Why to visit Kölner Dom? Just because you can climb up to the top! It is awfully difficult, especially if you are not very well prepared for such a “walk” upstairs.
Shortly: the highest viewpoint is more hand 100 meters above the ground. Just don’t remember the exact numbers… but you better don’t think about that :-)
Somewhere in the middle of that difficult climbing there is a bells’ floor. There you can go to small and tight corridor around the bells. It is really worth to try out your claustrophobic feelings.
The stairs are spiral and really tight. It is quite scary to go up against “front traffic”. Which, of course tries to keep your motivation with phrases like “oh, it is just half-way up!” and “why you are doing this?”
After you finally there, you will understand all the beauty of Cologne. And, common, you will soon forget pain in your legs and will remember only impression!
Ticket costs 2 or 3 euros, but it is worth that. It is just impossible to visit Cologne and not to climb up to the top of cathedral. Just do it!

Probably the primary reason most people come to Köln, it is also one of the most popular tourist attractions in the whole of Germany. I find that some of these mayor tourist attractions let you down but this one definitly doesn't. It looks like a mass of sculptures placed on top of each other. There are so many details on the outside, every time you pass you discover something new. The interior is also very interesting, especially the choir. beware that it is still a functioning cathedral so during mass you can't visit it. I thought the interior was a bit dark so I would recommend visiting the cathedral during day time. The tower is breathtaking (in all possible ways) and well worth the few euros you have to pay. At the top they placed a metal cage so nobody could jump of the tower but it takes away a bit of the charm.

The cathedral is a World Heritage Site, being one of the best-known architectural monuments i n Germany and Cologne's most famous landmark, described by UNESCO as an "exceptional work of human creative genius". Cologne Cathedral is one of the world's largest churches, being the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe.
The most celebrated work of art in the cathedral is the Shrine of the Three Kings, a large gilded sarcophagus dating from the 13th century, and the largest reliquary in the Western world. It is traditionally believed to hold the remains of the Three Wise Men, whose bones and 2,000-year-old clothes were discovered at the opening of the shrine in 1864.

This cathedral is one of the reasons why I visited Cologne at least 8-10 times already. There is no other cathedral comparable with it's majestic looks. You feel so small next to this building build in gothic style. Interesting is that they start building it in the medieval age but it was finish in the 19th century. It has a big symbolic character.
With its 157,38m height its the second highest church in Europe and the third highest on the world. You have to experience the seize and the feeling standing in it or in front of it... therefore you cannot find the right words. Simply marvelous!

Huge! The Dom can be seen more or less anywhere in Köln, even from the highway and ofcourse when you're in the train nearing Cologne. It's simply impressive, mainly outside. From the inside it looks quite small because of the way the cathedral is divided is several parts.
The stairs to the 'top' of the Dom are good for your stamina, as you have to walk 533 steps (and that amount back again...). Nice view of the city.