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Cologne

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Cologne

16 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Cologne, Germany

Updated December 7, 2025

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Unusual Attractions in Cologne

The Golden Chamber at St. Ursula

Cologne, Germany

Church of St. Ursula

A church filled with the bones of hundreds of virgins martyrs—or so they say.

Chandelier Hall in the Cologne sewage system.

Cologne, Germany

Chandelier Hall

An elegant chandelier hangs over this ancient sewer chamber, now open for concerts and public tours.

Close up of some of the 40,000 padlocks of love.

Cologne, Germany

Cologne's Love Locks Bridge

Thousands of tourists and residents in Cologne affix "love padlocks" on the Hohenzollernbrücke Bridge to symbolize their affections.

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St. Petersglocke

Cologne, Germany

St. Petersglocke

The largest bell in the world has been swinging high above a Cologne cathedral for almost a century.

The self-playing musical marionettes.

Cologne, Germany

Papa Joe's Biersalon Klimperkasten

If the tunes of antique organs and musical marionettes don't intoxicate you, the draft beer certainly will.

Cologne, Germany

Roman Tomb Köln-Weiden

The final resting place for a wealthy Roman family, this tomb might be the best preserved of its kind outside Italy.

Part of the memorial mural in honour of the

Cologne, Germany

Memorial to the Edelweiss Pirates

A poignant mural honors the heroic teenage non-conformists who took on the Nazis and paid the ultimate price.

See All 16 Things To Do in Cologne

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Cologne

The self-playing musical marionettes.

Cologne, Germany

Papa Joe's Biersalon Klimperkasten

If the tunes of antique organs and musical marionettes don't intoxicate you, the draft beer certainly will.

Cologne, Germany

Senfmuseum (Mustard Museum)

This small condiment museum makes all manner of mustards with a 200-year-old mill.

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Music 3

Sacred Spaces 3

Churches 2

Relics And Reliquaries 2

Relics 2

Architecture 2

Saints 2

Religion 2

Subterranean Sites 2

Museums 2

Fountains 1

Collections 1

Murals 1

Nazis 1

Bridges 1

Bars 1

Secret 1

Infrastructure 1

Memorials 1

Sewers 1

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