Travelling to Cologne next week for business and will have 2 days (Wednesday and Thursday) to tour the city. I'm female, 30 and travelling alone. I will be staying at Hotel im Wasserturm.

What would you recommend as the best time to visit the Cologne Cathedral, and how long should I expect for a visit?

I'm also in need of the following:
City tour/walking tour suggestions (in English)
Restaurant suggestions - this is my first time in Germany so I am not very familias with local cuisine.
Shopping places
Other must visit places/must do activities

Thank you!

http://www.cologne.de/

I went to the Museum Ludwig and then had a very nice lunch in their cafe. I also ate at Cyclo, which was recommended to me by one of the men who worked in my hotel. I enjoyed my meal there too, http://www.cyclo-koeln.de/.

I was in the Dom often because it was always open so I would walk through it on the way from my hotel and the train station, to other sections of town. This gave me time to observe the Dom at my leisure. I also walked through the Altstadt and in and out of the numerous other churches that are in the area. I was there for three days, but one day I spent visiting friends. I did not feel I had seen and done all that I would like to do in Cologne, so I plan to return there again!

The Hohe Strasse (High Street) is a pleasant pedestrian / shopping/ restaurant area that starts at the Dom and goes several blocks south.

You can climb up a tower in the Dom and enjoy the view, but there was quite a long line when we were there on a weekend... that part alone (waiting and climbing steps) took at least 45 minutes.

As I recall there are river tours available, but we didn't take any, so can't recommend.

As to cuisine, there's the local beer, Koelsch, served in tall narrow glasses; a rye sandwich with cheese (forget what it's called -- halb something? ); and potato pancakes ...

There is an English tour of the Dom--wonderful. Check the time for it on the website and plan your visit around that. It took about an hour, and I spent about an hour on my own inside, also.

The Römisch-Germanisches Museum a few steps from the Dom is terrific, too.

The website grr suggested should answer most of your questions.

Food - if you're a beer drinker you must try at least one Kölsch. I also suggest "Reibekuchen" or potato pancakes. If you're an adventurous eater try Himmel un Äd (or Himmel und Erd).

If you can, try to get a tour to the rooftop of the cathedral - amazing!

The Römisch-Germanisches Museum would normally be one of my last museum choices, but I found it fascinating.

If you are interested in WWII history you may enjoy EL-DE Haus, a former Gestapo HQs.

4711 and the Chocolate Museum are a bit touristy, but interesting.

Have fun!

the Dom Forum is the only place that has actual rights to tours within the Dom (cathedral) itself...check there first and book a tour of the Dom, you will be let into the gates of the Dom kapital and high altar where the shrine of the magi is....as you face it, look to the left - there is a small window...this is where a monk once slept, the 'night security' back in the day. The mosaics were commissioned by Villroy & Boch. Along the train bridge you will see hundreds of thousands of 'love locks' attached by couples that then throw the key into the Rhine. the climb to the top of the Cathedral tower is well worth it! The entrance is just opposite the forum on the Roncalli Platz. Eat at brewery on the 'Altstadt' it is much more enjoyable than the main shopping are which is ok if you like chain food places. also close by is the Heinzelmaenchen fountain, with reliefs of the dwarf like helpers ... If you were a scout, the story of the brownies will be comparable. The Ludwig is excellent for modern art.