We are variety Welcome to Cologne’s museums

At over 30 museums and institutions, you can experience a wide range of collections and exhibits with comprehensive, cultural supplementary programmes and services. We invite you on a journey through the 2000-year history of our city and exciting topics from around the world.
Visit the museums in person, or digitally from the comfort of your own home or while on the go.

Eine Gruppe von Menschen steht im Museumsraum und hört dem Guide zu.

Visit

Museums

Get an overview of the museums to plan your visit. Here we provide brief summaries of the museums, their exhibits, and the expansive event schedule.

Historische Fotografie zeigt Personen in mehreren Ruderboote auf einem See. Im Hintergrund befinden sich Gebäude.

Discovery

Subject Matters

Dive into the collections. Here we let you explore the objects’ histories and their connections to our everyday lives, and give you the opportunity to get creative.

News

Cologne Opens Its Landmarks

12. + 13.09.2026

On Open Monument Day, history comes to life: Discover special places, hidden stories, and fascinating insights into Cologne’s diverse cultural heritage. The City of Cologne’s museums invite you to get to know the city from a new perspective—right in the heart of Cologne, right in the heart of history. Come by, take a look behind the scenes, and discover what Cologne has to tell!

All the information about Open Monument Day Our Events for the Day

50 Years of Museum Ludwig

That calls for celebration!

Half a century of groundbreaking exhibitions, encounters, and international stories: On September 13, the Museum Ludwig invites you to a grand anniversary celebration. Look forward to music by the Cologne Philharmonic, art discussions in the collection, a sound workshop for children, a guided tour focusing on the building’s architecture, and, of course, a festive birthday cake!

About Festival Program

Exhibitions

Ausstellungsansicht Ursula - Das bin ich. Na und.

From large-scale to single-room exhibits, here you can learn about every exhibit currently on display in Cologne’s museums. Get inspired for your next trip to the museum.

To the exhibitions

Events

What are you in the mood for today? A tour, a workshop, a special event? Our calendar shows all the different event formats being held at the museums, with all the information you need.

To the calendar

Offers

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We offer a wide range of ways to experience our museums — in person or online, on your own or with others, for leisure, education, or work. Plan and book your experience today!

To the offers

Overview of museums and institutions

Here you can find all the important information on each museum, what their exhibits focus on, and what you need to know for your visit.

See more

Außenanlage des Museum Schnütgen
Ein Mann demonstriert zwei Jungen eine Polaroid-Kamera

Outreach – Bring the museum into schools

Bookable offers for school and daycare

Our museums are significant, modern institutions that remain closely connected to their traditional core tasks: collecting, preserving, researching, as well as exhibiting and educating. This means they are constantly evolving. In bookable workshops, the museums come directly into the classrooms. Hands-on materials, method kits, or original objects accompany our team during this outreach museum work.

To the offers

All the time and everywhere

Our digital services

Do you want to get creative, or prepare for or reflect on your visit to the museum? Here you can find our multimedia schedule so that you can immerse yourself in Cologne’s museums digitally from your own home or on the go.

Our discoveries

If objects could talk, what would they say? Join us on an excursion through the collections on display in Cologne and get to know the major artworks, hidden treasures, and objects steeped in history from a whole new perspective.

Our discoveries

Get creative

You can get active and learn all about the museums and their collections. Video tutorials let you try out various artistic techniques on your own. Suitable for children and adults.

Offers to join in

Digital tours

Discover the collections and exhibits on 360° tours from the comfort of your own home. Use the zoom function to find details that are otherwise difficult to see.

360 degree tours

Museums and museum service facilities in Cologne