Things to see in Cologne

With over 10,000 animals representing 800 species, you can find elephants, giraffes and yellow-breasted capuchin monkeys among giant anteaters and pink pelicans, before heading to the aquarium to see seahorses, crabs and some fearsome piranhas. Combine a trip here with a flying visit over the Rhine on the adjacent Seilbahn (cable car open mid-March to early November).

This world-class museum is full of eye-catching pop art icons from the late 20th century, including masterpieces from Andy Warhol (Marilyn Diptych and Campbell's Soup Cans), Roy Lichtenstein and René Magritte, plus several hundred lesser works by Pablo Picasso. Dalí's huge La Gare de Perpignan is worth the entrance fee alone. Exhibitions staged here represent modern art from around the world in a fresh, engaging fashion.

At first glance, the Town Hall looks like any other administrative building: staid and classical with stone figures representing nobility. In fact, more than 100 of them peer down, from kings and queens to saints and prophets. However, look more closely, and you'll discover a few surprises: sculptures with their tongues hanging out and their trousers pulled down - even ones with genitals on display. Consider yourself warned. Once you've seen those, you may have a hard time concentrating on its Roman remains and impressive wooden carvings.

What makes a railway and pedestrian bridge so special? Here it's the expression of love. While love locks have swept across the world, in Cologne they’ve taken a life of their own. In most places, lovers place a single padlock on a bridge, inscribe their names upon it and throw the key into the river to symbolise their devotion towards one another. Cologne has put its own party style onto the proceedings, replacing padlocks with bicycle chains and fluffy heart-shaped locks with racy looking handcuffs.