Overview
- The Domkapitel began requiring paid entry to the cathedral interior on July 1, 2026, with a regular ticket priced at €12 and a reduced ticket at €6.
- Children up to 13, people with severe disabilities, worshippers entering via the north door, and members of the Zentral-Dombau-Verein are exempt from the fee.
- Domrendant Clemens van de Ven says the charge responds to annual deficits since 2019 and nearly exhausted reserves as the cathedral plans for roughly €16 million in running costs for 2026.
- The Zentral-Dombau-Verein received about 1,200 membership applications within days after prices were published, compared with an average of 20 requests per week, as visitors seek free entry through membership.
- The Domkapitel also published designated fee-free days for services and events, and the decision places Cologne among some major churches that already charge visitors while others continue to allow free access.