Things to do in Cologne around the cathedral
Most things to do in Cologne sit within a short walk of the cathedral. The Old Town lies along the Rhine, the Hohenzollern Bridge starts a few minutes from the cathedral square, and two large museums stand close to the main station. The Roman-Germanic Museum is the exception: its main building is closed for renovation, and a temporary site opened in the Belgian House.
Start with the cathedral itself. Since 1 July 2026 a tourist visit of the interior costs entry, while prayer and services remain open to everyone. The ticket guide has the prices, and the tower climb and the treasury are separate visits. If you prefer a guide for the Old Town, compare Cologne walking tours before you choose a date.
The cathedral and its neighbours
Three visits that start at the same square.
The interior
The tourist visit runs Monday to Saturday 10:00–17:45 (last entry 17:30) and on Sundays and church holidays 13:30–16:30 (last entry 16:15). Services can close part or all of the interior to visitors. See opening hours for the detail.
The south tower
533 steps, no lift, a platform at about 100 m. The adult price is €8 (reduced €4). A combined ticket for tower and treasury costs €12 (reduced €6), and children up to and including 13 enter free.
The treasury
Open daily 10:00–18:00, last entry 17:30, adult €8 (reduced €4). It sits in medieval vaults under the sacristy, and the Shrine of the Three Kings stays inside the cathedral, behind the high altar.
Our picks: more of Cologne
The Chocolate Museum, a city walk and a day ticket for the sightseeing bus.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
24-hour hop-on hop-off bus in Cologne
- 24-hour bus ticket
- Multilingual audio guide
A 24-hour ticket for the sightseeing bus with a multilingual audio guide of about 90 minutes.
Check availability →City highlights walk with a local guide
- Local guide
- Walk through the centre
Two hours on foot with a local guide through the centre of Cologne. Cathedral, tower and treasury tickets are extra.
Check availability →
Chocolate Museum entry ticket
- Museum entry
- Information booklet
Entry to the Chocolate Museum on the Rhine with an information booklet; there is no guided tour.
Check availability →Cologne tours and Rhine cruises
Cathedral tours, Old Town walks and Rhine cruises with live prices and availability.
Old Town, Hohenzollern Bridge and the Rhine
Groß St. Martin is a Romanesque church in the Old Town, built on Roman foundations, with an excavation area you can visit. Opening times and prices for the church and the excavations change, so check them on the day.
The Hohenzollern Bridge carries trains, pedestrians and bicycles, not cars. You reach the walkway behind Museum Ludwig, and the path continues to Deutz on the right bank. Visitors have fixed love locks to the railings. From Deutz you look back at the cathedral, the bridge and the Old Town together.
At the Rheinboulevard, opposite the Old Town, you get the same view from a promenade. Nearby, the KölnTriangle viewing platform at Ottoplatz 1 charges €5 (reduced €4). From October to April it opens daily 11:00–20:00. From May to September it opens Friday and Saturday 11:00–22:00 and Sunday to Thursday 11:00–20:00. It closes in storms and thunderstorms, on Weiberfastnacht, on Rosenmontag, during the Kölner Lichter and on New Year's Eve.
For a view from the water, a Rhine panorama cruise takes about 1 hour, and the landing stage is roughly 5 minutes on foot from the cathedral. The Rhine cruise guide has the seasons and prices. In the evening, the cathedral at night is worth a walk along the bridge.
Museums in Cologne compared
Adult prices and opening hours in 2026. Rest days differ, so do not assume that all museums close on the same day.
| Museum | Hours | Rest day | Adult price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museum Ludwig, Heinrich-Böll-Platz | 10:00–18:00, first Thursday of the month 10:00–22:00 | Monday, except on public holidays | €15.40 (reduced €10.40) |
| Roman-Germanic Museum, interim site at Cäcilienstraße 46 (Belgian House) | Wednesday to Monday 10:00–18:00, first Thursday 10:00–22:00 (not on a public holiday) | Tuesday | €6 (reduced €3.50) |
| Chocolate Museum | 10:00–18:00, last entry 1 hour before closing | Closed 2, 9 and 16 November 2026 and 24 and 25 December; 31 December 10:00–16:00 | €17.50 Monday to Friday, €19 at weekends and on holidays |
At Museum Ludwig the price includes the collection and the special presentations; groups of 20 or more pay €11 each, and visitors with a severe disability (degree of disability 50) pay €7.70. At the Chocolate Museum, children and pupils up to 18 pay €10 on weekdays and €11.50 at weekends and on holidays, children under 6 enter free, and a family ticket (two adults and their own children up to 18) costs €35 or €38. At the Roman-Germanic Museum, school classes enter free, and groups need to register.
The main Roman-Germanic Museum building on Roncalliplatz is closed for renovation, and the Dionysus mosaic and the Poblicius tomb are not accessible there. The interim site is near Neumarkt, not in the cathedral area. For most visitors with one free afternoon, Museum Ludwig is the easier pick, because it stands close to the cathedral and the station.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where the other pages help.
How to get to the cathedral
Train, tram, airport rail and parking next to the cathedral.
Best time to visit Cologne
Climate averages, Carnival 2027 and the market weeks.
Where to stay in Cologne
Three areas compared, plus the city levy.
Cologne Christmas market
2026 dates and hours for the market at the cathedral.
Things to do in Cologne: frequently asked questions
What are the main things to do in Cologne?
Start with the cathedral, then walk through the Old Town to Groß St. Martin, cross the Hohenzollern Bridge to Deutz for the view back, and add one museum. Museum Ludwig, the Roman-Germanic Museum interim site and the Chocolate Museum are the three in the table above.
Is the Roman-Germanic Museum open?
The main building is closed for renovation. The interim site at Cäcilienstraße 46 in the Belgian House is open Wednesday to Monday 10:00–18:00 and closed on Tuesday. Adults pay €6 in 2026.
Which museums are closed on Monday?
Museum Ludwig is closed on Monday, except on public holidays. The Roman-Germanic Museum interim site is open on Monday and closed on Tuesday. Check the day before you plan a museum afternoon.
Can I walk across the Hohenzollern Bridge?
Yes. The bridge carries trains, pedestrians and bicycles. Do not expect to cross by car.
How much time do I need in Cologne?
A day covers the cathedral, the Old Town and one museum. Add the tower climb, the treasury or a Rhine cruise and you need a second day.
Is cologne-cathedral.org the official cathedral website?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no connection to the cathedral, the Cathedral Chapter, Cologne Tourism, the museums or any tour operator.