We had a quick weekend trip to Cologne and Dusseldorf in mid-March for P's birthday. Fun fact: Dusseldorf should be call "Dudes-o-dorf" because it is apparently where all the brits go for their bachelor parties (aka - Stag Dos). The plane was 75% guys, weird phenomenon. We had a lovely weekend of walking around the town, checking out the amazing Cologne cathedral, and browsing German cooking stores (my favorite). Germany is not my favorite European country - I don't care for the food and find it lacking the old world charm of other cities...so not in my top 10, but a nice weekend none the less.
Hotel
Hilton Cologne: This was a fantastic hotel right in the center of town, with all of the amenities of an American chain. Ice machine! Buffet breakfast! King-sized bed! Score! Plus, we are still Hilton Gold members so we got some fun perks (read: free drinks!). We would recommend.
Restaurants
HANS IM GLÜCK: This is rated one of the best burger spots in Europe. It earned it's name. The decor is fantastic (its like you're eating in a forest) and the burgers are delish. This was a fantastic lunch spot and fully lived up to its prestige.
Zippiri: This was a fab restaurant P picked for his birthday - it's Sardinian food from Italy. The wine list is heavenly. If you are here, try the truffle ravioli. It's like a party in your mouth.
Frueh em Dom: If you want traditional German food and beer, this is the place to go. Their sausage was solid and their Kolch beer was the best we had on the trip. Traditional beer hall feel - and it's huge!
Things to Do
Cologne Cathedral: The outside of this Cathedral is just stunning. Comparable to Notre Dome or Westminster - it's a true work of art. We found that the Cathedral at night was the best part. Highly recommend.
Ludwig Musuem: This is a beautiful modern art museum - Warhol paintings, Picasso, and more. You don't need a ton of time (allot 2 hours), but it's a wonderful, fresh collection. Highly recommend stepping out on the terrace - stunning view of the cathedral
Dusseldorf Beer Crawl - Altstadt: We had planned to shop in Dusseldorf, but everything (truly, everything!) is closed on Sundays! Instead, we hopped into 4 micro breweries around town - each had a different taste (and much darker beer than the Kolch in Cologne!)
