KölnTriangle

The KölnTriangle in Cologne's Deutz district is a glass office tower on the east bank of the Rhine whose observation deck offers arguably the best view of Cologne Cathedral. From more than 100 meters up, the river, the Hohenzollern Bridge and the Old Town spread out below you, and on clear days you can see as far as Düsseldorf and the Siebengebirge hills. It is cheap, quick and one of the best photo spots in Cologne.

A Tower That Worried UNESCO

Designed by architects Dörte Gatermann and Elmar Schossig and completed between 2004 and 2006, the building takes its name from its footprint: a triangle with rounded sides that looks almost cylindrical from outside. It stands 103.2 meters (339 feet) tall with 29 floors.

Its height caused a major controversy. While it was under construction, UNESCO put Cologne Cathedral on its List of World Heritage in Danger, concerned that new high-rises in Deutz would spoil views of the cathedral. Cologne then revised its plans for high-rises on the east bank. The observation deck opened on September 2, 2006.

The View

The fully glazed deck on the 29th floor covers about 400 square meters. Highlights include:

• Cologne Cathedral, which seems close enough to touch
• The Hohenzollern Bridge, with trains rolling across right below you
• The Old Town skyline, including Great St. Martin Church and the Museum Ludwig
• Distant views of Düsseldorf to the north and the Siebengebirge to the south in good weather

Come around sunset and stay for blue hour, when the bridge and cathedral are lit up. Hold your camera close to the glass to avoid reflections.

Tickets and Opening Hours

As of October 2026:

• October to April: daily 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• May to September: Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m.
• Closed during storms and thunderstorms, on two Carnival days (Weiberfastnacht and Rosenmontag), during the "Kölner Lichter" fireworks, and on December 24 and 31

Admission is €5 for adults and teens and €4 for students and groups of five or more. Children up to 12 enter free. Thirty to 45 minutes is plenty.

How to Get There

The entrance is at Ottoplatz 1, next to Köln Messe/Deutz station, served by ICE, regional and S-Bahn trains. The nicest approach is on foot: from Cologne Cathedral and the main station, walk about 15 minutes across the Hohenzollern Bridge, past thousands of love locks. Cologne is roughly an hour from Frankfurt by ICE and about 15 minutes from Cologne Bonn Airport by S-Bahn, making this an easy addition to a day trip. There is a 24-hour underground garage beneath the building.

Is It Worth Visiting?

Yes, it is one of the best-value things to do in Cologne, and it pairs perfectly with a walk across the bridge to the cathedral and the Museum Ludwig. From the nearby Rheinpark, the Cologne Cable Car crosses the river toward the zoo.