Quick checklist
- A bag no bigger than 40 × 35 × 15 cm. Leave suitcases at the Hauptbahnhof lockers.
- Clothes that cover your shoulders and reach at least mid-thigh. Full dress code
- Shoes with grip if you plan the 533-step tower climb.
- Your ticket: €12 / €6 for the tourist visit. Ticket details
- A charged phone, and an umbrella or rain jacket.
What to pack, and why
Each item comes from the cathedral's house rules, the tower climb or Cologne's weather. The buttons open Amazon in your own country.
A daypack under 40 × 35 × 15 cm
Only small bags and daypacks up to 40 × 35 × 15 cm go into the interior, the Treasury and the tower. There is no bag storage at the cathedral. A 15–20 litre pack fits the limit.
Walking shoes with grip
The tower climb is 533 steps on a narrow stone spiral staircase, with no lift. Worn stone and rain make smooth soles slippery. Most visitors also walk the Old Town and the Rhine on the same day.
A light layer for your shoulders
Shoulders must be covered inside. On a hot day, a thin shirt or scarf in the bag saves you from being turned back after you have paid for a €12 / €6 ticket.
A compact umbrella or rain jacket
Cologne gets rain in every season, and the queue for the tourist entrance is outdoors on the plaza.
A plug adapter (from outside mainland Europe)
Germany uses type C and F plugs at 230 V. Visitors from the US, Canada and the UK need an adapter. Most visitors from mainland Europe do not.
A small power bank
Online tickets, maps and photos all run on your phone. A 10,000 mAh power bank is enough for a full day.
A bag that zips shut
The station forecourt, the plaza and the Christmas markets get crowded. Keep your phone and wallet in a closed bag in front of you.
A Germany guidebook
Useful if Cologne is one stop on a longer trip. Get the latest edition, because opening times and prices change.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases (Amazon.de, .co.uk and .com), at no extra cost to you. The buttons open your country's Amazon store, showing current products and prices. We have not tested these items ourselves. They are suggestions for the visit.
For the Christmas market season
The markets around the cathedral run from mid-November to 23 December. See Christmas market dates and hours.
Touchscreen gloves
The markets are outdoors, and December evenings in Cologne are often close to freezing. Touchscreen gloves let you use your phone without taking them off.
Reusable hand warmers
Small warmers help on a long evening between the market stalls and the Rhine promenade.
What you do not need
- Formal clothes. Ordinary clothing is fine as long as shoulders and thighs are covered.
- A head covering. It is not required. Head coverings worn for health or religious reasons may stay on.
- A tripod or drone. Tripods need written permission, and drones are banned in and around the building. See the photography guide.
- Big luggage. It will not be let in, and the cathedral does not store it.
Souvenirs to build at home
Kits of the cathedral are a popular small gift after a visit. More ideas in our souvenirs and gifts guide.
Revell 3D Puzzle: Cologne Cathedral
179 foam pieces that slot together into a 35 cm model. No glue or tools needed.
Ravensburger 1000-piece: Kölner Dom
A 70 × 50 cm jigsaw of the cathedral from Ravensburger's Germany collection.
3D pop-up card: Cologne skyline
A fold-out card of the skyline with the cathedral at its centre.
Visitor rules · Ticket prices · Tourist hours · Getting there