Cologne Cathedral tours compared
There are four kinds of guided tour: the interior, the roof, the excavations under the church and a tour for children. Public interior tours take 60 minutes and cost €8, or €6 reduced, in German or English in 2026. The roof and the excavation tours take about 90 minutes and cost €27. Tours must be booked, and they are led by guides authorized by the cathedral.
The interior tour and the interior ticket are separate. You pay the tour price and the €12 interior ticket, or €6 reduced, in addition. The roof and the excavation tours do not need an extra visiting ticket. Prices on this page are 2026 prices and can change.
Our picks: tours around the cathedral
The cathedral and old town tour, legends in German and the darker side of the city.
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.
Cathedral and old town tour with a Kölsch
- Two-hour guided tour
- One Kölsch or soft drink
Two hours with a guide around the cathedral and through the old town, ending with a Kölsch or soft drink in a brewhouse. The visit inside the cathedral is not included.
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The dark side of the cathedral city
- Old town walk
- Guide in German and English
Two hours through the old town with the darker chapters of Cologne's history and a guide in German and English. Church entry is not included.
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Legends and stories of the cathedral city in German
- Old town tour
- German-speaking guide
A 90-minute old town tour in German with legends from around the cathedral. Cathedral, tower and treasury tickets are extra.
Check availability →Cologne Cathedral guided tours
Tours of the interior, the roof and the excavations, with live prices and availability. Check whether the interior ticket is included, because it often is not.
Tour types and prices in 2026
Public tours are priced per person. Group prices below are for the whole group, not per person.
| Tour | Length | Public price | Private group | Interior ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior, German | 60 minutes | €8 / €6 reduced | €120 for up to 20 people; students and trainees €100 | Extra |
| Interior, English | 60 minutes | €8 / €6 reduced | €130 for up to 20 people; students and trainees €110 | Extra |
| Children, ages 6 to 13 | 60 minutes | Children €6, from 14 €8 | €80 for up to 20 children with 1 to 5 adults | Extra, if not exempt |
| Roof | About 90 minutes | €27 | €330 for up to 12 adults | Not needed |
| Excavations | About 90 minutes | €27 | €330 for up to 12 adults | Not needed |
A group tour in another language costs €10 more for the roof and the excavation tours. For most visitors the public interior tour in English or German is the simplest way to see the church with a guide, and the roof tour suits those who want to see the building from above and are fit.
The tours in detail
What each tour involves and who it suits.
Interior tour
One hour through the church. Public tours are booked online or at the DOMFORUM, and groups book at least 14 days ahead. Children up to elementary school age pay nothing for the tour. The interior ticket is a separate purchase. See inside the cathedral for what you will see.
Children's tour "Dom für Spürnasen"
For ages 6 to 13, one hour. Children pay €6 and escorts from 14 pay €8. Younger children go free. The public tour runs on Sundays at 14:30. The visiting ticket is added, and children up to and including 13 years are exempt from it.
Roof tour
About 90 minutes for visitors aged 16 and over. It is not accessible. It has about 240 steps in a narrow stairwell without a handrail, so you need a head for heights. A construction lift is used, but the cathedral does not guarantee that it runs on your day. No extra visiting ticket is needed.
Excavation tour
About 90 minutes under the church, for visitors aged 16 and over. It is not accessible. Public tours can be booked for the current month and the two months after it. Groups can book the current month and the three months after it, at least 14 days ahead. No extra visiting ticket is needed.
An evening tour and the treasury
On selected dates there is an evening tour called Nacht Raum Dom. It takes 90 minutes, costs €27 per person, is for visitors aged 16 and over and is not offered as a private group tour. It needs no extra visiting ticket. Read about it on the cathedral at night page.
Guided tours of the Cathedral Treasury need the treasury ticket in addition. The treasury page has prices and hours. The tickets page lists every price in one place.
How to book a cathedral tour
- Check the language. Interior tours run in German and English. Other languages cost €10 more on the roof and the excavation tours.
- Check the interior ticket. It is not part of an interior tour.
- Check the age limit. The roof and the excavation tours start at 16.
- Check the date. Services can close parts of the church, and building work can change a route. Look at the current timetable before you go.
If you want more of the city, see the Cologne tours page for old town walks and the Rhine cruise.
Cologne Cathedral tours: frequently asked questions
Does the tour price include the interior ticket?
No. An interior tour needs the interior ticket in addition, €12 or €6 reduced in 2026. The roof and excavation tours need no extra visiting ticket.
Are there tours in English?
Yes. Public interior tours in English take 60 minutes and cost €8, or €6 reduced. A private English group tour for up to 20 people costs €130, or €110 for students and trainees.
How old do I have to be for the roof tour?
16. The same limit applies to the excavation tour. Neither is accessible, and the roof tour has about 240 steps without a handrail.
Is there a tour for children?
Yes. "Dom für Spürnasen" is for ages 6 to 13 and takes 60 minutes. Children pay €6. The public tour runs on Sundays at 14:30.
Can I join a tour on the day?
Guided tours must be booked, so plan ahead. Group tours must be booked at least 14 days before.
Is cologne-cathedral.org the official tour provider?
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.