Formed after chocolate magnate Peter Ludwig endowed the museum with his private (and enormously valuable) modern art collection, the Museum Ludwig showcases art made after 1900. The museum is home to one of the world’s largest collections of Picasso paintings, as well as masterpieces by Monet, Lichtenstein, Dali, Rauschenberg, and other 20th-century luminaries.
The Museum Ludwig’s striking facade can be seen on various sightseeing and day trip itineraries in Cologne.
The Museum Ludwig is located in the city’s old town. If traveling by public transportation, take mainline trains, S-Bahn, and U-Bahn trains to the Cologne Central Station (Köln Hauptbahnhof), the city’s major transit hub. Alternatively, the museum is easy to reach on foot, by bike, or by car; parking garages are located in the vicinity.
The Museum Ludwig is open from 10am–6pm Tuesday–Sunday, but stays open until 10pm on the first Thursday of every month. Key closure dates include Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day, plus there are select closures on days in February and March. Check the website before you go. Weekends and summer months tend to be busier.
Cologne’s excellent Philharmonie is located in the same complex as the Museum Ludwig; it hosts a series of concerts and symphonic performances throughout the year. You can find an performance calendar online.
