Cologne Cathedral ticket prices 2026 at a glance
Since 1 July 2026 a tourist visit of the interior needs a ticket. It costs €12 for adults and €6 reduced. Tourists enter through the main portal with the ticket. Services and personal prayer need no ticket, and the prayer area is reached through the north transept on the station side.
The south tower and the Cathedral Treasury are sold as separate products with their own prices and hours. Children up to and including 13 years pay nothing for the interior, the tower and the treasury. Older child rates no longer apply. All prices on this page are 2026 prices and can change.
Our picks: with a guide
Only the private tour includes cathedral entry, by option; the walks start at the cathedral and you buy entry on the spot.
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.
Private old town tour with cathedral entry by option
- Licensed private guide
- Cathedral entry with 3 or 4 hours
- Tower ticket with 4 hours
A licensed private guide in your language. Cathedral entry comes with the three- and four-hour options, the tower ticket only with four hours; on your own, entry is €12 and the tower €8.
Check availability →
Old town highlights walking tour
- Guided walk
- Start at Roncalliplatz
A two-hour guided walk from the cathedral square through the old town. Entry tickets are not included.
Check availability →Guided highlights walk from the cathedral
- Trained guide
- Start at the cathedral
Ninety minutes with a trained guide, starting at the cathedral. Tickets for the cathedral, tower and treasury are paid separately.
Check availability →Cologne Cathedral tickets and guided tours
Tours of the interior, the roof and the excavations, with live prices and availability. Check which options include the interior ticket, because a guided tour of the interior does not.
Who pays, who pays less, who pays nothing
For the interior ticket. Anyone with a reduced or exempt ticket must show proof.
| Visitor | Interior ticket 2026 | Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | €12 | Ticket only |
| Pupils from 14, trainees, students, accompanying persons of school groups | €6 | Proof of status |
| Holders of the NRW social pass | €6 | The pass |
| Children up to and including 13 years | Nothing | – |
| People with a severe disability from a degree of 50, and a companion with the mark B | Nothing | Disability card |
| Members of the Central Cathedral Building Association (ZDV) | Nothing | Membership proof |
| Residents of Cologne or church members | €12, no exemption on that basis | Ticket only |
On some occasions the interior is open without a ticket: 1 May, 3 October, the Epiphany pilgrimage, Epiphany until the following Sunday, and the Night of Open Churches. This does not apply to the tower or the treasury, which keep their own prices. For most visitors the €12 interior ticket plus the €12 tower and treasury combination is the full program.
Where to buy and how far ahead
- Online: the cathedral sells interior, treasury and tower tickets in its own ticket shop. Booking opens up to 3 months ahead, with up to 9 tickets per booking. Larger groups use the group request.
- On site: the central ticket office is in the Kurienhaus at Roncalliplatz 2, open daily from 09:00 to 17:30. You can also buy on site.
- Tower: the tower entrance is outside on the south side, near the cathedral shop, and works independently of the interior ticket. You do not have to register for a normal tower climb, but booking online is recommended.
- KölnCard: it gives a reduction in the treasury, but not for the interior or the tower.
Interior visits are limited to the regular tourist hours, which are 10:00 to 17:45 from Monday to Saturday and 13:30 to 16:30 on Sundays and church holidays. Last entry is at 17:30 and 16:15. During services parts of the church or all of it can be closed. The opening hours page explains the details.
What each ticket gets you
Pick the parts that fit your time.
Interior
The nave, the choir and the Shrine of the Three Kings behind the high altar. No separate shrine ticket exists. See inside the cathedral.
South tower
533 steps to a platform at about 100 m, with no lift. Allow 30 to 45 minutes. Details on the tower climb page.
Cathedral Treasury
Reliquaries, vestments and objects from the 4th to the 20th century in vaults under the sacristy. Open daily 10:00 to 18:00. See the treasury page.
Guided tours
Roof and excavation tours include no extra visiting ticket. A guided tour of the interior needs the interior ticket in addition. See guided tours.
Rules at the entrance
Everyone, including people coming to a service, should expect a bag check at the cathedral, the treasury and the tower. Large suitcases and hiking backpacks are not allowed and cannot be stored. For the tower keep bags to 40 × 35 × 10 cm or smaller. Shoulders and upper body should be covered, and skirts and trousers should reach at least halfway down the thigh.
Eating, drinking, smoking and phone calls are not allowed. Private photos without flash are fine outside services. Tripods need permission. The cathedral is a church with daily services, so keep your voice low.
Cologne Cathedral tickets: frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay to enter Cologne Cathedral?
For a tourist visit, yes. Since 1 July 2026 the interior costs €12, or €6 reduced. Services and personal prayer need no ticket, and children up to and including 13 years pay nothing.
Is there one ticket for the interior, tower and treasury?
No. They are three products. The tower and the treasury have a combined ticket at €12, or €6 reduced, and the interior ticket is separate.
Do I need to book in advance?
Tickets are sold online up to 3 months ahead and at the central ticket office in the Kurienhaus at Roncalliplatz 2. For the tower, booking online is recommended and cuts waiting time, but it is not required.
How many tickets can I buy at once?
Up to 9 tickets per booking online. Larger groups send a group request.
Can I get a discount with a student card?
Yes. Students, trainees and pupils from 14 pay €6 for the interior with proof of status.
Is cologne-cathedral.org an official ticket shop?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the website of Cologne Cathedral, the Cathedral Chapter, the Cathedral Workshop or Cologne Tourism, and it is not connected to any tour operator or hotel.