When people in Düsseldorf talk about Cologne Cathedral and a Cologne Cathedral tower climb, it is of course always with a wink – as a Düsseldorf resident, you can’t actually find Cologne Cathedral beautiful. It’s a little different for me – from the inside, the cathedral is certainly one of the most beautiful buildings of its kind in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason.

My stay during the Christmas markets in Cologne gave me the opportunity and also my reckless formulation, “if the weather is nice, I’ll climb the cathedral.” – The forecast was for snow and rain, so what could happen to me… 🙂

I’ve already climbed a mountain hut in high heels and stood on a Segway in Schladming in high heels, so why not climb the cathedral? It’s one of the absolute must-sees in Cologne.

As luck would have it, there was no sign of snow or rain in Cologne on Monday morning. Sunshine, 8°C and blue skies. After climbing the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Cathedral and most recently Milan Cathedral, Monday was my day for the 533 steps up to the cathedral.

I had seen Cologne Cathedral from the inside so many times before. As it is located right next to the main train station, it is always worth a visit. The cathedral looks impressively large, calm and mighty from the inside. A place to pause and slow down. But today it should be more sporty…

Admission prices for climbing the tower

The entrance fee for the Cologne Cathedral tower ascent was the first positive surprise. While you pay over 15.00 EUR in Barcelona and at least 7.00 EUR in Milan, the climb to the top of Cologne Cathedral costs just 3.00 EUR and was possible from 9 am to 4 pm.

So I didn’t necessarily take the highest high heels, packed a small camera for a video clip and a large camera for great pictures from the viewing platform, almost 100 meters above Cologne.

After I was in Munich last week (only 75 meters above the ground – 23rd floor) and I was able to take the elevator, I realized how high it would be. 100 meters – no elevator! I wish I had used the stairs as a training camp in Munich.

Ascent Cologne Cathedral

After the “usual” visit through the “souvenir store” and an elegant staircase made of concrete and steel, it was straight into the spiral staircase without warning. Anyone who thought there would be a platform every five meters for a break or to let visitors coming down from above pass by was mistaken.

The first resting place on the Cologne Cathedral tower ascent is around 45 meters high – that’s about 15 residential floors… and is in the middle of the bell house. To greet us, or as if by chance, this bell had to unfold its full “effect” as soon as we entered. Of course, the climb up to that point was easy to manage 🙂 and there was no need to take a break in the bell house.

The rest of the Cologne Cathedral tower ascent then had a little surprise in store after the end of the spiral staircase. Those who had not yet experienced vertigo from the spiral staircase were now tested for their fear of heights. A metal cage was waiting on the next rest area – another 20 meters of ascent through the metal scaffolding, with a direct view downwards. That’s something 🙂

And at the end of the Cologne Cathedral tower ascent, because we were used to it, another small, very narrow spiral staircase – really “high heels friendly”…, but then the top of the ascent was reached after over 533 steps. The blood flow to the thighs was a little stronger and the signs to the view. Camera already in hand and a first glimpse of the cathedral city.

Cologne Cathedral viewing platform

The only thing that spoiled the view from the Cologne Cathedral tower ascent was the wire mesh fence at this point. Glass panes were familiar from other viewing points, but a tight wire mesh fence?

That was a little “unfortunate” at this point … 10 meters further to the right, behind the next corner was a pair of binoculars – insert money and then enjoy the view, but far from it, even in front of the binoculars – wire mesh fence.

Even after half a round on the cathedral platform, there is only one view – wire mesh fencing everywhere, or where there is no fence, there is graffiti. Not just a few weeks ago, but already marked with the date “1994”. So was the ascent not intended for a great photo story, but for an art exhibition?

A question from the extremely – friendly and very helpful (irony!) 🙂 – staff in a glass box (presumably afraid of graffiti?) only gave the short explanation “It’s a viewing platform and not a photo point!”. Also an attitude.

On the descent down the 530 steps, you could then take another opportunity to interpret the various “works of art” visible at each turn of the stairs.

Conclusion – Cologne Cathedral tower ascent

As a friend of beautiful and imposing buildings, including Cologne Cathedral, I have to say that I was a little shocked, as were many tourists from the USA, Japan and China who had the same experience on the “viewing platform”.

The beautiful buildings and the Rhine, which are right on the doorstep, are great to look at, but the damage caused by graffiti on a church is more than inappropriate.

Dear people of Cologne, whether you are from Düsseldorf in high heels on Cologne Cathedral or a visitor to your admittedly beautiful city, the cathedral is impressive from the Domplatte, absolutely beautiful from the inside, but the platform, for which you climb 530 steps – absolutely not worth seeing.

For me it was a nice sporting exercise, with a nice story and a nice video clip to follow, but even EUR 3.00 for this graffiti exhibition or wire mesh fence is not appropriate.

Then I can only recommend my readers to save yourselves the Cologne Cathedral tower climb, enjoy other parts of Cologne – or if you want to climb a cathedral, go to Milan or Barcelona.