Car Rental Cologne - Exploring Cologne

The private Imhoff-Stollwerck Museum of Chocolate, located in the Rheinauhafen, contains everything worth knowing and tasting about the history of chocolate.

Highly popular outdoor tourist attractions is the Botanical Gardens and Cologne’s world-class Zoo, housing over 7000 animals. Starting from the zoo you can cross over into the Rheinpark on Europe's only cable car traversing the Rhine. Former site of Germany's Federal Garden Show, the park is an oasis of flowers and shrubs surrounded by open green spaces, which serves as an ideal spot to relax in fine weather.

Further up river lie the Poller Wiesen, expansive green parks lining the banks of the river, which are used by locals for private parties.

Cologne also has unspoilt woodlands; the largest forest is the Königsforst, a short drive east of the city. Here ramblers have the opportunity to observe wild animals in their natural habitats, such as roedeer, red deer and even badgers.

More than a daytrip is the pleasant drive from Cologne to Frankfurt, which passes Lorelei, the Rhine Valley and other scenic places.

Nearby is Bonn, former capital of West Germany. It has a well preserved medieval Aldstadt and several grand platz lined with stately buildings. Most people however come to visit the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven, seek out the museum dedicated to him and attend a performace of his work at one of the city’s opera houses.