Schildergasse Shopping Street, Cologne

Schildergasse is Cologne鈥檚 answer to the question: 鈥淲here did all these people come from?鈥� Indeed, this is one of Europe鈥檚 busiest shopping streets鈥攁ccording to the recent headcount (yes, someone actually counted), nearly 15,000 people stroll down this pedestrian paradise every single hour. That's more foot traffic than a dance floor during Oktoberfest.

Schildergasse isn鈥檛 just a modern-day shopping stampede. It鈥檚 got Roman bones鈥攍iterally. Back in the day, this was the Decumanus Maximus, the grand east-to-west road of the Roman city. In the Middle Ages, the street became a hotspot for artists painting noble family crests. That鈥檚 where the street got its name, actually, for Schilder means 鈥渟igns鈥� or 鈥渟hields鈥� in German. Think of it as medieval graphic design, but with more chainmail...

At its center swims the architectural oddity known as the Cosmopolitan House. This glass-and-steel leviathan looks like a whale decided to beach itself in the middle of Cologne. It鈥檚 home to the fashion company Peek & Cloppenburg鈥攕o yes, inside the whale, there's fashion to be found. With a facade made of 6,800 individual glass panes, it鈥檚 basically a giant mirrored tribute to retail therapy.

Schildergasse is also retail overload in the best way possible. You鈥檝e got H&M, Zara, Galeria Kaufhof, plus a smorgasbord of shoe stores, sports shops, phone shops, perfume boutiques, and more clothes than a season finale of 鈥淧roject Runway.鈥�

And when your wallet needs a breather, don鈥檛 miss St. Anthony's Church, Cologne鈥檚 oldest Protestant temple, quietly holding its ground among all the fashion frenzy.

So, do come here: because where else can you grab a bratwurst, buy a new pair of sneakers, snap a selfie with a glass whale, and accidentally walk 10,000 steps before lunch? Schildergasse: it鈥檚 not just a street鈥攊t鈥檚 a cardio-intensive shopping experience with historic flair!

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Cologne. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Sight Name: Schildergasse Shopping Street
Sight Location: Cologne, Germany (See walking tours in Cologne)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Cologne, Germany

Create Your Own Walk in Cologne

Creating your own self-guided walk in Cologne is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Cologne Introduction Walking Tour

Cologne鈥攐ne of Germany鈥檚 oldest cities, whose name sounds like a perfume, and for a good reason... With over 2,000 years of history packed into its cobblestoned streets and riverside promenades, this city has seen it all鈥攆rom Roman emperors to French invaders to enthusiastic beer drinkers in the 21st century.

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles

Cologne's Historical Churches Walking Tour

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The K枚lner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), one of its biggest attractions, is renowned as a symbol of Christianity and 鈥渁 masterpiece of exceptional intrinsic value鈥� (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The twelve Romanesque churches of... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
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Beer House Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles

Cologne Shopping Tour

Calling the shops, whilst in Cologne, is the thing you definitely should not miss! One of the most popular shopping destinations in Germany, this 鈥渃athedral鈥� city abounds in malls, designer stores and various national and international brand outlets fit to impress anyone and let you shop till you drop! Some people even make special trips to Cologne just to stroll and buy things to their... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles

Cologne's Architectural Landmarks Walking Tour

Around 75% of Cologne was destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II. Following such devastation, it meant that most of what was built immediately after the war came from the so-called 鈥淎s quickly and cheaply as possible鈥� school of architecture. Eventually, as the things settled, the architects were given the chance to build something that would really stand out.

Decades later, the... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles

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