Rheinauhafen & Crane Houses
Rheinauhafen / Kranhäuser
A converted old harbor turned riverside district. Three inverted-L-shaped “Crane Houses” are the city’s contemporary architectural landmarks.
Rheinauhafen was originally a late-19th-century freight port. It was redeveloped in the 2000s into a riverside district mixing offices, residences and restaurants, with old warehouses and a swing bridge preserved. The most striking features are three inverted-L-shaped Kranhäuser (“Crane Houses”), about 60 m tall, designed as a homage to harbor cranes. Seen together with the cathedral’s twin towers, they create a sharp contrast between old and new. The riverside path runs from the Old Town to the Chocolate Museum and the German Sport and Olympic Museum, ideal for walking and cycling, with many restaurants and cafés along the shore. A suggested route: from the cathedral, walk south along the river through the Old Town to the Chocolate Museum, then continue to the Crane Houses. The whole route is about 2 km.
Opening hours
Open all day
Nearby sights
- Chocolate Museum
- St. Maria im Kapitol
- Cologne Old Town & Great St. Martin
- Wallraf-Richartz Museum
- Cologne City Hall
- Farina Fragrance Museum
- Museum Ludwig
- Hohenzollern Bridge