Immediately upon exiting the train station, we saw the gargantuan Kölner Dome, a structure built with Gothic artchitecture, made from sandstone in the 1200s. The Dome houses the shrine of the three kings ( a relic which is said contains the bones of the three wise men from the Bible), making the location a popular destination for many Christian folk. 

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People are allowed inside the dome, and in the top of the dome towers. However, to get to the top of the dome tower, you have to go up a tightly-wound spiral staircase of 533 steps that is 97 meters high, and you have to pay in order to walk up those 533 stairs and get nauseatingly dizzy. The cost is 5 Euros for a locker. They allow bags, but no large backpacks up the stairs. To climb to the top of the stairs, it is 3 Euros. However, upon reaching the top, I can testify that the cost and workout were worth it for the view that I received. The entirety of the city is viewable from the top of the dome, and I personally found the experience quite exhiliarating. Click the button to visit the Kölner Dome's official website.

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Köln is also home to a chocolate museum, sponsored by Lindt. In the museum, they walk through how their chocolate is made, showing machines in action, as well as the people who work at the factories. After that, there is a segment of the museum that covers the history of chocolate, dating as far back as Native Americans in South America drinking powdered cocoa beans mixed with water for energy before going hunting or before battle, and explaining that some cultures used cocoa powder as a medicine. There was even an opportunity to taste the chocolate from a fountain, before it was actually finished, and to create-your-own custom chocolate bar, selecting type of chocolate and toppings or fillings. Tickets for adults cost approximately 13 Euros, while students’ tickets cost around 9 Euros.

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Click a button to either visit the official website of the Kölner Dome or the chocolate museum.