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Translated from German; if there are differences, the German version applies.
Cologne Cathedral on three levels
An independent guide by the dom-zu-köln.de editorial team – not run by the Cathedral Chapter (Domkapitel). Tickets are sold only in the official shop at tickets.koelner-dom.de.
Cologne Cathedral is not one place but three. Beneath the floor lie Roman houses, a Frankish baptismal site and the foundations of the Old Cathedral. Inside stand works of art from the Gero Cross (around 970) to the south transept window after Gerhard Richter (2007), and the Cathedral Treasury holds pieces from the 4th to the 20th century. And above it all, 533 steps lead up to the viewing platform of the South Tower. This guide follows these levels – and first answers the questions that have arisen since July 2026.1,
Quick answers
Since 1 July 2026, visiting Cologne Cathedral as a sightseer requires a ticket; the north transept remains free for prayer. If you want to look around the cathedral, enter with a ticket through the main west entrance. If you want to pray or light a candle, use the free entrance on the north side, facing Cologne Central Station (Köln Hauptbahnhof).5,
| Question | Short answer | More |
|---|---|---|
| How much does a visit cost? | according to the official ticket shop €12, reduced €6 (as of 23 October 2026); children up to and including age 13 free7 | Plan your visit |
| When can I visit? | usually daily 10:00–17:45, Sundays and church holidays approx. 13:30–16:30 | Plan your visit |
| Can I bring a suitcase? | no – only small bags and daypacks | Luggage |
| Is the tower worth it? | 533 steps, no lift, about 30–45 minutes | South Tower |
| Is the cathedral accessible? | the interior and the Cathedral Treasury yes, the South Tower no; wheelchair access to the Domplatte via the Domgässchen | Accessible visit |
| What applies to children? | free up to and including age 13; tower on their own from 12; children’s tour on Sundays for ages 6 to 13 | With children |
| May I take photos? | for private use yes, without tripod or drone | Photography |
| Where can I stay within walking distance? | Altstadt-Nord by the Central Station: up to 5 minutes; Deutz across the Hohenzollernbrücke (Hohenzollern Bridge): approx. 25 minutes (our own estimate) | Where to stay |
| Where do I get the best view of the whole cathedral? | from the other side: the Hohenzollernbrücke, the Deutz riverbank, the KölnTriangle viewing platform | Explore the cathedral |
| What is within walking distance, and where does the hop-on hop-off bus start? | Museum Ludwig, the Old Town and Groß St. Martin within 10 minutes; CityTour stop “Dom” at Burgmauer | Around the cathedral |
Prices and times change. For every figure we give the source and the date we checked it; the Cathedral Chapter’s website is authoritative.
Beneath the cathedral
Beneath Cologne Cathedral lie around 4,000 square metres of excavations – from Roman houses to the foundations of the Old Cathedral. The cathedral excavations began in 1946 and, according to the Cathedral Chapter, are among the most extensive church excavations in Germany. They can only be seen on a booked guided tour.1,
Inside the cathedral
If you are short of time, you should know six stops: the Shrine of the Three Kings, the Gero Cross, the Milan Madonna, the Altar of the City’s Patron Saints, the Richter window and – with a separate ticket – the Cathedral Treasury. Our tour shows the order and tells you how to recognise each piece. → Tour: six stops
Above the cathedral
According to the Cathedral Chapter’s table of dimensions, the viewing platform of the South Tower is at 97.25 metres; the tower itself is 157.22 metres high. The climb, opening times and luggage rules are on the South Tower page.9 → South Tower · Facts and figures · Viewpoints and roof tour
Background
Between the laying of the foundation stone (1248) and completion (1880) lay 632 years – more than 300 of them with no building work. The cathedral has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1996.10,
About this site: How we research, which sources we use and where AI helps us is explained under How we work. Most of our sources are in German; the source list marks them “(in German)”.