Cologne Cathedral: when is the facade in the sun?
Short answer: 6 Nov 2026: Sun on the west front (towers) 13:20–16:55, most frontal around 16:50; golden light 15:40–16:55.
The two 157 m towers face west. They are dark against the morning sky and lit from mid-afternoon to sunset; from across the Rhine (Deutz) you see the cathedral's south side lit around midday.
Fri 6 November 2026 · sunrise 07:34, sunset 17:00
Sun on the facade 13:20–16:55
Sun on the west front (towers) 13:20–16:55, most frontal around 16:50; golden light 15:40–16:55.
| Direct sun | Golden light | |
|---|---|---|
| West front (towers) faces west, over Roncalliplatz | 13:20–16:55 Most frontal 16:50 | 15:40–16:55 |
Hour by hour
| Time | West front (towers) |
|---|---|
| 07:30 | Dark |
| 08:00 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 08:30 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 09:00 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 09:30 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 10:00 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 10:30 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 11:00 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 11:30 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 12:00 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 12:30 | Grazing light: most of the facade in shade |
| 13:00 | Grazing light: most of the facade in shade |
| 13:30 | Side light: strong relief |
| 14:00 | Side light: strong relief |
| 14:30 | Side light: strong relief |
| 15:00 | Side light: strong relief |
| 15:30 | Full sun on the facade |
| 16:00 | Golden light on the facade |
| 16:30 | Golden light on the facade |
| 17:00 | Dark |
| 17:30 | Dark |
Plan it
The plaza in front is small, so the low winter sun only reaches the upper towers.
Through the year
| 15th of | West front (towers) |
|---|---|
| January | 13:50–16:55 |
| February | 13:50–17:45 |
| March | 13:35–18:35 |
| April | 14:20–20:25 |
| May | 14:10–21:15 |
| June | 14:10–21:45 |
| July | 14:15–21:40 |
| August | 14:20–20:55 |
| September | 14:20–19:45 |
| October | 14:20–18:40 |
| November | 13:25–16:45 |
| December | 13:40–16:25 |
Cologne Cathedral light by month
Questions
What time is the sun on the Cologne Cathedral facade?
6 Nov 2026: Sun on the west front (towers) 13:20–16:55, most frontal around 16:50; golden light 15:40–16:55. Pick your own date above; the window moves through the year.
Is Cologne Cathedral better in the morning or the afternoon?
The west front (towers) faces west, over Roncalliplatz. On 15 June 2027 it is lit 14:10–21:45; on 15 December 2026, 13:40–16:25.
When is the golden light on Cologne Cathedral?
On 6 November 2026, 15:40–16:55. Golden light needs the sun low and on the same side as the facade.
How is this calculated?
For every 5 minutes of the day we compute the sun's direction and height and compare it with the way the facade faces. Within 40° of straight on is full front light, 40° to 70° is side light that brings out the carving, and beyond that the facade is mostly in shade. Below 10° above the horizon the light is golden. Where cliffs or mountains stand in front of a facade, the sun also has to clear them.
Calculated from the sun's position and the facade's direction (measured from OpenStreetMap building outlines). Nearby buildings and trees can shade the lower part of a facade earlier than shown; clouds remove direct light altogether. Times are local (Europe/Berlin).