Cologne Cathedral Announces Entry Fees for Tourists Starting July
Cologne Cathedral has unveiled plans to charge tourist visitors beginning in July. Each visitor will be asked to pay €12 to help offset maintenance expenses. The cathedral still intends to maintain a small free area for worshippers.
Cologne's Catholic Cathedral will start charging tourists €12 (approximately $14) for admission as of July 1.
The renowned Gothic church and UNESCO World Heritage Site first announced its intention to introduce entry fees in March, becoming one of relatively few German houses of worship to charge for entry.
The figure announced on Wednesday is slightly above the €10 upper limit proposed in March by architect Barbara Schock-Werner, who leads the Central Cathedral Construction Association (ZDV).
Why is the church implementing entry fees?
Church officials stated during a press conference on Wednesday that the fee is necessary to cover maintenance, security, and daily operations of the landmark.
The annual maintenance cost for the building is estimated at €16 million — roughly €44,000 per day.
"The Cathedral costs money; the Cathedral requires a great deal of money," said cathedral administrator Clemens van de Ven. "Naturally, the admission fee of €12 is, therefore, more than welcome."
Provost Guido Assmann noted that the church had "closely followed the public debate of recent weeks" regarding the introduction of entry fees.
"Alongside the critical voices, we also received a great deal of understanding feedback, which made clear: Many people are aware that the maintenance and upkeep of the cathedral requires reliable and sustainable financing," Assmann said.
Are there exceptions?
Assmann stated that the charge would be waived for certain groups, including children.
He also mentioned that there would be discounts or even free admission on specific special dates, such as January 6 (Twelfth Night), May 1 (Labor Day), and German Unity Day on October 3.
Furthermore, the church plans to continue allowing free entry for worshippers coming to pray or light candles. Assmann said he believed roughly 99% of the cathedral's visitors were primarily sightseeing.
Cathedral operators stated they planned to operate separate entrances in the future.
Via the northern entrance, people would continue to have access to a small area of the cathedral suited for prayer. For the western main entrance, visitors would require a ticket, enabling them to view the entire building.
Assmann acknowledged there was "a danger" of people attempting to exploit this system, but said the church planned to rely on people's goodwill rather than trying to control prayer access.
How does the Church raise money in Germany?
Christian churches, including the Catholic Church, have three primary sources of income in Germany.
Germany is one of several mainland European countries to levy a so-called "church tax." People who inform tax authorities they are either Catholic or Protestant will have a surcharge deducted along with their income tax — 8% or 9% of their income tax total, depending on the state.
According to Catholic Church figures for 2024, it earned €6.62 billion (roughly $7.7 billion) in church taxes in 2024, slightly more than the previous year.
After this, the main sources of income are private donations — for instance, via collection plates across the country — and other state subsidies.
Do other major churches charge entry fees in Germany or Europe?
Most German churches remain free to enter, although many request small fees or donations for certain activities, such as taking photographs inside.
One notable exception is Berlin's cathedral, which charges a standard entry fee of €15.
Such charges are more common elsewhere in Europe and can sometimes be higher. The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona charges €26, St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna charges €29, and Westminster Abbey in London charges adults 31 pounds (roughly €36). St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican does not charge for entry.
Johann Hinrich Claussen, cultural affairs officer of Germany's main Protestant church group the EKD, expressed understanding for the entry fees.
"For one thing, new sources of funds are needed to maintain these churches," Claussen said. "For another, sustained overtourism damages these cultural treasures. I consider a reasonable entry fee appropriate."
A drone's-eye view of Cologne Cathedral
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Edited by: Wesley Rahn
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