Cologne's 16 Most Cutting-Edge Museums & Art Galleries

Though it’s located in the heart of the city, visitors to Cologne could easily be forgiven for missing the Käthe Kollwitz Museum, hidden as it is above a shopping gallery at Cologne’s Neumarkt. However, what the museum lacks in size and status it makes up for with its art. Käthe Kollwitz was a German artist active in the first half of the 20th century, whose subject matter invariably focused on the tragedy of human suffering. The 750 pieces housed in this museum (including her paintings, prints and sculptures) may not be particularly uplifting but demonstrate impeccable skill and an emotional pathos that will leave few indifferent. A trip to this museum is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on both the artistically and historically minded.

The Cologne Sculpture Park is a space that defies easy categorization. It is, arguably, neither a museum nor a gallery, but for any art lover it is not to be missed. Since 1997, the 25,000 square foot public park has proudly displayed a diverse collection of contemporary international sculpture – including some of the most respected names in the art world. Moreover, the exhibition is constantly evolving; every two years new sculptures are selected and put on display making this park an ideal candidate for repeat visits. The sculptures on display between 2011 and 2013 included works by Gunther Forg, Martin Boyce, Leiko Ikemura, Dirk Skreber and many other well-known artists. This park is the perfect destination for those looking for something other than the traditional museum experience and there is something rather liberating about viewing the pieces outside.

Located right next to Cologne Cathedral, the Romano-Germanic Museum is dedicated to archaeological artefacts from 100,000 years of settlement history in the Rhineland area and Cologne’s Roman heritage. The centrepiece of the collection, quite literally, is the renowned Dionysus Mosaic. The museum was built on the foundations of a Roman villa, and around the 70 metre (750ft²) masterpiece which once decorated the floor of the old dining hall. Thirty-three years after the mosaic was unearthed in 1941, the museum opened its doors to the public.Some other highlights include the world’s largest collection of Roman glass vessels, stone tools and weapons from the Neolithic age, filigree Merovingians goldsmith’s art and the reconstructed 15 metre (50ft) high tomb of Lucius Poblicius, a Roman veteran legionary, which dates back to 40AD. Recommended by Marion Kutter.

At 4,000 square-metres (43,000ft²), the Cologne Chocolate Museum tells visitors everything there is to know about our favourite treat. The exhibition explores 5,000 years of cultural history of chocolate, and follows the cocoa bean from the roasting to the wrapped chocolate bar. Along the way, visitors step through a tropical greenhouse with grown cocoa trees, peek through glass windows at the machines along each step of the production process, and arrive at a three metre (10ft) tall fountain with 200 kilograms (440lbs) of melted chocolate waiting to be sampled. The museum offers themed tours in German and English which you can book online. Recommended by Marion Kutter.

When visiting Cologne it is hard not to be aware of the city’s Catholic past, with the cathedral being its most famous feature. It is hardly surprising that the city plays host to numerous collections of religious artworks. Kolumba is a museum run by the Archdiocese of Cologne and comes highly recommended. The museum itself is worthy of artistic interest, combining remnants of the original St Columba church, a 1950s chapel and medieval ruins in a beautiful juxtaposition of old and new architecture. The art work dates from late antiquity to the present day and includes everything from 12th century paintings to modern video installations. As such Kolumba offers a refreshing variety of art that is often lacking in similar museums. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy thought-provoking artwork at their own pace. This is not a conventional museum and has the ability to win over those with a little or no interest in religious art.

In 1824, university professor and art collector Ferdinand Franz Wallraf bequeathed his collection to the city of Cologne. Thirty years later, Cologne merchant Johann Heinrich Richartz donated the funds to build a museum to house the precious artworks, giving the museum its name. Over three floors, Cologne’s oldest museum houses European art spanning from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century, with each story dedicated to a different period. Besides the most extensive collection of impressionist and neo-impressionist art in Germany, composed of prominent artworks by Monet, Renoir, Morisot, van Gogh, Cézanne, Rembrandt, and Munch, the museum features several baroque paintings by Rubens and Rembrandt. Lochner’s “Madonna in the Rose Bower,” also known as “kölsche Mona Lisa,” is the most notable piece in the Gothic collection. Recommended by Marion Kutter.

Though Cologne is, perhaps, best known for its role at the forefront of contemporary art, the city is not exclusively the home of modern artistic exhibitions. The Museen der Stadt Köln currently houses the Rhenish Photographic Archive. Founded in 1925, this archive of historical photographs documents the continually evolving culture and heritage of Cologne itself. This is the place to go if photography is your preferred artistic medium. Recently, the archive has also bolstered its artistic standing by acquiring numerous images by famous local photographers such as Hugo Schmölz and P.P. Fürst. One of the more unusual aspects of this archive, however, is the fact the photographs are preserved as black and white negatives, giving visitors a charmingly nostalgic experience.

Galerie Nagel Draxler was founded in 1990 and since its conception has become one of the best places to see truly modern art in Cologne. The gallery’s original aim, of showcasing revolutionary conceptual art, has given it a wonderful element of unpredictability. The gallery is a champion of diverse mediums and original artists, and also seems to have something of a sixth-sense when it comes to predicting upcoming artistic trends. Many of the artists who have debuted work here have gone on to make waves within the art community, making this the perfect place to see or even buy a future great. The art on display at Galerie Nagel Draxler is amongst the most dynamic in Cologne; it sometimes divides artistic opinion but is always stimulating.

Right across the road from the Wallraf-Richartz Museum lies the world’s oldest fragrance factory and the birthplace of the original Eau de Cologne. Booking a guided tour is mandatory, and takes visitors through 300 years of fragrance history. Furniture, art pieces, and several authentic objects from the production site tell the story of Italian perfumer Johann Maria Farina who first created the now world-famous scent in Cologne in 1709. King Louis XV and King Frederik the Great were among his most famous customers. Visitors can sniff at individual components of the fragrance and purchase a flask of the original on the way out.Tours run daily and are available in German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian. Recommended by Marion Kutter.

Galerie Boisserée, located in the centre of downtown Cologne, is a champion of the graphic technique and dedicated to presenting the very best in graphic art. With a history stretching back to 1838 the gallery is well established within the local art scene. The gallery contains single artist exhibitions allowing visitors to get a real sense of individual artists’ chosen style and approach. Gallery owners Johannes Schilling and Thomas Weber have a preoccupation with artistic engagement that shines through via the quality of the art displayed. This, combined with Galerie Boisseree’s central location and surplus of large inviting windows make it difficult to resist a look around this illustrious gallery and the majority of visitors will not be disappointed with what they find.

The Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst or the Museum of East Asian Art is a well-known name amongst Cologne’s museums. However, it is far from the busiest tourist location and for those with a taste for the exotic it should definitely be on the itinerary. Before even crossing the threshold the exterior building and gardens invoke the Far East and the inside does not disappoint either. The heart of the collection was collected by museum founders, Adolf Fischer (1857-1914) and Frieda Bartdorff (1874-1945), and features everything from Buddhist sculpture to lacquer art. While of course wider questions remain to be answered about the rightful owners of non-Western ancient artifacts, this museum is doubtless fascinating and provides a unique perspective on East Asian culture in Cologne.

Between 1935 and 1945 this building was the headquarters of the Secret State Police of Nazi Germany, the Gestapo. Now the building is home to Cologne’s NS Documentation Center. Media stations incorporate interviews with contemporary witnesses, historical films, newspaper articles, and other resources to document Cologne during the Third Reich. In the basement, former prison cells and torture rooms have been left in their original condition, and inscriptions of former inmates can still be seen on the walls serving as a reminder of the harrowing past. Recommended by Marion Kutter.

After World War II, Josef Haubrich donated his modern art collection to the city of Cologne, including pieces by Otto Dix, Emil Nolde and Marc Cha­gall. Thirty years later, Peter and Irene Ludwig gifted the city of Cologne another 350 art pieces, on condition that the city would build a new museum. Their donation lay the groundworks for what has become one of the most significant museums of modern and contemporary art in Europe and is a must-stop for tourists. The Museum Ludwig boasts the largest exhibition of pop art outside the US, 900 Picassos, and important works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Alexan­der Rodchenko, and others. Recommended by Marion Kutter.

The ethnographic museum explores the differences and similarities of world cultures in the past and present. Divided into two areas – Understanding the World and Shaping the World – the exhibition looks at all aspects of human cultures, including living concepts, religion and identity. The interactive multimedia displays allow visitors to immerse themselves in foreign cultures and take different perspectives. If you’d like to know the answer to questions such as ‘How does life in the desert work?’, ‘What is the purpose of ancestor figures?’, ‘What made tipis so convenient?’, put the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum on your list. Recommended by Marion Kutter.

Outside the city centre, a museum is dedicated entirely to Cologne’s ‘fifth season’. From the history of the much-loved festival to traditional costumes, recordings of festive songs and explanations of essential vocabulary, the grounds cover all questions both Carnival enthusiasts and novices would ask. The Carnival Museum is open on select days each month and visitors are advised to check the website beforehand. Recommended by Marion Kutter.

The German Sports and Olympic Museum takes visitors on a journey from ancient Greece to the modern day and remembers leading athletes, triumphs, and defeats in the history of sports. The permanent exhibition features medals, certificates, clothes, sports equipment, including Michael Schumacher’s Formula One Benetton Renault race car, and other memorabilia. A handful of themed areas focus on the Olympics, German gymnastics, and new trend sports, among others. Active participation is encouraged. On the roof, visitors can play football, tennis, and volleyball while enjoying views over the Rhine. Recommended by Marion Kutter.