Cologne Cathedral: Admission Prices, Tickets and Visitor Rules

It is Cologne’s most iconic landmark, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the most visited buildings in Europe: the Cologne Cathedral. A ticket has been required for tourist visits to the cathedral interior since 1 July 2026. Here you will find the admission rules and information to help plan your visit.

Admission prices for tourist visits to the cathedral

Since 1 July 2026, the standard admission fee for tourist visits to the cathedral interior has been 12 euros per person. The motivation is not profit, but the long-term preservation of the building: according to the cathedral’s official ticket website, ongoing maintenance costs amount to around 16 million euros per year – roughly 44,000 euros per day. With rising staff, material and energy costs, a more reliable source of funding had become necessary. However, reduced or free tickets are available for many visitors:

• Adults: 12 euros
• Concession (6 euros): Students aged 14 and over, apprentices, university students, and holders of a social pass issued in NRW and people accompanying school groups
• Free: Children aged 13 and under, people with severe disabilities (at least 50 GdB) and Zentral-Dombau-Verein members. One accompanying person is free when the disability card has the “B” marker. Check proof requirements and obtain the appropriate free ticket.

Tickets can be purchased online at koelner-dom.de/tickets or on-site at the central ticket desk in the Kurienhaus, Roncalliplatz 2, 50667 Köln (daily 9:00–17:30). Online booking is available up to three months in advance.

Opening Hours and Entry: How Your Visit Works

For a tourist visit with a valid ticket, use the West Portal. The exit is generally via the North Portal. Visiting hours are as follows:

• Monday to Saturday: 10:00–17:45 (last entry: 17:30)
• Sundays and church holidays: 13:30–16:30 (last entry: 16:15)

Anyone wishing to visit the cathedral for personal prayer without paying can still do so: the entrance via the North Transept (station side) remains free of charge and is generally open from 6:00 to 20:00 outside of services. Church services are always free to attend for everyone.

Exceptions: When Is Entry Still Free?

On selected days, the cathedral continues to open its doors to everyone – no ticket required. These include 1 May (Labour Day) and 3 October (German Unity Day). Entry is also free during the „Night of Open Churches“ in Cologne, on certain days around the Epiphany Pilgrimage (late September), and from Epiphany (6 January) through the following Sunday. Please note that these dates may change from year to year – check koelner-dom.de in advance.

Interior, tower and treasury: separate tickets

The admission fee covers the cathedral interior. Separate tickets are available for the tower climb and treasury; a combined ticket covers the tower and treasury. Check the available tickets and prices in the official ticket shop. For history and highlights, read our cathedral visitor guide.

Location and Getting There from Mercure Hotel Cologne Belfortstrasse

From the Mercure Hotel Cologne Belfortstrasse in the quiet Agnesviertel neighbourhood, Cologne Cathedral is easily reachable on foot – the walk takes around 20 minutes. To the selected entrance at Reichenspergerplatz underground station: approx. 400 m · 6 min on foot. Walking times are approximate and depend on pace, crossings and closures. Combine your visit with a walk through Cologne’s Old Town or a detour to the Hohenzollernbrücke, which sits right next to the cathedral. Allow at least one to one and a half hours for the cathedral itself – and remember to book your ticket online in advance and check the current visitor information. Queues may still occur.
Checked on 14 October 2026 against the official ticket information and cathedral opening hours. Short-notice changes are possible.