Alter Markt

Alter Markt: Our most recommended tours and activities

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  1. Cologne: Brewery Tour with Three "Kölsch" Tastings

  If you are you looking for a fun way to explore the beautiful city and history of Cologne, this renowned brewery tour is a great choice. On this tour, the guides have the freedom to choose which breweries to take you to. This allows them to make decisions based on the group dynamic, ensuring that everyone is entertained and satisfied. If you'd like an even more personalized experience, select the option with a private guide. The 2-hour tour begins near the cathedral's grand entrance by the Kreuzblumen monument. After a couple of fun facts about the cathedral and the Kreuzblume, you start the thirst-quenching journey to three different breweries, where you will taste three delicious local beers to find the one that best suits you. You will not only learn a little bit about the breweries and the local brewing culture, but most importantly, you will taste the result of hundreds of years o...

  Very enjoyable afternoon trip with Johann, our friendly guide, showing us a bit of Cologne, some breweries and telling us about the city and some of the customs around the local lager, Koelsch.

  Reviewed by Petra, 1/27/2020
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  2. Cologne: Guided Highlights Tour with a Local

  Explore the cathedral from the outside. View the Dionysius mosaic from the outside the Roman-Germanic Museum. Stop by the Heizelmännchen fountain. Discover the town hall, the Alter Markt, and the banks of the Rhine River. See the well-preserved Roman ruins from when Cologne was a Roman colony. Walk along the old Roman city wall and see the “Roman Tower,” the northwestern corner tower of the Roman city wall, which is almost completely preserved. Stroll down the Roman harbor road and see a section of the Roman sewer.

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  3. Cologne: Virtual Reality Time Travel to Old Cologne

  Set out on a thrilling journey with TimeRide and experience the undestroyed Cologne and the fascinating lifestyle of the legendary twenties! Together with the charming hatter Tessa and the Cologne streetcar driver Pitter, you will discover the exciting time after the end of the First World War, the British occupation, and the Spanish flu. Your time travel in three steps: · The Cinema: In the 1920s, more and more movie theaters evolved into massive movie palaces. The cinema was a ubiquitous and glamorous part of everyday life and an important source of information. Step into our “Lichtspielhaus” and take a seat together with the fine society: an entertaining short film in the style of that time will show you the historical development of Cologne in the twenties. · The Hatter's Store: In the hatter’s store of the Riedschneider family you will dive together with Tessa into the world of gla...

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  4. Cologne Cathedral and Old Town Tour with 1 Kölsch

  Enjoy a historical tour of Cologne's old town and see interesting parts of the city while listening to interesting information about it. Be impressed by the outside of the Cologne Cathedral, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.   See the Alter Markt and walk along the Rhine with its picturesque views. Your tour guide is more than happy to show you around and provide you with exciting facts about the history and special culture of Cologne.  Hear about the Romans in Cologne and get some great survival tips for the city. Visit a traditional and rustic brewhouse and enjoy a beer with the group (Kölsch).

  Great tour with Leona, our “Kölsche Mäd’l”. We had fun 2 hours, learning a lot about the history or the DOM and the old city center, as well as funny side stories and fairytales from the city’s past! Highly recommend this tour to everyone new to cologne.

  Reviewed by Dominik, 6/9/2019
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  5. Cologne: Guided E-Scooter Tour

  See the most beautiful landmarks of Cologne on a 3-wheeled scooter. Start your tour at the Alter Messeturm at the edge of the Rheinhallen in Deutz with a view over the Rhine to the famous Cathedral of the city. Cruise to the Hohenzollern Bridge - one of the city's landmarks and the busiest railway bridge in Germany. Cross the bridge on the way to the main station, catching beautiful views of the old town and the Rhine promenade. Pass the Heinrich-Böll-Platz with the striking Ludwig Museum and the Philharmonie, then drive around the imposing Cologne Cathedral. Venture through the small alleys of the historic Gürzenich with its hay market and then continue to the hub of the Old Town, the Old Market Square with the oldest town hall in Germany. After a short break, visit "Tünnes and Schäles", two puppet sculptures embedded in the culture and humor of the city. Rub their noses for an extra p...

  We accidentally booked the tour not knowing it was in German. The tour guide was German but still did the tour for us and did a great job. The scooters were very nice and fun! I hope they add a English tour guide in the future. I wish the pickup location was closer to the other side of the river. It was too far away from all the attractions.

  Reviewed by Ashland, 9/6/2020
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  6. Cologne: Kölsch Beer and Brew House 2-Hour Tour

  Learn more about the beer culture of Cologne on a 2-hour guided tour of the historic city center. See famous monuments along the way, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cologne Cathedral. Venture into the Alter Markt to locate some of the finest brew houses in the city, and learn more about the open-minded and passionate attitude of the city's residents. Hear about their drinking rituals and why beer has become such a special culture in the city. Get insider tips to make more of your time in Cologne and visit popular venues such as the Hennes am Dom and Heinzelmännchenbrunnen brew houses. Hear about the small kiosk stores known as büdchen, often converted from colorful former shipping containers.

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  7. Cologne: Old Town Virtual Reality Tour

  Explore Cologne's highlights such as the famous Old town, the romantic Hohenzollern Bridge, and the iconic Cologne Cathedral. Walk through the Old Town and learn all about the rich history of Cologne from your knowledgeable guide. Experience important stages of Cologne's more than 2000-year-old city history up close through virtual reality scenes at six different locations. Use the virtual reality glasses and compare the past with the present. Get a glimpse of the Roman border, witness the metropolis of the Middle Ages, see the outpost of French and Prussian rule, and look at the destruction caused during World War II.  Listen to insightful stories from those time periods which enhances the experience even further. Once you remove your virtual reality glasses, see the shocking contrast between now and then and find that some of the buildings are no longer visible, while others remained...

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  8. Cologne: Histories & Typical Cologne

  Get to know humorous stories and anecdotes on this entertaining tour together with a native of Cologne. Perhaps you are thinking of Tünnes and Schäl, the Kallendresser or the notorious Kölschen Klüngel? Is it the numerous well-known songs that appeal to young and old alike, often sung during the carnival season? Or is it the countless stories and anecdotes that are often told with a wink about the city and its inhabitants?  At the end of this humorous walking tour through the old town, you will surely agree: Cologne is a way of life. This tour is only available in German.

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  9. Amusing Stories of Cologne Walking Tour

  Do you know the saying "Köln ist ein Gefühl" (Cologne is a feeling)? All the odd stories and anecdotes, which the Cologne people love to tell — in most cases with a twinkle in the eye — are part of the typical mentality and they reflect why the Cologne people love their city. Did you know that Tünnes and Schäl have lived with their friend Jupp Engels in the small house with the address Alter Markt 24 for many years? Or what is it about the Kallendresser and the Platzjabbeck? Why do the inhabitants speak about "schäl Sick", when they mean the Cologne quarters on the eastern bank of the river Rhine? And how far the distance is between the old town and the moon? During a stroll from the cathedral to the historic city center, your guide will let you partake in the Cologne mentality and will give you some insight into the soul of Cologne and of the Cologne people.

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  10. From Amsterdam: Cologne Private Sightseeing Tour

  Start your sightseeing tour with pickup from your accommodation in Amsterdam. Cologne is located near the border of the Netherlands and is a beautiful city to visit with plenty to see. The Cologne Cathedral is the most famous church in Germany and is a great place to visit on this tour. You can also visit Alter Markt, a historic square with beautiful narrow alleys in the old town of Cologne. It's now a popular place to go out for a drink. If you are a beer lover, try the Cologne beer Kölsch. Also, make sure you take a look at the historic Gaffel Haus at Alter Markt. If you like shopping, you should definitely visit the Hohe Strasse. This is the main shopping street in Cologne. If you are visiting around the Christmas period, don't forget the Christmas markets. Christmas markets are typically German. Experience the cozy, warm Christmas atmosphere with a glass of mulled wine or hot choco...