As a first step, the cathedral chapter has introduced measures to make do with 400,000 euros less, Cathedral Provost Guido Assmann explained to journalists on Tuesday.
Last summer, for example, admission to the tower and treasury was increased by one euro.
In the morning hours, there is no longer access to the cathedral via the main portal, but only via a side entrance. This would enable more cost-effective deployment of security staff.
According to Assmann, the starting point for the considerations is that the Archdiocese of Cologne wants to reduce its budget by 100 million euros by 2030 due to falling church tax revenues.
In mathematical terms, all recipients of subsidies from the archdiocese would have to receive 15.8 per cent less by then. For the cathedral, which currently receives around 4.5 million euros from church tax, this would mean around 750,000 euros less.
However, the archdiocese does not want to use the lawnmower method to make savings, but is currently working on prioritising expenditure.
Church hopes for voluntary donations
According to Cathedral Dean Robert Kleine, admission to the cathedral will continue to be excluded.
However, donations will be asked for at the two entrances to the choir gallery, where the main sights of the Gothic cathedral, including the Shrine of the Epiphany, are located.
There, the 20,000 to 30,000 visitors a day will be able to deposit money in eye-catching Plexiglas donation boxes.
One such box will also be placed in the entrance area of the cathedral.
There are also three digital offering boxes.
They are particularly used by foreign visitors, it was said.
Cologne Cathedral is one of the most important churches in the world and the most visited sight in Germany.
Six million people visit it every year.
The foundation stone was laid in 1248.
The building was completed in 1880.