The Dark Side of the Dom Tour
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Prepare yourself for witches, ghosts, murderers and the pure misery of living in Medieval Times.
Cologne today is known as a welcoming city—full of culture, music, drinking, and happiness. But it hasn’t always been that way. Discover the darker side of Cologne’s history and the city's Medieval past with a few jumps to some more recent history.
Departing from Heumarkt, stroll through Cologne's historic city center as you listen to stories and legends from the Dark Ages from murderers from the north to Cologne's most haunted house.
Learn about the witches that kicked off Cologne's Witch hunts and helped bring them to a close while in standing with views of the Dom at night.
Hear how the Devil helped and hindered the construction of the Cathedral and how one woman helped thwart Satan and another created the city.
Get to know the zombies, thiefs and doomed souls of the black plague as well as what killed Cologne's Robin Hood.
All this and more with us on the Dark Side of the Dom!
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Heumarkt
Let's get started in the square made famous for its lively atmosphere in Karneval but first known for trading grains and public executions. Here, you'll get to know your guide and the group and what is in store for you on our tour!
Gurzenich von Koln
What is the story behind this Medieval Gothic festival hall? Also, how did people live during Medieval times in Germany? Let's get started on our tour's Dark Ages history.
What‘s Included
English Speaking Guide with Local Stories & Tips
Tips & Recommendations for Cologne
Gratuities if you like our tour!
Options
The Dark Side of the Dom Tour
La Cara Oscura de la Catedral
Die Dunkle Seite des Doms Tour
Reviews
33 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Wonderful tour
FL451,,Dec 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I did this tour yesterday eve, Dec 19th. Sander, our guide, was excellent. Warm, engaging, fun, knowledgeable and his enthusiasm shows through in his stories! It was great to hear the history of the city, see different areas, and get the inside gossip lol. Unfortunately our tour was somewhat spoiled by a large family group from the USA, who clearly didn’t want to be there ( why book??!! ) They kept disappearing to buy more beer, so the guide had to wait or go look for them. They then proceeded to laugh and talk amongst themselves whilst the guide was speaking. When I asked them to be quiet they became abusive and bullying. Disgusting behaviour, rude and disrespectful.
Nice walk round the city. But not as expected
Andrew J,,Dec 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
2.00Wasn’t really what I expected. Not many local stories. A lot about romans etc. guide was good but a few left the tour half way through. Was expecting more local stories etc
Just the thing to cap off my first full day in Cologne
Beti-Blodyn,,Dec 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Not quite a ghost tour per se, but there's plenty of gruesome things to hear about in the Dark Side of The Dom! This was my second walking tour of the day and a wonderful compliment to the daytime tour I'd taken with a different provider. First off, our friendly guide Sander broke the ice with us all by asking us to introduce ourselves and where we came from, and our favourite thing about our country or town of origin (mine was that a good cup of tea fixes everything in the UK). Sander himself is not German, he's Norwegian, but he stayed in Cologne after university when he fell in love with both the city and his partner. You can tell he's very enthusiastic about his job and that he loves the city! After the ice-breaker, we stopped at a kiosk to grab a kolner and learn how to properly toast in German (it's not compulsory to buy one, but a nice thing to do) before moving on. Given how packed the streets were thanks to the Christmas Markets, Sander did a fantastic job at leading us all through the chaos including taking a few diversions here and there without compromising the content of the tour. My favourite stories were of the mayor's wife who narrowly escaped a live burial thanks to grave-robbers, and how a deal with the Devil (and an attempt to outsmart him) interfered with the building of the Cathedral. The streets are so beautifully lit at night, so be sure to take lots of photos with the night-setting on your phone camera! Sander also shared some interesting trivia for a visitor to Cologne, including which Christmas Markets attract the locals, the long-standing sibling rivalry between Dusseldorf and Cologne (oddly, this doesn't carry over to football!) and the dark and blood-spattered history of Agrippe, the black widow founder and her son Nero. It can get a little nippy in the evenings and you'll be out in the elements for two hours, so ensure you wear some layers and bring an umbrella just in case - and good comfy shoes are an essential. Tour groups are capped at 15 people and we had a full house, so get in and pre-book early. A fantastic end to the first day of my trip, thank you Sander!
Super fun tour to do
janzW4329IM,,Dec 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Super fun tour. Varied, humorous and informative. We were a group of about 13 people. I think all participants had a very nice tour. Our German-speaking guide, Michel, was excellent. Knew to captivate and was a smooth storyteller. Next time we will see this part of Cologne with different eyes.
Tour of 10.
isabelmO8936GY,,Dec 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Super recommended tour. We have learned a lot about Cologne and Angela that has been our guide, great 💯. Totally a hit and super lovely. Thanks for everything Angela.
A very interesting tour
431lasarita,,Dec 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Angela's been lovely. We really liked it. The tour has been very interesting. We did the tour today and he told us many stories
A fun tour
Marina M,,Dec 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Ok. So, the weather was miserable. It was cold and pouring rain. Definitely not the best for a walking tour. But our tour guide Sander made it fun. And the weather almost contributed to the atmosphere of the tour. Do even though I was soaked to the bone and probably looked like drowned cat, I still had fun. I definitely recommend the tour but maybe, check the weather first 😁
Don't miss the Dark Side!
M1029CRmichaelc,,Dec 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an incredible dive into the city's spooky history! More than just ghosts, also some medieval background was greatly appreciated!
Amazing!
anoctato,,Dec 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I highly recommend it! Angela is an excellent guide, and I loved learning about the history of Cologne through her!!! :)
Excellent walking tour with a twist
alisN5772RU,,Dec 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent guided walk with a twist, learning dark and mysterious myths, tales and truths of bygone centuries. Lots of research has clearly been done to fact find historical events. Our guide Cameron had a great balance of seriousness and humour. A most enjoyable couple of hours spent.
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Operated by Freewalk Cologne