Aachen: Printen and Charlemagne's Table ★ 4.1
Aachen is 65 minutes from Cologne by train; Leo van den Daele at Büchel 18 has produced Printen gingerbread since 1655 alongside Aachener Bier.
Food destinations within easy reach of Cologne. worth the train, the rental car or the early start.
Worth the trip
Bonn: Rhineland Gastronomy and Cassius Garten ★ 4.1
Bonn is 25 minutes from Cologne by S-Bahn; Cassius Garten at Maximilianstr. 28d is Germany's most celebrated organic vegetarian buffet, open Monday.
Ahr Valley: Germany's Pinot Noir Country ★ 4.1
The Ahr Valley is 80 minutes from Cologne; Germany's northernmost Pinot Noir region produces acclaimed Spatburgunder on steep slate terraces.
Mosel Valley: Riesling at its Source ★ 4.1
The Mosel Valley is 105 minutes from Cologne by IC train; steep slate vineyards produce Germany's most mineral Riesling alongside pike-perch at riverside.
Düsseldorf: Altbier and Rhine Promenade ★ 4.1
Düsseldorf is 35 minutes from Cologne; Altbier at Uerige on Berger Str. 1 and Japan's largest Japanese community outside Japan at the Immermannstrasse.
Münster: Westphalian Food Culture ★ 4.1
Münster is 90 minutes from Cologne by direct IC train; the cathedral market sells Westphalian pumpernickel while Pinkus Müller on Kreuzstr. 4 pours Altbier.
Siegburg and Bergisches Land ★ 4.1
Bergisches Land is 40 minutes from Cologne by RE train; the home of the Bergisches Kaffeetafel tradition, a Sunday coffee spread with Waffeln and Roggenbrot.