It’s 97 metres skyward without an elevator. You’ll need a certain amount of fitness and comfortable shoes, because you have to climb 533 steps. People go up on the right-hand side of the stairs and back down on the left-hand side. When you encounter descending visitors, it can get tight on the sometimes narrow, slippery steps.
But after completing the popular climb up the tower, you will be rewarded with a panoramic view over the city centre of Cologne, the Rhine and, in good weather, the Siebengebirge. The climb starts at the separate access structure on the side of the Cathedral. You’ll also find the box office there.