In the north of Cologne near the left banks of the Rhine visitors can see a beautiful 11.5 hectare garden which is home to over 10,000 plant and tree species adjacent to the Zoological Garden. Some of these many species are displayed in various plant houses such as the tropical green house and palm tree green house, smaller tropical houses let people see an abundance of edible plants such as cocoa, coffee, vanilla, pineapple and cinnamon to get the taste buds tingling. In the centre of the grounds there is a Flora House which is a nice restaurant to stop and have a bite to eat while taking in the surroundings. Admission is free.
One of the oldest and largest zoological gardens in Germany, Cologne’s zoological garden is located in the northern borough of Riehl close to the Flora botanical garden. Presenting over 7,000 animals in more than 700 species there is plenty to do at Cologne Zoo. There are various feeding times for a variety of animals including penguins, meerkats, baboons and sea lions. Guided tours can be given along with events such as animal shows and lectures. Open in all seasons this is a great place to visit as a family.
The Peoples’ Garden (Volksgarten) offers a large park area, including a children’s play area as well as a pond where paddle boat rental can be found and a great beer garden. It is a popular area for barbecues, but if you haven’t brought your own food restaurants can be found, an ideal location in the summer in particular.