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Germany Hohenzollern Bridge, Cologne

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This is probably one of the most popular spots for photographers in Cologne, where Cologne Cathedral and Hohenzollern Bridge are lightened up and reflected in the Rhine. For that reason, the best time to shoot this spot is during sunset or blue hour or even afterwards.

Photography Tips

If you are doing long exposure shots in the evening you should take care of boats travelling up the river, because they often need some time against the stream to leave your field of view, unless you want their lights inside your photo.

If you don't have your tripod with you, you can use that wall down there to stabilize your camera while getting the shot.

Travel Information

There is a parking place nearby, which should offer some free places in the evening. Otherwise, you could try the parking garage of Triangle Tower, which is also just 2 minutes by foot away.

Spot Type Outdoor

Crowd Factor A decent amount of people

Best Timing Blue hour/at night

Sunrise & Sunset 07:56 - 16:39 | current local time: 16:28

Photo Themes after sunset Architecture blue hour Bridge Cathedral Church City landscape city lights City View cityscape Cityscapes Dom golden hour Harbour Historical City Lights Long Exposure Monu night photography nightscape Religion River Sehenswürdigkeiten Skyline Street Art Street Photography Sunrise Sunset Travel Photography UNESCO water World Heritage

Locations Rhine Cologne Hohenzollern Bridge Cologne Cathedral Köln Rhein hohenzollernbrücke North Rhine-Westphalia Kölner Dom Deutz (Cologne) Rheinufer Western Germany

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Spot Comments (15)

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Anton Newark 24.07.2023

Wrong location on map

Adelheid Smitt verified

05.12.2018

I had to get this shot also, so I was there last weekend, and in between rain showers managed to get this. Manuel, you mention the wall. They are in the process of making a whole new terrace along the Rhine, with several walking levels and a new wall. This wall is at an angle which will make it extremely hard for you to balance your camera. So what you need is a quite high tripod to be able to get this. I was lucky because in the contruction area I found some piled up stone slabs which allowed me to use my not so big tripod.

Team

Manuel Becker 05.12.2018

Good point. The area definitely changed a lot within the last few years, but I would say it's even easier now with the steps so position the camera in the desired angle and perspective. Sorry about the weather, but I guess that's November in Cologne... hope you enjoyed the city nevertheless. I could sit at this place for hours during the warm summer evenings.

Reiner Boehme 16.03.2018

Great shot! Perfect exposure

Alona Azaria verified

12.03.2018

I visited Koln during the Photokina week and completely by fluke, I booked the hotel next to the bridge. When I came there late pm, the bridge was practically swarming with people, most were carry Photokina bags. There was not a spot for a fly. On top, the Cathedral lights were to be switched on only at 20:00 hours so I went through the hotel garden and through the wires I photographed the scene. Indeed, the boats are nuisance :-)

Team

Manuel Becker 12.03.2018

That's an unfortunate timing I would say... ;-) Usually it's not that stressful at this spot and especially during the later hours it's easy to get rid of the people by just doing longer exposures. You've not been to Photokina itself? If you like photography, it's definitely a must visit I would say, especially if you like to connect with other photographers. Let me know if you are there again this year. We are probably doing a meetup at one of the evenings. Cheers from Cologne :)

Alona Azaria verified

12.03.2018

Oh definitely I was there, I came all the way from the Netherlands especially for this event. And by the way, the people did not disturb the view, they simply occupied the entire bridge with their tripods :-) I'll keep this in mind, I guess it is somewhere in September

Dirk Annuss 13.08.2016

A friend of mine calls this kind of places 'photographed to death'. But in my mind it's one of these locations where a photographer must have been. After sunset it's just a beauty.

Team

Manuel Becker 13.08.2016

I wouldn't think too much of that. I've been there together with Josh Owen this week and we had such a great time, just sitting there and enjoying a drink while we waited for sunset. It's just a really great place to be, so the results of my photography don't matter as much to me as the experience I had while shooting this iconic spot. Thanks for your opinion dear Dirk, hope you still visit places like this one, even if your friend doesn't look at them in our way.

Dirk Annuss 13.08.2016

As I said, there are locations that a landscape photographer have to visit. I try to get to as many as possible. I two weeks I will start a trip to the Tuscany and Cinque Terre. Not exactly places where nobody shot a photo before. ;) I read about your meeting with Josh Owen on the 'Photographing the world' Facebook page. That's how I found this fantastic website.

Team

Manuel Becker 14.08.2016

Sounds great. I am sure you will have a great time over there. Especially Cinque Terre was a great place during the time you are there. I am curious about your results and thank you very much for your kind words! I am glad that you like this platform!

Kai Mechel 04.10.2015

While visiting the Amphi Festival I visited this spot. Without my tripod. But as described, you can use the wall there as a simple tripod replacement. I would have rated this spot 5 stars, but the description of 5 stars is "one of the best spots there" and I did not see enough of cologne to make a statement like this :) But everybody should visit this place on a Cologne visit! It's great at night...

Team

Manuel Becker 05.10.2015

I agree 100% with you Kai! Have you been up to the Triangle Tower? Because that view offers much more in my opinion, especially if there is a beautiful sunset. I would also rate this one with 4 stars, because the view from Triangle Tower is even better. Thank you very much for your feedback and your opinion!

Kai Mechel 06.10.2015

If it is the tower 'behind' this spot, yes. We took the elevators to the roof. The view from up there was great. But the glass around the viewing platform up there was a little scratched and dirty :) But on top of the tower is a nice spot for 'miniature' pictures. These fake tilt/shift photos. We were also eating near there. In a restaurant called "Mongo's". Kind of exotic food / live cooking. Thank you also for the nice response and for sharing this spot with others.

Team

Manuel Becker 07.10.2015

Yeah this is tower I was talking about. It's definitely a little bit more difficult to photograph up there, especially if you want to get rid of those reflections of the glas, but I added a tip about that in the spot itself, because it's perfect for sunset/blue hour. Shooting those fake tilt-shift photos up there is also a great idea! I've been to Mongo's too and really liked it. But you usually have to book a table. Maybe we should add a section here on Locationscout where you can eat before or after you shot the sunset... ;-)

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Thank you Manuel Becker for creating this photo spot in Germany and Adelheid Smitt, Laurent J.A. Belener, Florian Schwientek, Jacko Leenders, Jens Siewert, Alona Azaria, Rolf Hackemann, Mindy Christine, Carlo Romeo, Rana Jabeen, Morlow1984, Jimmy Vinueza, Lovin'TheView, Daniel Ahrend, Sang-Kyun Park, Sebastian Pociecha, Luca Marchini, Anna Lefers, Sree Ram Thodeme, Dirk Annuss, Fotografie-Kurs.Koeln, Gustav Sommer, Peter Aiken, Josh Owen, Dominik Geiger, Digikhmer, Eight 28 Photography, Rajeev Ranjan, Kirsty Westaway, Anke Wenzel, Dennis van Beek, Fotoworkshop BW, Pascal Zerressen, Luca Grassi, Samsul Adam, Thorsten Fröhlich, David Schartner, Paul Lups, Doros N., Paulien Mokveld, Birgit Franik, Joao Lopes, Mia Pflieger for improving it with additional photos or content.

Germany Hohenzollern Bridge, Cologne

Photography Tips

Travel Information

Get the exact geo-position for this spot

Spot Comments (15)

Ratings (33)

Popular photo spots in this region

Kranhäuser, Cologne

Kranhäuser, Cologne

Trankgasse, Cologne

Heumarkt Subway Station, Cologne