Exploring Cologne Cathedral: Is It Free To Enter?

The Cologne Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the grandest and largest cathedrals in the world. It is Germany's most popular landmark, attracting 20,000 visitors daily. The cathedral is free to visit, however, there is a charge to enter the tower and treasury. The Cologne Cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece, taking over 600 years to build, and is an important symbol of Christianity in Europe.

Opening times and entry fees for the tower and treasury

The Cologne Cathedral is open daily from 6 am to 8 pm. However, tourists can visit the cathedral as a World Heritage Site outside of liturgical times. Typically, this is between 10 am and 5 pm on weekdays, 1 pm and 4 pm on Sundays, and until 8 pm in the tower hall after the evening mass.

The tower is open to the public from 9 am to 6 pm between March and October, and from 9 am to 4 pm from November to February. The last admission is half an hour before closing time. The tower remains closed on the following days: Weiberfastnacht, Carnival Saturday, Carnival Sunday, Rose Monday, 5 September, 28 October (from 10 am to 2 pm), 4 November, 11 November, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.

The Cathedral Treasury is open to visitors between 10 am and 6 pm.

Entry to the cathedral is free. However, there is an admission fee to access the Cathedral Treasury or the Tower. A combined ticket for both the tower and treasury is also available. Tickets cannot be purchased in advance.

For the tower, adults pay €8, while children, students, and persons with special needs pay a reduced entry fee of €4. Families can buy a family ticket for €20. To climb the 533 steps to the platform of the South Tower, which is about 100 metres above the ground, a tower visit usually takes between 30 and 45 minutes.

For the treasury, children, students, and concessions pay €3. A combined ticket for the tower and treasury costs €4.50 for children, students, and concessions.

Cathedral dress code

Cologne Cathedral is a place of worship and a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture. It is also Germany's most visited landmark, attracting an average of 6 million people a year. As such, visitors are expected to dress modestly and respectfully.

The cathedral's website states that clothing should be "appropriate for the house of God". It specifically prohibits sleeveless or cropped tops, short shorts, and short skirts. It also asks visitors to cover their shoulders and cleavage. Men may cover their heads for health or religious reasons, but other headwear, such as hats and caps, should be removed.

Reviews from visitors to the cathedral echo this guidance, with most people recommending modest clothing. Jeans are considered acceptable, but some advise against shorts, especially short shorts. One visitor notes that the cathedral staff at the entrance will inform you if your clothing is inappropriate.

In addition to the dress code, there are a few other rules that visitors should be aware of. Large luggage is not permitted inside the cathedral, only small bags and rucksacks (maximum A4 size). Food and drink should also not be consumed inside.

Cathedral history

Cologne Cathedral, officially known as Hohe Domkirche Sankt Petrus (Cathedral Church of Saint Peter), is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture. It is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

The site of the cathedral has been occupied by Christian churches since the 4th century. The construction of the present cathedral began in 1248, after the previous cathedral was destroyed by fire. Designed in the Gothic style, emulating French church architecture, the new cathedral was intended to house the reliquary of the Three Kings and serve as a place of worship for the Holy Roman Emperor. The foundation stone was laid by Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden, and the choir was completed and consecrated in 1322. However, construction was halted around 1560, and the project stalled for centuries. During this period, the cathedral suffered damage due to fire and demolition work, which destroyed the east choir and most of the original cathedral. The western parts were rebuilt and remained standing until 1322, when the Gothic choir was finished, and construction of the Gothic nave began.

In the 19th century, there was a renewed interest in completing the cathedral, driven by Romantic enthusiasm for the Middle Ages and the discovery of the original medieval plans. The Prussian state also supported the project as a way to improve relations with its Catholic subjects. Work resumed in 1842, led by the architects Ernst Friedrich Zwirner and Richard Voigtel, using more modern construction techniques. The nave was completed, and the towers were added, with the bells installed in the 1870s. The completion of the cathedral was celebrated as a national event in 1880, 632 years after construction began.

During World War II, the cathedral suffered fourteen hits by aerial bombs but remained standing despite severe damage. Repairs were completed by 1956, and archaeological excavations were conducted to investigate potential damage to the foundations. The cathedral continues to undergo constant repair and maintenance due to the effects of wind, rain, and pollution on its stone structure.

Cologne Cathedral is known for its impressive height, standing at 157 metres (515 feet) tall, with twin spires that give it the largest façade of any church in the world. It is constructed from different types of rock, including trachyte, sandstone, and limestone, which require extensive conservation work. The interior features various important works of art, including the Shrine of the Three Kings, which holds the relics of the Magi, and the 4th-century St. Peter's Staff. The cathedral also boasts impressive stained glass windows, including the colourful Richter window, installed in 2007, which consists of 11,5000 pieces of coloured glass arranged randomly to create an abstract tapestry of colour.

Cathedral art and architecture

Cologne Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic art and architecture. Construction began in 1248, and it stands today as the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. It is renowned for its immense twin spires, which, at 515 feet (157 metres) tall, make it the tallest twin-spired church in the world. The cathedral is also home to the largest façade of any church in the world.

The cathedral's design was inspired by French church architecture, particularly the cathedral of Amiens. It is characterised by its extravagant use of tracery, flying buttresses, stone sculpture, pinnacles, and lofty porticos. The building is 144.5 metres (474 feet) long, 84 metres (275 feet) wide, and has a window surface area of 10,000 square metres (108,000 square feet) – roughly three times more stained glass than the cathedral in Chartres. The plan of the cathedral is in the shape of a Latin Cross, with two aisles on either side, supporting one of the highest Gothic vaults ever built. The vault is composed of a plain quadripartite arrangement. The medieval choir features a tall arcade, a narrow triforium gallery lit by windows, and tall clerestory windows with some original stained glass in the lower sections.

The cathedral is also known for its rare works of religious art, including the Shrine of the Three Kings, the Gero Cross, and the Mailander Madonna. The Shrine of the Three Kings, located behind the high altar, is a large gilt sarcophagus in the shape of a basilican church. It was commissioned by Philip von Heinsberg, Archbishop of Cologne, and created by Nicholas of Verdun in the 12th century. The shrine is said to contain the remains of the Three Wise Men. The Gero Cross, located near the sacristy, is a large oak carving of the crucified Christ, originally gilded and painted. It was created in the late 10th century for Archbishop Gero and is the oldest major carving of Christ crucified north of the Alps. The Mailander Madonna is a wooden Gothic sculpture from the late 13th century, depicting the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus. It is located in the Sacrament Chapel.

The cathedral also features an immense stained-glass window by the German artist Gerhard Richter. Installed in 2007, it consists of 11,500 identically sized pieces of coloured glass, arranged at random by a computer. The window was controversial, as the Archbishop of the cathedral favoured a more traditional figurative depiction of 20th-century Catholic martyrs.

How to get to the cathedral

Cologne Cathedral is located in the centre of Cologne, Germany, and is easily accessible by multiple means of transport.

If you are travelling by train, the cathedral is right next to the railway station. The closest train stop is called Köln Dom/Hbf.

If you are travelling by bus, the following lines will take you to the cathedral: 127, 136, 260, 978, and SB25. The closest bus stop is Köln Dom/Hbf.

If you are travelling by car, the cathedral is located at Domkloster 4, 50667 Köln, Germany. You can reach it via the 55 and 55a roads. There is a car park near the cathedral with dedicated disability parking spaces.

If you are travelling by plane, the city of Cologne is served by an international airport.

Frequently asked questions