Chill out over a tall, slim glass of refreshing Kölsch beer in one of Cologne Altstadt's leafy beer gardens in summer, or warm Brauhäuser in winter. As with most German cities, Cologne's beer houses are the place to mingle with the locals over beer and pretzels. Head west to the Belgisches Viertel (Belgian quarter) and soak up the relaxed vibe in the bars and late-opening cafés, or go south to the Südstadt for a trendier crowd.

The city centre is easily explored on foot. Hohe Strasse, Schildergasse and Breite Strasse are pedestrianised and most of the main attractions cluster around the Altstadt on the Rhine's left bank. With wide cycling paths flanking both sides of the river, hiring a bike is a good option. If you get tired, hop on the tram that snakes from north to south, or the efficient U-Bahn (metro), which criss-crosses the city. There are also fantastic panoramic views of the city from the Seilbahn cable car across the majestic River Rhine.

The recently reopened Kolumba Museum houses two millennia of western culture, while modern art heroes from Picasso to Warhol grace the walls of the Museum Ludwig. Get up close to classic masterpieces at the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, housing works by Rubens and Rembrandt. Trace the Rhine's Roman roots at the Roman-Germanic Museum where you'll find the famous Dionysos mosaic (made of a million tiles) and the tomb of Poblicius.

Relax in one of Cologne's corners of greenery; take a boat along the River Rhine and stop at Cologne Zoo to meet apes and elephants. Quirky statues can be found in Cologne's Sculpture Park; a tropical greenhouse and palm-tree garden at the free Botanical Gardens. Surrounding the city is the Grüngürtel, Cologne's Green Lung. Made up of several different parks including the Stadtwald and Volksgarten, it's the perfect place for a picnic. Pack your costume and head north to bathe in the Fühlinger See lake, or go east to spot deer in Dünnwald Forest.

Chocoholics can satisfy their cravings at Cologne's Chocolate Museum (Schokoladenmuseum), while beer lovers head for the hoppy Brewery Museum (Brauereimuseum). Flavoursome Cologne specialities include Halve Hahn; literally translated from the local dialect as half a chicken, it's actually rye bread with Dutch cheese and mustard! Get stuck in to tasty regional snacks like Kölsche Kaviar (blood sausage), Rievkooche (potato pancakes), Rheinischer Sauerbraten (marinated beef) and Himmel und Äd (Heaven and Earth) apple and potato puree.

We took the kids on the rides in Phantasialand which were excellent and kept them entertained for an afternoon. And we all swam in the volcanic lakes in the Eifel region. If your kids are interested in music try The Opera for Children it transforms fairy tales in music performances. Carly Fullerton, Liverpool

From Cologne you can drive out to the Rhineland and see moated medieval castles along the River Rhine. Jackie Tremain, Dorset

Cologne's colourful markets are a must. Altstadt-Nord has fresh fruit, fish and bread (Thursday to Friday), while Mengenich (Thursday) has great children's toys. We bought loads of Allgäuer cheese at the Dellbrück (Thursday) market and organic honey, Black Forest ham and handmade breads at the Riehl market (Wednesday and Saturday). Susan Stewpot, Cardiff

At Christmas time you should go and see the different Christmas markets in Cologne. Their atmosphere is unique. You can buy presents and have some tasty food. Above all you should try a glass of mulled wine, in german called "Glühwein". Julia Gooch, Davenport