Abstract: The invention relates to a method of and a device for drying a paper web or the like, in which method a web (8) and a wire or felt (9) supporting it are subjected to a deairing treatment. The wet web (8) and the wire or felt (9) thus deaired the thereafter passed between two displaceable airtight surfaces of high heat conducting properties, between which surfaces the web (8) is enclosed in the drying zone over the whole width thereof. The surface making contact with the web (8) is heated and the surface making contact with the wire or felt (9) is cooled by liquid in order to condense the water evaporated from the web (8) into the wire or felt (9). The wire or felt (9) is separated from the dried web (8) after said surfaces and the water condensated is removed therefrom. In a drying process the surface making contact with the wire or felt (9) is formed by the outer surface of a cooled rotating metal cylinder (2).