Silencium Hotel, Cologne

Advantages: Position. Clean. Spacious. Parking. Receptionists.
Disadvantages: Facilities.

...WHY DID WE BOOK THE HOTEL VIKTORIA - COLOGNE? It all started earlier in the year upon receiving an unexpected wedding invitation - not in Cologne, but in Lubeck, three hundred miles to the north east. Having decided on taking the car, and to make an autumn break of it, we decided that we would split our German holiday in two: three days in Lubeck and a further three in Cologne. During the last six years we have driven through Cologne over twenty times on our way to or from Poland, but have never stopped to actually see this magnificent city. We spent several nights on the 'net looking for a suitable hotel, quickly coming to two conclusions: 1) that Cologne is a far from cheap place to stay, and that 2) the actual choice of accommodation in the city is not all that great, especially if, like us, you want to stay in the city... Read review

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Advantages: History. Scale. Drama. Art. Views. Free Admission.
Disadvantages: Crowds. Luggage.

...of the stonework is the same colour. More importantly architecturally is that the nineteenth century spires were built to medieval architects' drawings dating from around 1300. FIRST IMPRESSIONS Walking the half mile or so from our hotel towards the Cathedral, we had the best chance to actually appreciate the growing enormity of it. Our first impressions were actually in the dark on a damp October evening. It is at night that the exterior of Cologne Cathedral looks its spectacular best. The whole structure is beautifully illuminated, the spires particularly, lit by lanterns from within, make the most lasting impression. In reality, whilst yes the twin spires point dramatically skywards, it is the sheer bulk of the body of the building which begins to make a real impression upon you. We finally approach via a flight of shallow steps... Read review

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Advantages: Milka...Lindt...chocolate in general
Disadvantages: cable car shut in winter

...not everywhere has a chocolate museum like Cologne does. On the banks of the Rhine, and a mere 10 minutes walk from our hotel, this was my mecca, and we spent a morning of our trip there. I've been to many a chocolate museum - Hershey in Pennsylvania, Cadbury's World in Tasmania (nothing as normal as Bournville for me) - but this was something else. Firstly, they give you chocolates as you pay to go in (currently €6.50/adult). This I liked. Then, once you've navigated through the hideously boring history of chocolate bit on the ground floor (useful only if you're trying to kid yourselves this is an "educational" outing…and only if you've not heard the same spiel about the history of cocoa on several continents and in several languages on previous occasions), there's a chocolate fountain from which they give samples. Not just any chocolate... Read review

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