When standing facing the main portal of the cathedral, turn to your right and walk towards Roncalliplatz. After just a few metres, you will see a flight of steps beside the south tower leading downwards. These steps are marked 'Dom-Turm / Parkhaus / Toiletten' (which means 'cathedral tower/car park/toilets'). The entrance to the tower is at the bottom of these steps.

March–October: from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
November–February: from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
* The last admission is possible half an hour before closing time of the tower ascent.

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.

During the carnival season in Cologne, the tower is closed on Women's Carnival Day (Weiberfastnacht), Carnival Saturday, Carnival Sunday, Rose Monday (Rosenmontag). The dates of these days change from year to year. The tower is also closed on 11 November, Christmas Eve (24 December), Christmas Day (25 December), New Year's Eve (31 December), and New Year's Day (1 January) every year.

Half an hour before the tower closes.

Adults pay €8. Children, schoolchildren, students, and persons with special needs pay a reduced entry fee of €4. Families can buy a family ticket for €20.

Combi tickets, which give visitors access to both the tower and the Cathedral Treasury, cost €12 for adults. The reduced rate is €6,00. Family combi tickets cost €30.

It depends on how fast you can climb the 533 steps to the viewing platform (which is about 100 m above ground) and how long you want to stay on the viewing platform. We recommend that you plan in between 30 and 45 minutes.

No.

No. It is neither necessary nor possible to make a booking or reserve a time slot. Just come to the ticket desk on the day of your visit. Children and youth groups must be accompanied by responsible adults.

Not usually, no. But on busy days when a lot of tourists want to climb the tower, there may be a wait.

People accompanying school groups pay the reduced price. People accompanying people with special needs who can show the B mark on their disabled person's pass may enter the tower free of charge.

No. It is not possible to make a booking or pay in advance. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Yes.

No.

No.

Children may visit the tower with their parents if they are able to climb the 533 steps to the viewing platform (which is about 100 m above ground) of their own accord.

No, for structural reasons, it is not possible to install a lift on the south tower of Cologne Cathedral. Visitors access the viewing platform via a spiral staircase and a metal staircase.

Yes, visitors generally pass through Cologne Cathedral's bell chamber, which contains eight of the cathedral's 12 bells, on their way to the viewing platform. If extended bell-ringing is scheduled before a mass (for example on Sundays and feast days before 2.00 p.m.) or in the event of maintenance work, the bell chamber remains closed.

Yes, the Cathedral Works Department offers special tours of the belfry on working days for visitors who would like to experience the ringing of the bells. Visitors taking this tour will be provided with professional hearing protection devices.

Starting from the age of 12.

(1) All visitors respect the dignity of this holy place and refrain from loud talking or running.

(2) Sightseeing is generally permitted whenever no service is being celebrated at the main altar in the center of the cathedral

(3) Music and singing outside of services is not permitted.

(4) Parents or adults accompanying children or youth observe their supervisory responsibilities.

(5) Visitors respect closures and areas which are off limits to sightseeing.

(6) Cell phones etc. are to be placed in “silent” mode. Talking on the phone is only permitted outside the cathedral.

(7) Clothing should be appropriate for the house of God. Sleeveless or cropped tops are considered inappropriate as are short shorts or skirts. Men may cover their heads for health or religious reasons. Religiously offensive or racist symbols will not be tolerated.

(8) Food and drink are to be consumed outside the cathedral.

(9) Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is not permitted in the entire cathedral building.

(10) Persons who are visibly drunk may not enter the cathedral.

(11) Drugs of any kind (as defined by the Controlled Substances Act (BtMG)) are forbidden.

(12) Scavenger hunts etc. cannot take place inside the cathedral.

(1) Taking pictures without a flash and recording videos with reasonable technical components is permitted outside of services for private use. During services, it is possible only from one’s place. Respectful cooperation is to be observed in that recordings do not directly contain other visitors. Those taking pictures or making videos must, in any case, respect the dignity of the location and follow the instructions of cathedral personnel.

(2) Private “photo shoots” are forbidden.

(3) Recordings with tripods require the permission of the cathedral provost.

(4) The use of model airplanes and unmanned aircraft (drones) is not permitted in the cathedral or over the property outside.

(5) The publication of pictures or videos for non-private use — i.e. editorial reports, commercial and ideological promotion (including private websites and social media) — must have prior permission.

(6) These rules are excerpts from the regulations for taking pictures and recording videos in the cathedral. Please see the complete and concrete regulations at www.koelner-dom.de/fotografierenundfilmen.

(1) Luggage should be kept with you at all times. The owner is responsible for costs incurred by storage of luggage. Only luggage the size of a standard carry-on bag (max 55 x 40 x 20 cm) may be brought into the cathedral.

(2) Wheelchairs, rollators and licensed electric wheelchairs are allowed in the cathedral; other wheeled vehicles and bicycles must remain outside.

(3) Weapons (including potential weapons and CS-gas) are prohibited throughout the cathedral.

(4) Folding chairs, stools and the like may not be brought.

(5) Balloons, confetti and streamers are forbidden throughout the cathedral.

Distribution of printed matter requires the express consent of the cathedral provost.

Animals, with the exception of guide-dogs, must remain outside.

(1) Cathedral tours are only possible with a guide licensed for such tours at the cathedral.

(2) Tour participants are to be informed of the cathedral rules.

(1) The instructions of the security personnel and cathedral guards are to be followed at all times.

(2) Persons not following the cathedral rules or the instructions of the staff may be asked to leave.

(3) Cathedral guards do not serve as cathedral guides.