Cologne is a city of churches, green spaces and art. This weekend tour leads you to all three and invites to you breathe deep and to see the city from great heights and at ground level. Wear comfortable shoes.

Kids can use all of their senses to experience the charm of Cologne. They can pet animals at the zoo, taste sweets at the chocolate museum and sniff out new smells at the Fragrance Museum. The zoo is open all year, but small trains run only in warmer months.

You don't need a ton of money to explore some of Cologne's most inspiring views. Bridges, observation decks and Botanical Gardens Flora offer unparalleled glimpses of the city from many angles. These attractions require a good amount of walking and a sense of adventure.

Cologne is home to unusual museums that offer a unique perspective on German history, life and death. Leave the hubbub of well-traveled tourist attractions to explore offbeat sites, including a cemetery and museums about the Olympics, tolerance and European handicrafts.

The Cologne train station is a great point of departure for day trips to German cities like Bonn and Frankfurt, which offer other perspectives on culture and cosmopolitanism.