Jen
Los Angeles
I'll be heading to Cologne for work in early April and wanted to explore the city and surrounding area. While I've been to Europe several times before (mostly traveling solo), this will be my first trip to Germany so I am not too familiar with things to see and do. What other cities are nearby that are worth exploring and what is recommended to do in Cologne for a female traveling solo?
Thanks so much for any and all insight!
Cologne Cathedralis a definite must see. As for places nearby, it's very easy to make a daytrip by train to Koblenz, which has a fascinating and very pleasant historical centre, or to go further down the Rhine River to e.g Bingen am Rhein or Rudesheim am Rhein. You could, for example, take the train to e.g. Bingen and then a river cruise to Koblenz before getting the train back to Koeln.
Dusseldorf, although it suffered severe bomb damage during WW2, still has a pleasant and interesting historical centre. It too is an easy trip by train from Koeln.
Look at the official German railway website in English linked below for train times, details and fares. Fast trains often have good advance online discount fares which you can easily buy through the site (you print out your own eticket):
https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml
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Cologne in itself has very much to offer, so unless you have much time off, I would concentrate on the city itself. If you do have time, a cruise on the Rhine River is a must.
