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Cologne Cathedral ended centuries of free admission on July 1, charging tourists 12 euros to enter, the latest in a global trend of landmark attractions introducing fees.
Visitors to Cologne Cathedral in Germany must now pay an entry fee, ending a centuries-long tradition of free admission. The colossal Gothic masterpiece began charging on July 1, with tourists required to pay 12 euros, about 19.50 dollars, to admire its cavernous interior.
The change is the latest in a string of attractions around the world that have introduced admission charges. The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul went from being free to costing 25 euros, about 40 dollars, in 2024. Rome brought in charges for both the Pantheon in 2023 and the Trevi Fountain in 2025. Even the great outdoors is not immune, with hikers tackling Japan's Mount Fuji now subject to a fee.
Free Landmarks Across Europe
So which of the world's great landmarks remain completely free to visit? The East Side Gallery in Berlin is a surviving section of the Berlin Wall and stands as the world's longest open-air gallery. It features more than 100 paintings across almost two kilometres. One of its most well-known murals, the Fraternal Kiss, depicts Erich Honecker, the East German chairman, and Leonid Brezhnev, the Soviet leader, locking lips.
A World Heritage Site owes its existence to volcanic activity and continental drift, while according to legend it owes it to a rivalry between giants. Whatever its origin story, the result was 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns and one of the UK's most spectacular views. Book a paid visitor experience through the National Trust if you would like to be accompanied by a storyteller, but otherwise simply walk down to the stones on the Atlantic shore at no cost.
Plaza de Espana is one of Seville's numerous architectural delights. It is also one of the few that remain free, as the Royal Alcazar, the cathedral and the Giralda, as well as the Setas de Sevilla, all charge. This might change. Jose Luis Sanz, the mayor of the city, announced plans to introduce an entry fee in 2024, and the project appears to still be in motion despite delays.
The plaza could therefore follow in the footsteps of other ticketed open-air spaces in Spain, such as Barcelona's Park Guell, which is priced at 18 euros, about 29 dollars. As it stands, however, the Plaza de Espana is free, even if not for much longer. Notre-Dame, overlooking the Seine, charges a fee to climb the 424 steps of one of its towers, but tourists are still able to visit the rest of the building free of charge.
Reserving an entry time is advised, but this is also free. The cathedral is older than Cologne's and underwent extensive restoration following the 2019 fire that forced it to close for five years. Visitors can once again see its 13th-century rose windows and the Crown of Thorns relic in all their glory. The British Museum's Great Court is enclosed by a spectacular glass roof and was designed by Foster and Partners.
Museums and Basilica Admission Guide
The museum welcomed visitors last year, many probably eager to catch a glimpse of the Rosetta Stone, the treasures of Sutton Hoo or the Elgin Marbles. Viewing its impressive collection costs precisely nothing. Some temporary exhibitions do charge an entry fee, for example standard tickets for the forthcoming loan of the Bayeux Tapestry carry a hefty price tag of 33 pounds, about 62 dollars. But fees do not apply to standard admission.
It is advised to book a timed slot to avoid the queues. It is just one of many excellent and free museums in London. The Natural History Museum overtook the British Museum as the UK's premier visitor attraction last year, while the Tate Modern, the V and A and the National Gallery are home to world-class artistic collections.
At St Peter's Basilica, a general visit is free providing you are willing to take your chances in often long queues, though parts such as the dome above or necropolis beneath carry charges. If you want to book a time slot, a 7 euro fee, about 11 dollars, will apply, though you get a digital audio guide with it. The Pieta alone is worth the visit.
Everywhere you look there is something remarkable: gilded cherubs, mosaics, statues of saints, popes' tombs and memorial tablets. Everything is on a colossal scale. Be aware that dress codes are strictly enforced, so avoid shorts, bare shoulders and skirts above the knee. Papal audiences in the square outside, held every Wednesday morning whenever the pope is in Rome, are also free.
Free Sacred Sites Across Asia
The beating heart of Marrakesh's medina has been drawing the city's visitors since the 11th century. Today the square features pungi flutes and the smell of freshly squeezed orange juice, while evenings see it transform into a labyrinthine, lantern-lit set-up filled with food stands and fortune tellers. The Golden Temple in Amritsar feeds 150,000 people daily, free of charge, as a manifestation of the Sikh belief that its places of worship are open to all.
Head coverings are mandatory for all visitors, but these are provided, as are foot-washing stations and shoe storage. A fee of any sort would jar with its entire ethos. The temple seems to float on the waters of the Amrit Sarovar pool and is surrounded by marble walkways where gurus read scripture and visitors rest in the shade.
Dawn is often said to be the best time to visit, when the building reflects in the tranquil waters while the morning light catches on its gilded domes. Kyoto, Japan's ancient capital, has no shortage of captivating Shinto shrines. Fushimi Inari Taisha at the base of Mount Inari has become one of the country's most emblematic sites. Dedicated to the harvest deity, it is best known for its 10,000 densely packed torii gates.
The vermilion structures symbolise the threshold between the earthly and spiritual worlds and hang over the trails that guide visitors on their two- to three-hour hike to the top of the mountain.
brisbanetimes
smh:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
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