With 2,000 years of history stacked behind it, Cologne has plenty of atmosphere. Rubbing shoulders with Cologne Cathedral are the 12 landmark Romanesque churches that punctuate the old town. Wander the Aldstadt’s cobbled streets to discover a charming jigsaw of architectural styles and façades painted a rainbow of pastels. Find steeper history at the squat but stately Roman Tower, dating back to the 1st century.

Step into the present and you’ll discover a slick art scene. Home to the international Art Cologne fair every spring, the city’s many galleries bristle with contemporary talent. For some al-fresco viewing, take a stroll in Skulpturen Park, dotted with edgy conceptual installations by the likes of Anish Kapoor. Discover vibrant large-scale murals in hip districts such as Ehrenfeld and Belgisches Viertel.

No trip to Cologne would be complete without a taster of its favourite tipple. Cologne harbours more brauhäuser (brew houses) than anywhere else in Europe. For a charming introduction, try Früh near the cathedral. It’s more than a century old, and its beer is served with a hearty serving of historic charm.

For those who prefer a glass of red, white or rosé, escape the city into Germany’s scenic vineyards. Breeze through the romantic Middle Rhine, just under two hours from Cologne, patchworked with serried ranks of vines. Stop in for a glass of crisp Riesling, which accounts for more than 70 per cent of the grapes grown here.

The chocolate-box city of Aachen, bustling Düsseldorf and Beethoven’s birthplace, Bonn, can all be accessed in under two hours from Cologne. If you’re more into the great outdoors, the beech-forested Siebengebirge mountains, a 30-minute drive south of Cologne, jut impressively from the Central Uplands. Climbing, hiking and cycling are all popular pastimes here, and there are some 40 volcanic peaks to explore. Scout out Burg Drachenfels, a crumbling 12th-century castle on the rock that’s rumoured to be where legendary German hero Siegfried slew a fire-breathing dragon.

Hire a car with Avis in Cologne to explore west Germany, from the turreted city of Zülpich and the verdant Eifel region, all the way to the Belgian border and beyond.