GAZING up to the skies above Cologne, it is easy to see the city is engulfed by this beautiful gothic 157m twin-spired cathedral.

Climbing 533 steps through spiral staircases to the top of the building leaves you breathless but provides incredible views of the whole city.

Tickets to the top cost just €4*, or €2* for concessions and these include a small information booklet, sweets shaped like the epic structure and a small commemorative pin.

The lively area surrounding the cathedral is filled with people – some who meet and enjoy a beer on the nearby steps.

Just a short walk away cafés, restaurant and shops provide an enjoyable spot to spend an afternoon.

A short train ride away is Ehrenfeld, a city district of Cologne, known for its lively and popular residential areas and shopping streets, cultural scene, an abundance of street art and clubs.

Located here is the Helios lighthouse, an unexpected sight to see for an inland city, built on the former site of the factory that was constructed for test and research purposes.

Many miles of street art lay underneath the Köln-Ehrenfeld railway station – which includes work from Barcelona’s graffiti muralist Pez.

The district also has a moving street art tribute to the Edelweiss Pirates, an anti-Nazi resistance group that emerged during the Second World War.

On November 10, 1944, 13 members of the group, six of which were teenagers, were publicly hanged in the city.

The Museum of Applied Arts, located in the former house of the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, is currently playing host to PLAY UP!

This gaming-focused exhibition brings together masks, puppets, figures, boards, screenshots, trailers, props and textbooks to highlight the cultural roots of video games, as well as their function and historical development.

People of all ages can enjoy this unique medium, which even offers some hands on experience, making it a great option for an inclusive family day out.

The Museum Ludwig is considered to have the most comprehensive Pop Art collection outside of the United States and with the third-largest Picasso collection in the world, it has a great deal to offer visitors.

See pop art up close and personal – with Andy Warhol’s iconic Double Elvis, 1963, or see Roy Lichtenstein’s cartoon-style M-Maybe, from 1965.

Or see a darker side to pop art with Ed Kienholz’s Portable War Memorial, 1968, a critical take on war and modern society.

A perfect way to round off a trip to the 2,000 year old city would include a one-hour boat trip down the Rhine river, which offers panoramic views of the whole city.

Whilst on board there was a selection of reasonably priced beers, wines and soft drinks. Tickets for the trip cost about €12*.

To take a trip visit one of the pick-up points on the river front opposite the Musical Dome Köln, on North Rhine-Westphalia.

There is also a chocolate museum, which boasts a detailed history of the sweet stuff, from its origins with the Olmecs, Maya and Aztecs to modern times.

Situated in Altstadt-Süd, the museum holds 5,000 guided tours and 675,000 visitors per year, and is one of the top ten German museums.

For spectacular views of the whole of Cologne, and even neighbouring Dusseldorf, visit the KölnTriangle observatory, located at Ottopl, on one side of the Hohenzollern Bridge. Tickets cost €3* for adults or kids under 12 go free.

A perfect place for a meal which feels truly German is Peters Brauhaus, Mühlengasse. The menu has an impressive collection of classic dishes and accompaniments, including schnitzel, sauerkraut and a selection of sausages.

The Butchers plate – pork, bacon, black pudding, smoked pork on sauerkraut and mashed potatoes is a must, priced at €15.60* – it provides the perfect comfort food in a relaxed and homely environment.

With Lufthansa flights from Birmingham to Cologne taking just over three hours, the city really does have what it takes for the lively romantic getaway or a family vacation.

For more information on the PLAY UP! exhibition, go to museenkoeln.de/museum-fuer-angewandte-kunst/PLAY-UP-Dragon-Slayers-Queens-and-Pixel-Monsters.

Go to www.museum-ludwig.de for more details on the Ludwig museum. For more information about fights and itineraries, go to lufthansa.com.

For further information about Cologne, go to germany.travel or visit www.cologne.de.

*Prices correct at the time of publication.