Cologne

Cologne, Germany's fourth-largest city, sits on the banks of the Rhine River and offers a perfect mix of history and modern city life. The iconic Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) dominates the skyline with its impressive Gothic architecture and took over 600 years to complete. It's hard to miss and even harder not to be impressed by its massive size.

The city has a rich history dating back to Roman times, and you can still see remnants of this era at the Romano-Germanic Museum. Cologne was heavily bombed during World War II, but its reconstruction has created an interesting blend of historic buildings and modern architecture.

Cologne is famous for its Kölsch beer, a light, crisp beer served in small cylindrical glasses. The local breweries follow strict rules to call their beer Kölsch, and it's a significant part of the city's identity. The beer halls around the city center offer a great opportunity to experience local culture.

During February, the city transforms for Carnival (Kölner Karneval), one of the largest street festivals in Europe. It's when locals and visitors fill the streets in colorful costumes to celebrate before Lent begins.

The people of Cologne are known for their friendly, open attitude - they call it 'Kölsche Frohnatur,' which roughly translates to the cheerful nature of Cologne's residents.