. 80-90, 50667 Köln, Germany
- WDR Arkaden Elstergasse 4, 50667 Köln, Germany
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 36 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.