Cologne in April: a seasonal travel plan

Weather at a glance

Daytime high

14.3 °C

Nighttime low

3.8 °C

Monthly precipitation

49.7 mm

Days with at least 1 mm

10.4

Daylight

13.8 h

2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.

Early, middle and late month

What this month is like

Cologne, Germany. In april, the average daytime high is 14.3 °C and the night-time low is 3.8 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.

There are 10.4 wet days on average, with about 49.7 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.

How to plan the day

Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.

Average daylight is 13.8 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.

What to pack

Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.

Precipitation and an alternative plan

There are several days with precipitation during the month. A light waterproof layer can help you continue your route outdoors.

What to pack

Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. The day-to-night temperature difference is noticeable, so dressing in layers is practical. A compact rain jacket takes little room in a day bag.

Compared with neighbouring months

Average daytime high: previous month — 10.7 °C, April — 14.3 °C, next month — 18.7 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 14.0, 10.4 and 12.1.

Things to do

Cologne stands on the Rhine, and two landmarks define its skyline: the Gothic cathedral beside the main station and the river promenade with its bridges. The centre is compact, the old town and Belgian Quarter can be walked, and trams reach the outer districts.

Cologne Cathedral

Climb the spiral staircase of the cathedral's south tower to the viewing platform, where the Rhine and the whole centre open below. See the interior and the stained glass downstairs, and allow about an hour for the ascent.

Museum Ludwig

Museum Ludwig beside the cathedral holds pop art, surrealism and Russian avant-garde work. Afterwards walk along the Rhine to the Hohenzollernbrücke. Two floors of the collection take about two hours, and there is a café inside.

Kölsch in a brewery

Order a Kölsch in one of the historic breweries of the old town, such as Früh am Dom or Brauhaus Sion. Waiters carry small glasses and mark each one on your coaster.

Where to stay

Altstadt

The old town works for a first visit: cathedral, promenade and breweries are close. It is busy with tourists, and evenings get loud around the Alter Markt. You can spend a whole day here without leaving the quarter.

Belgian Quarter

The Belgian Quarter draws people for cafés, small shops and quiet streets. The centre is about twenty minutes on foot, and evenings here are calmer. There are more cafés here and fewer tourists than by the cathedral.

Deutz

Deutz sits on the right bank and gives a view back to the cathedral and the old town. It suits trade-fair visitors at Koelnmesse, though there is little life in the evening.

Getting to and around Cologne

Cologne/Bonn Airport lies fifteen kilometres south-east of the centre; S-Bahn lines S13 and S19 reach the Hauptbahnhof in about fifteen minutes. Trams and the U-Bahn run through the city, and the centre is walkable. The Hohenzollernbrücke links the cathedral with Deutz and is the easy way across the Rhine. From the station it is a short walk across the square to the cathedral.

Three days in Cologne

Cathedral and old town

Start at Cologne Cathedral with the climb up the tower, then walk into the old town to the Alter Markt. In the afternoon go down to the Rhine promenade and cross the Hohenzollernbrücke.

Museums and chocolate

See Museum Ludwig and the Römisch-Germanisches Museum in the morning, then ride to the Schokoladenmuseum. Come back along the promenade and end the day in a brewery. From the museums follow the promenade to the bridge and back to the centre.

Belgian Quarter and Brühl

Walk through the Belgian Quarter over breakfast and look into the market. Then take the train to Brühl for the Augustusburg palace, a UNESCO site. The palace and park take half a day, and trains back run often.

Weather throughout the year

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