The cathedral front
Two towers rising over 150 metres. Stand back to get them whole.
Superbass — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Raimond Spekking — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Superbass — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Frank Vincentz — CC BY-SA 3.0
The Domplatte is the wide concrete plaza surrounding Cologne Cathedral. It was built in the 1970s to separate people on foot from traffic, raising the ground level around the building. The plaza is the first thing most visitors see: you come out of the main station and the cathedral is straight in front of you, its height taking you by surprise. The best place to see the whole front is from the far end of the plaza, because the two towers are so tall. It is a lively space: street musicians, sellers, visitors, and steps where people sit. In December a large Christmas market fills the area around it. There is also a fountain and scattered monuments, and steps down to the entrance of the Romano-Germanic Museum, which shows Cologne's Roman remains. The plaza is free and always open.
Two towers rising over 150 metres. Stand back to get them whole.
Musicians, sellers and visitors sitting on the steps — the plaza is lively at all hours.
Steps down to a museum of Cologne's Roman remains, on a separate ticket.
Domkloster, 50667 Köln
KreuzblumeThe Kreuzblume is a huge piece of stone standing on the square beside Cologne Ca1 minute walk4.5
Heinzelmännchen FountainThe Heinzelmännchen Fountain is a small stone fountain near the cathedral that t1 minute walk4.4
Cologne CathedralCologne Cathedral is Germany's most famous and most visited building. Work began1 minute walk4.4
Romano-Germanic MuseumCologne is a Roman city before it is anything else: the Romans founded it as a c2 minutes walk3.9
The Roman Harbour StreetThe Roman harbour street is the remains of a paved road that connected Roman Col2 minutes walk4.7Normally yes — it is a working church and entry during visiting hours is free. What you pay for is the tower climb (over five hundred steps) and the treasury.
At the far end of the plaza towards the station, or from across the river. The towers are so tall you cannot fit them in from close up. The Hohenzollern bridge gives a good angle too.
Early morning before nine. The plaza is one of the busiest spots in Germany because it adjoins the main station. Avoid the Christmas market period if you dislike heavy crowds.