Cologne Shopping Tour (Self Guided), Cologne

Calling the shops, whilst in Cologne, is the thing you definitely should not miss! One of the most popular shopping destinations in Germany, this “cathedral” city abounds in malls, designer stores and various national and international brand outlets fit to impress anyone and let you shop till you drop! Some people even make special trips to Cologne just to stroll and buy things to their heart's content.

The most popular shopping streets – Schildergasse and Hohe Straße (High Street) – are among the most-visited in Germany. Schildergasse's highlight is the Weltstadthaus, which resembles a huge glass whale, inside which there is the Peek & Cloppenburg clothing store. Also lining Schildergasse you will find plenty of other major department stores, such as H&M and Zara, and of course shoe stores.

Walking along this pedestrianised thoroughfare you will reach Neumarkt, home to a smart shopping center based around the Neumarkt Galerie mall. Running from Schildergasse towards Wallrafplatz, near the Dom, is Hohe Straße. Here you can buy just about everything, from fashion to cosmetics to jewelery and electronic equipment; numerous souvenir shops offer Cologne mementos. Galeria Kaufhof (Cologne's best general department store) is also located in Hohe Straße.

Both Schildergasse and Hohe Straße shops are open Monday through Saturday 10:00-20:00; whereas elsewhere 10:00-18:00 is the norm.

In general, shopping in Cologne covers pretty much all bases. Design, innovation and character are prized possessions here - and the local boutiques duly reflect that. If you are planning a holiday trip to Cologne with a bit of shopping in mind, you can visit these locations with the help of our self-guided walking tour and experience the best shopping in this historical city!

Image Courtesy of Flickr and R/DV/RS.

How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walks in Cologne

Map Instructions: (1) Click the "Nearby Sights" button to view the nearby attractions; (2) click a map pin to see sight information.

Guide Name: Cologne Shopping Tour
Guide Location: Germany » Cologne (See other walking tours in Cologne)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles

Sights Featured in This Walk

WalkBuilder (customize this walk)

Use the WalkBuilder tool below to customize this walk to suit your interests. Instructions: click

at the upper right corner in the map above to view other sights in the city. To learn more about a sight, click a map pin. Click the “+” or “–” to add or remove a sight from the walk. To reorder the selected sights, simply drag and move them up or down the list in the left column.

Click here to view route map

Enter a name for your custom walk, along with your email address, in the fields below. You will receive the instructions for retrieving your custom walk in the GPSmyCity app by email. The GPSmyCity app offers turn-by-turn travel directions to guide you from one attraction to the next.
Walk Name*:
Email*:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I access my walking tour in Cologne?
Save your walking tour on the website. Then download the GPSmyCity app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and sign in to your GPSmyCity account. Next, download “Cologne Map and Walking Tours” within the app. Your walk will appear on the Walks screen.

2. How do I view other attractions in Cologne?
At the upper-right corner of the map above, click the “Nearby Sights” button to show or hide other sights in the city. Click a map pin to view details about a sight. To add a sight to your walk, find it in the right column of the WalkBuilder tool above and click the “+” button next to it.

3. How do I re-arrange the sight order?
In the left column of the WalkBuilder tool, drag a sight to move it up or down the list. Then click “Click here to view route map”. Repeat this process until the route meets your needs.

4. Can I add my hotel to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add your hotel as the starting point, the ending point, or both (creating a loop route). This feature is currently available only in the GPSmyCity app.

5. Can I add my own sights to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add sightss that are not in our database and include them in your walk. To do so, sign in to your GPSmyCity account on the website or use the GPSmyCity app.

6. How many sights can be included in a walking tour?
For technical reasons, the number of sights in a walking tour is currently capped at 20. This limit may be increased over time.

Walking Tours in Cologne, Germany

Create Your Own Walk in Cologne

Creating your own self-guided walk in Cologne is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Beer House Walking Tour

In Cologne they say, "Kölsch is the only language you can drink." Brewed only here and nowhere else, Kölsch – a light beer, slightly bitter, bright yellow in color, and made of top-fermented yeast – is forbidden for production in any other part of Germany.

Each licensed brewery in the city makes its own variation of Kölsch, served traditionally in a tall, thin, cylindrical... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles

Cologne's Architectural Landmarks Walking Tour

Around 75% of Cologne was destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II. Following such devastation, it meant that most of what was built immediately after the war came from the so-called “As quickly and cheaply as possible” school of architecture. Eventually, as the things settled, the architects were given the chance to build something that would really stand out.

Decades later, the... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles

Cologne's Historical Churches Walking Tour

The beautiful and historically rich city of Cologne has been around for over 2,000 years. For centuries, it has been regarded as a very important religious center.

The Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), one of its biggest attractions, is renowned as a symbol of Christianity and “a masterpiece of exceptional intrinsic value” (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The twelve Romanesque churches of... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles

Cologne Introduction Walking Tour

Cologne-one of Germany’s oldest cities, whose name sounds like a perfume, and for a good reason... With over 2,000 years of history packed into its cobblestoned streets and riverside promenades, this city has seen it all-from Roman emperors to French invaders to enthusiastic beer drinkers in the 21st century.

Back in the first century BC, the Romans set up a camp and called it Colonia Claudia... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles