The cathedral, carnival and Kölsch - these are probably the three things that go through your mind every moment you think of the largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, which officially became Germany's fourth metropolis of millions in 2010. The vibrant city on the Rhine has a lot to offer young and old, and families don't miss out here either. To make your journey and stay with the children as comfortable as possible, you can rent all children's items, such as the buggy or the baby seat, from toddgo and pick them up on site.
Cologne can be enjoyed wonderfully in summer. Large parks, promenades and beaches on the Rhine, which invite you to enjoy family excursions and numerous playgrounds for children are just a few of the possibilities that the city offers when the weather is fine.
The Zoo in Cologne is one of the largest in Germany and therefore offers everything that makes a child's heart beat faster. Here the little elephants, penguins, amphibians, cats of prey, rhinos and much more can be admired up close. In addition, the zoo is particularly family-friendly, so you are welcome to bring your own wheel with you. In addition, photography is explicitly allowed, so nothing stands in the way of a family photo in front of the alpaca enclosure. A little tip: plan extra time for the large playground, catering is also provided there.
In 2017, Phantasialand was named Germany's most beautiful amusement park and rightly so. It's not for nothing that around 2 million visitors flock to Brühl in the west of Cologne every year. On 28 hectares, a variety of rides for young and old are offered, a great culinary offer and shows for young and old. The offer and the presentation of the park are especially tailored to the young visitors, because the motto of the park is: Children are kings in Phantasialand! Phantasialand is particularly easy to reach by car from Cologne, and you can rent a suitable child seat from toddgo.
When the weather is fine, the Rheinpark is perfect for a day out with the whole family. Grab a pram or a baby carrier from one of our local providers and enjoy the sun on the banks of the Rhine, the beautifully laid-out playground and take a ride on the mini railway. In the Beachclub the children can dig in the sand while you enjoy an ice-cream café.
If the weather is bad, the children can let off steam to their heart's content in one of the numerous indoor playgrounds. They offer a wide range of play options, from ball pools and bouncy castles to exciting slides.
If it's already wet outside, you can also plunge into the water yourself. But in the warmth! The Aqualand is an indoor water park in a class of its own. For the grown-ups there is a sauna area and water slides, for the small children's pools with all kinds of water toys. Here you can spend a whole day with your family and food is provided thanks to the own gastronomy.
Just outside Cologne, in Troisdorf, lies Burg Wissem, which houses the Picture Book Museum. More than 3000 picture books from several centuries can be viewed in the open library, some of them even in the original. The museum is also the world's largest Janosch centre.
When temperatures drop below freezing and days get shorter, the choice of family outings is usually much smaller. But Cologne also has a lot to offer in the cold season.
The Krewelshof is a great destination for children all year round. A roofed play barn, a beautiful outdoor playground and all kinds of animals to pet ensure that time flies by. In winter there is also a large skating rink.
On "Heinzels Wintermärchen", Cologne's oldest and at the same time largest Christmas market in the middle of the old town, the Heinzelmännchen awaken the magic of Christmas. Especially the toy alley inspires the children every year anew. Here, too, you can skate on a beautiful ice rink.
Away from the hustle and bustle, yet central, is the Christmas market at the Stadtgarten. More than 90 beautifully decorated stalls provide the catering and on stage the actors inspire the children with poems, fairy tales, stories and puppet theatre around Christmas.
Last but not least, there are several places in Cologne where you can toboggan super. So get on the sledges and off into the snow!