Once upon a time... Exciting audio tour through the history of Cologne | Köln

Audio walk by Histomich

35 Stations
91:57 min Audio
directions_walk favorite 34

Languages: German English

Once upon a time... Exciting audio tour through the history of Cologne

Discover 34 Cologne landmarks for free with your audio guide

Imagine strolling through Cologne’s vibrant Old Town with the sun reflecting off the Rhine, listening to stories that have shaped the city for centuries. This free audio tour of Cologne, “Once Upon a Time…” (“Es war einmal…”), makes exactly that possible. Your personal audio guide takes you on a journey filled with surprises, anecdotes, and historical insights—whenever you choose.

The tour is free of charge.
Please consider supporting one of these projects in and around Cologne.
Thank you.

A journey through Cologne’s history

Immerse yourself in the past: learn how the Romans founded Cologne, discover the secrets of Cologne Cathedral, listen to fascinating stories and anecdotes, and experience the lively, historic atmosphere of the city’s streets and squares. Each stop on this audio tour has been carefully curated to introduce you to places that many tourists overlook. From the Alter Markt and Great St. Martin Church to the Hohenzollern Bridge, and even figures like Konrad Adenauer and Willy Millowitsch, this tour reveals the most authentic side of Cologne.
In the accompanying descriptions, we often include links to interesting articles, videos, and podcasts related to the specific sight or attraction.

Explore at your own pace

With your free audio guide, you decide the pace and the route. Pause to enjoy a coffee by the Rhine, sit on a shady bench, or wander through alleys steeped in history. You are free from the constraints of tour groups, fixed schedules, or rigid itineraries. This Cologne audio tour is perfect for anyone who wants to explore the city independently.
If you wish to visit every stop, please allow approximately 4 hours.
However, you can pause at any time and pick up where you left off later. ## Culture, Entertainment, and Insider Tips

Beyond famous landmarks like Cologne Cathedral, the Rhine, and the Old Town, this audio tour of Cologne introduces you to unique stories and locations you might not yet know. Every step of the tour becomes an experience—informative, entertaining, and full of surprises.

Start Your Unforgettable Experience

Download the “Once Upon a Time…” (“Es war einmal…”) audio tour, put on your headphones, and discover Cologne as you’ve never “heard” it before. Listen to the stories, soak up the atmosphere, and experience the city—from famous highlights to hidden gems.
Alternatively, sit back, relax, and enjoy a different kind of ride: listen to historical highlights during an unforgettable trip with Rikolonia rickshaws.
With the “Once Upon a Time…” audio guide, every walk, tour, and stop in Cologne becomes an unforgettable experience. ## Here are a few highlights:
- Cologne Cathedral
- The Mouse
- Konrad Adenauer
- Cologne Carnival
- Hohenzollern Bridge

You can choose which stop to visit next; there is no fixed order.
However, we have arranged the stops so that the next one is never far away.
This also ensures that the stops can be played in any order when using the automatic playback feature in the apps. There is currently a lot of construction work going on in Cologne to make the city’s exciting history even more tangible; rest assured, Cologne will be even more beautiful afterwards…
We therefore ask for your understanding should your route take you past a construction site.

Enjoy the tour!

Other interesting tours in and around Cologne:

We provide this audio guide to you free of charge.
We would appreciate a small donation for the following projects in and around Cologne:

[Together for a dignified end of life](https://www.betterplace.org/de/fundraising-events/47648-gemeinsam-fuer-ein-wuerdevolles-ste

Listen to the audio tour now - ideally in full screen view.

Or use the app for listening to the audio walk on site:

Install guidemate app Available in the app & play stores.

Open audio guide (in installed app) More guides available

Start the tour on site! Audio, map & infos - also available offline.

Stations in this audio guide:

Brief outline of the history of Cologne (6:24 min) • Römerturm (Roman tower) (2:30 min) • Pfaffenpforte (Römisches Nordtor), Pfaffenpforte (Roman North Gate) (2:06 min) • Kölner Dom (Cologne cathedral) (2:34 min) • Dreikönigsschrein (Shrine of the Epiphany) (2:11 min) • Gerokreuz (1:31 min) • Heinzelmännchenbrunnen (Heinzelmännchen fountain) (1:29 min) • WDR (2:42 min) • Die Maus (The Mouse) (2:45 min) • 4711 (3:07 min) • EL-DE-Haus (2:32 min) • Willy Millowitsch (2:23 min) • Hahnentor (1:54 min) • Konrad Adenauer (4:44 min) • St. Aposteln (2:54 min) • Neumarkt (2:48 min) • Schildergasse/Antoniterkirche (3:23 min) • Farina Duftmuseum (Farina Fragrance Museum) (2:43 min) • Jüdisches Viertel (Jewish Quarter) (4:13 min) • Gürzenich (1:54 min) • Kölner Karneval (Cologne Carnival) (2:54 min) • Reiterdenkmal (equestrian monument) (2:12 min) • Heumarkt (2:04 min) • Hänneschen Theater (2:13 min) • Grinköpfe (grinning heads) (1:20 min) • Rathaus (City hall) (2:33 min) • Tünnes und Schäl (3:19 min) • Groß St. Martin (1:54 min) • TimeRide Cologne (2:00 min) • Alter Markt (2:04 min) • Jan von Werth (2:28 min) • Stapelhaus (stacking house) (1:46 min) • Rheinschifffahrt (Rhine shipping) (2:44 min) • Hohenzollernbrücke (Hohenzollern Bridge) (2:35 min) • Hauptbahnhof/Alter Wartesaal (central station/old waiting room) (3:04 min)

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