At services celebrated at the crossing altar, a reserved area for wheelchair users is kept in front of the first row of the north transept, and one companion per wheelchair user is invited to sit in that first row. For worshippers with hearing aids, induction loops are installed in pew rows 5 to 15 and in the Lady Chapel, marked by symbols on the pews. Blind and partially sighted visitors will find a bronze tactile model of the cathedral, labeled in Braille, in front of the Petersportal, and the cathedral offers touch-based group tours, in German.
Since July 1, 2026, sightseeing requires a ticket, but entry is free for visitors with a recognized severe disability, and for one companion where the disability card carries the "B" mark; photo ID is asked for. The rule is written in terms of the German disability card (a degree of disability of at least 50), and the cathedral's pages do not say how documents from other countries are treated. American visitors should bring whatever official proof they have and ask the ticket office in advance at tickets@koelner-dom.de. Coming for Mass or to pray is free for everyone, through the north portal facing the main railway station.
Good to know before you go: the cathedral's accessibility page does not say which portal is the step-free one, and it does not list accessible restrooms or parking, so ask the cathedral stewards, who wear red gowns, when you arrive, or write ahead. This information was checked on the cathedral's website on October 10, 2026.