Cologne's Museum Ludwig and Römisch-Germanisches Museum With Kids: Prices, Hours, and Where the RGM Actually Is Right Now

Two Museums, Two Very Different Collections

Cologne’s two most family-relevant museums for anyone interested in art or history cover completely different ground, and right now, thanks to ongoing renovation work, they also sit in two completely different kinds of buildings.

Museum Ludwig: World-Class Picasso and Pop Art, and Free for Kids

Museum Ludwig sits right beside the cathedral at Bischofsgartenstraße 1, and it punches well above its city’s weight internationally. Its Picasso collection, built up largely through donations from Peter and Irene Ludwig (90 works in 1994, an additional 774 works from Irene Ludwig in 2001), is the third-largest in the world, after Paris and Barcelona, with 180 paintings and sculptures plus 730 prints. Its Pop Art collection, including work by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, and Robert Rauschenberg, is the largest outside the United States.

For families specifically, the Family Tours program (per the museum’s own family programming page) is built for parents visiting with children 7 and under, runs about 60 minutes, and needs no advance booking, just show up at the admissions desk when a session is running. A separate Children’s Tours track exists for kids 8 and up who want to explore more independently.

The Römisch-Germanisches Museum: A Genuine Trap for Newcomers

This is the museum most likely to catch a newcomer off guard. The Römisch-Germanisches Museum’s historic building sits right next to the cathedral, and that’s where most photos, older guides, and general search results point. But the building is currently closed for renovation: per the City of Cologne’s own timeline, a general contractor is expected to be appointed in the third quarter of 2026, with completion targeted for the third quarter of 2029.

Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels

The collection has relocated to a temporary home at the Belgisches Haus, Cäcilienstraße 46, near Neumarkt, a short walk from both the cathedral and the Altstadt. Here’s the part worth knowing before you plan a special trip: the museum’s most famous single piece, the Dionysos-Mosaik, stayed behind in the closed building rather than moving with the rest of the collection. According to the City of Cologne’s own statement on protecting it, moving it was judged too risky and complex, so it was carefully sealed in place along with the Poblicius grave monument instead. That means neither is currently on public view anywhere, and won’t be until the renovated building reopens.

If your family has a broader interest in Roman-era Cologne (the city was founded as Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium), the temporary site still holds a substantial part of the collection and is a low-cost stop even without the mosaic. It’s worth pairing with the Ubiermonument, a separate ancient structure that opens to visitors on the first Thursday of each month, 2pm to 5pm, as part of the city’s “KölnTag” program.

Getting There

Museum Ludwig: Bischofsgartenstraße 1, right beside the cathedral, reachable via Dom/Hauptbahnhof Stadtbahn. The Römisch-Germanisches Museum's temporary home, Belgisches Haus at Cäcilienstraße 46, sits near Neumarkt, a short walk from both the cathedral and the Altstadt.

Step by Step

1. For Museum Ludwig, kids are always free, only the accompanying adult's ticket (13.50 EUR, or 9.50 EUR reduced) costs anything.
2. Check if a Family Tour session is running if your children are 7 or under, no booking needed, just arrive at the desk.
3. For the RGM, go to the Belgisches Haus at Cäcilienstraße 46, not the historic building next to the cathedral, which is closed.
4. Reset expectations about the Dionysos-Mosaik: it's sealed inside the closed building and not viewable until the renovation finishes, targeted for Q3 2029.
5. Both museums close on different days: Museum Ludwig on Monday, the RGM on Tuesday, plan a two-museum day around that.
6. Consider the first Thursday of the month for extended hours at both museums, plus reduced/free evening admission at Museum Ludwig.

Compliance Note

This page reflects publicly available information from Museum Ludwig’s and the Römisch-Germanisches Museum’s own websites and the City of Cologne’s official statements on the RGM renovation timeline, current as of mid-2026. The RGM’s temporary location, hours, and the renovation completion date are all subject to change; confirm current details directly at museum-ludwig.de and roemisch-germanisches-museum.de before planning a visit.