Cool insta-worthy spots in Cologne

We all know what it’s like. You’re strolling through a fantastic city, taking in the view when you start wondering where the coolest place for an Instagram pic would be. Cologne is full of “gram-worthy” spots but that’s no good to you if you don’t know where they are. Though a photo by the Rhine, with the cathedral in the background, is always nice, if you head out beyond the tourist trail you’ll find lots more instagrammable places. Here are five cool insta spots in Cologne – all outside so you don’t have to worry about (Covid) health risks.

The Ehrenfeld district is always worth a visit, what with its multitude of great cafés, restaurants and cute little shops. If you’re looking for a good photo, check out the area around Ehrenfeld station. It’s full of colourful and skilful street paintings bound to make an impact on any Instagram feed. Even the station tunnel, which leads up to the platforms, is adorned with vibrant art but the exterior wall is really impressive too. 300 metres long, it’s served as a canvas for brightly coloured paintings since 2014. My favourite, and the backdrop to many of my insta poses, is definitely “Miss Plattenbau”.

Gerhard-Wilczek-Platz, 50823 Cologne
Public transport stop: Bahnhof Ehrenfeld, Venloer Straße/Gürtel, Liebigstraße

The Rheinauhafen complex is actually quite a well-known tourist spot thanks to the chocolate museum and its location not too far from the cathedral and the old part of the city. Its imposing “crane houses” are totally insta-worthy themselves but the marina right behind them is even better. It’s a wonderful place to relax – and take some fantastic photos. If you find the right position, you can even get the boats, the crane houses and the cathedral in one photo!

Bayenstraße 28a, 50678 Cologne
Public transport stop: Heumarkt

If you’re looking for that beach feeling in Cologne, Rodenkirchen’s riviera is the place for you! Rodenkirchen is a district in the south of Cologne and its “riviera” is a particularly lovely stretch of the Rhine’s shore. It’s got lots of bays (large and small), fine sand, shady trees and boats passing by. The perfect spot for photos with that vacation vibe to add a touch of seaside flair to your Instagram feed – despite being just a few tram stops away from Cologne’s city centre.

To get there by tram/underground, your best bet is to take the number 16 or 17 for Sürth/Wesseling/Bonn and get off at either the Heinrich Lübke Ufer or Rodenkirchen Bahnhof stop.

Public transport stop: Heinrich Lübke Ufer, Rodenkirchen Bahnhof

Nestled between Mediapark and the Innere Kanalstrasse thoroughfare is Herkulesberg, one of Cologne’s eleven “hills” made from World War II rubble. Herkulesberg Bridge is hidden away a little and the best way to find it is to take the route through Stadtgarten park. The bridge is made of steel and concrete and crosses the tracks of the former Gereon freight yard. Its industrial charm offers an unusual backdrop for photos. Depending on the weather (and visibility!), there’s a great view from here and your pictures will even have Cologne Cathedral in the background.

Erftstraße 38, 50672 Cologne
Public transport stop: Hansaring

Mülheim is a vibrant, multicultural district across the river from the city centre, and definitely a place worth visiting. If you’re a fan of industrial heritage, you should also check out Carlswerk, which is situated on 125m² of former industrial space. It’s home to an urban und creative quarter, with a commercial campus, numerous businesses, Schauspiel Köln theatre, restaurants and much more. You’re guaranteed to find a wide variety of fabulous insta spots here – be it below the theatre’s sign, in the herb garden or on one of the many colourful seats around the site.

Schanzenstraße 6-20, 51063 Cologne
Public transport stop: Keupstraße