- Where
- Directly behind the cathedral and the main station
- Length
- About 409 m, 10 minutes on foot
- Love locks
- Since about 2008, an estimated 450,000+
- Cost
- Free, open at all hours
Where the bridge is and how to walk across
The Hohenzollern Bridge starts right behind Cologne Cathedral and the main station, Köln Hauptbahnhof, and crosses the Rhine to Deutz. From the cathedral square, walk round the east end of the cathedral, past Museum Ludwig, and you are on it in about five minutes.
There is a footpath on each side of the tracks. The walk across takes about 10 minutes, and trains rumble past every minute or two, so it is loud. The locks are on the fence between the footpath and the tracks.
The love locks
Since about 2008, couples have been fixing padlocks to the bridge, usually engraved with names, initials or a wedding date, and then throwing the key into the Rhine. Today the fence is covered for its whole length, often several locks deep.
Estimates put the total at around 450,000 to 500,000 locks, with a combined weight of 40 to 60 tonnes. That sounds like a lot, but the bridge weighs about 24,000 tonnes and a single regional train weighs around 350, so the railway company that owns it lets them stay.
Want to add your own? Bring a padlock with you, engraved in advance if you like. You can keep the key as a souvenir instead of throwing it into the river.
The best view of Cologne Cathedral
Halfway across, turn round: the bridge, the river and the cathedral's twin towers line up in one frame. On the far side in Deutz, the wide steps of the riverside promenade give the classic postcard view, and the KölnTriangle viewing platform looks down on it from above.
Go at sunset or in the blue hour after it, when the cathedral is lit up. For more spots, see our photography guide and cathedral photos.
A short history of the bridge
The bridge opened in 1911 and is named after the Hohenzollerns, the Prussian royal family. Bronze statues of Prussian kings and German emperors on horseback still stand at both ends.
In March 1945, retreating German troops blew it up to slow the Allied advance. It was rebuilt after the war, with trains running across again from 1948. The cathedral itself survived the war damaged but standing; see how Cologne Cathedral survived WW2.
Today about 1,200 trains a day cross it on six tracks, making it the busiest railway bridge in Germany.
Good to know
- Free and open at all hours, all year.
- New Year's Eve: the city closes the bridge to pedestrians in the evening. See New Year's Eve in Cologne.
- It is loud. Trains pass every minute or two, right next to the footpath.
Tours that include the bridge
See the bridge from the river, or on a guided walk through the Old Town.
Rhine skyline cruise
The best-reviewed cruise in Cologne: the cathedral, the Old Town and the Hohenzollern Bridge from the water.
Check dates & pricesOld Town highlights walking tour
A guided walk through the historic Old Town, taking in the cathedral, the Hohenzollern Bridge and the Old Town Hall.
Check dates & pricesCity highlights with a local guide
The Old Town, Heumarkt, Fischmarkt, the Town Hall and the outside of the cathedral, with a local guide.
Check dates & pricesPartner links: bookings go through GetYourGuide, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Cancellation terms are on each tour page.
Frequently asked questions
Why are there locks on the Hohenzollern Bridge?
Couples have been fixing padlocks to the bridge railing since about 2008, usually engraved with their names or a date, as a sign of lasting love. Many then throw the key into the Rhine. Deutsche Bahn, which owns the bridge, lets the locks stay.
How many locks are on the Hohenzollern Bridge?
Nobody has counted them all. Estimates are around 450,000 to 500,000 padlocks, weighing an estimated 40 to 60 tonnes in total. The bridge itself weighs about 24,000 tonnes, so the locks are not a danger to it.
Can you walk across the Hohenzollern Bridge?
Yes. There is a footpath on each side of the railway tracks, open at all hours and free. Walking across from the cathedral side to Deutz takes about 10 minutes. The only regular exception is New Year's Eve, when the city closes the bridge to pedestrians in the evening.
How long is the Hohenzollern Bridge?
About 409 metres. It carries six railway tracks and around 1,200 trains a day, which makes it the busiest railway bridge in Germany.
When was the Hohenzollern Bridge built?
It opened in 1911. Retreating German troops blew it up in March 1945, and it was rebuilt after the war, with trains running across it again from 1948.
Figures checked on 18 October 2026. Photos taken by CologneCathedral.de.