Cologne: perfume museum, chocolate factory and spa without swimsuits.

According to The Sun: In this German city, you can enjoy perfumes, chocolate, and a wonderful spa, assures author Janis Hopper.

Taste delicious chocolate at the chocolate museum and enjoy walks through the Christmas markets.

The Romantic Belgian Quarter of Cologne End the day savoring the Royal Botanik cocktail at Bar BotanikBar Botanik / Instagram

Follow the Scent

Cologne is perfect for walking, and while the city is famous for its Christmas markets, there is much more to see.

Start at the Farina perfume museum, where you will learn how perfumer Johann Maria Farina created the first modern perfume 'Cologne', naming it after the city.

Oscar Wilde and Princess Diana were fans of this light, fresh scent, and you can take a small 4 ml sample.

The cost of the tour starts at £8.70 (Farina.org).

Also visit the Schokoladenmuseum for tastings and a stroll through the tropical house where cocoa beans are grown.

Be sure not to miss the 3-meter chocolate fountain!

The entrance fee is £14.25 per person (Schokoladenmuseum.de).

Don't forget to see the huge Gothic Cologne Cathedral, which took over 600 years to build — you can enjoy more than 160 stained glass windows for free (Koelner-dom.de).

Disconnect the Swimsuits

Indulge yourself at the famous German spa Claudius Therme, which has 12 swimming pools, eight saunas, and three steam baths.

Note: in the swimming areas, swimsuits are mandatory, but in the saunas, they are prohibited! Prices start from £16 for two hours (Claudius-therme.de).

Pamper yourself in 12 pools, eight saunas, and three steam baths at Claudius ThermeClaudius Therme / Instagram

After that, stroll across the Hohenzollern Bridge, known as the Lovers' Bridge, to enjoy views of the Rhine River and take pictures of the colorful castles that remain here.

End the day savoring the Royal Botanik cocktail — a refreshing mixture of armani, lime, honey, mint, and sparkling wine, for £15.50 at Bar Botanik on top of the 19th-century water tower among wonderful people and breathtaking views (Wasserturm-hotel-cologne.com).

Dive into the Botanical World

Visit the Belgian Quarter (Belgisches Viertel) for a unique shopping experience.

In Boutique Belgique, you will find trendy clothing from model and blogger Lena Terlütter (Boutique-belgique.de), in Schee — original gifts and prints (Schee.shop), and in Things We Like — eco-friendly home goods (Thingswelike.shop).

Also stroll across the Hohenzollern Bridge for lovely views of the Rhine River and colorful castles

Later, head out of the center to visit the Botanical Garden, founded in 1863.

Here you will find 12,000 species of plants on 5.5 hectares, and entrance is free (Eghn.org/en/flora-park-und-botanischer-garten).

Taste Kölsch

The city is famous for its crispy lager Kölsch. Be sure to visit the Früh Am Dom brewery pub, the second largest in Germany, to enjoy beer for £2.20 (Frueh-am-dom.de).

To feel the coziness of a brewery with traditional dishes such as curry with sausages and fries (for £9) and bread dumplings (for £15.50), visit Brauhaus Reissdorf (Brauhaus-reissdorf.de).

Taste delicious chocolate at the Schokoladenmuseum chocolate museumSchokoladen Museum / Instagram

If you are tired from sightseeing, you can refuel with delicious beer bread (only £2.50) and apple cinnamon (for £1.85) at Merzenich bakeries (Baeckerei-merzenich.de).

Find Your Perfect Stay

At Motel One, beautifully located in the Old Town, you will be offered a stylish interior with soft furnishings in yellow and blue, as well as art objects inspired by Cologne's famous perfumes.

The modern bar with a terrace attracts with excellent Riesling (for £8 a glass), and the airport is only a 15-minute taxi ride away.

Stay at Motel One in the Old Town

The cost of a double room starts from £71 per night (Motel-one.com).

Cologne is a city that impresses with its combination of history, culture, and modernity. There is something for everyone to do here: from culinary delights to cultural events. A trip to Cologne promises to be unforgettable!