Day trip to Cologne.
From London Gatwick, back by 18:45.
Germany·Mon 8 Feb · 5.5 hours in the city
Time in the city
5.5 hours
after transfersAfter transfers and airport time
Airport distance
15km
to the centreFrom Cologne centre (CGN)
Daylight
9.5 hours
07:59 to 17:32Sunrise 07:59, sunset 17:32
First EU trip since 2025? Allow 25 min more.
07:55
Leave London Gatwick
1h 20min
10:49
In the city
Lands 10:15, 20min immigration, 14min from the airport
16:16
Leave the city
14min back, 120min at the airport incl. immigration
18:45
Back in London Gatwick
Flies 18:30
- Leave London Gatwick07:55
- Land in Cologne1h 20min10:15
- In the city20min immigration, 14min from the airport10:49
- Leave the city14min back, 120min at the airport incl. immigration16:16
- Fly home1h 20min18:30
- Back in London Gatwick18:45
How we'd do it
Open up the maps to see full detail.
Also on in Cologne
Cologne Carnival: Rosenmontag
The wider carnival session runs 4 to 10 Feb.
8 Feb · Street viewing free. Grandstands from £46 (€54) last year; 2027 sales not open yet
Things to do in CologneShowHide
Bubble Planet CologneTickets on TiqetsAffiliate link
Chocolate Museum CologneTickets on TiqetsAffiliate link
Cologne Zoo & AquariumTickets on TiqetsAffiliate link
TimeRide CologneTickets on TiqetsAffiliate link
IceBar CologneTickets on TiqetsAffiliate link
Farina Fragrance MuseumTickets on TiqetsAffiliate link
Cologne Sightseeing CruisesTickets on TiqetsAffiliate link
Cologne Attraction PassesTickets on TiqetsAffiliate link
All things to do in Cologne · Tiqets, affiliate link
With kids in CologneShowHide
Cologne on a budgetShowHide
A day in Cologne costs £16.29 per person on the ground on a budget, before the flight, eating and drinking at the cheaper end of what places charge. At typical prices it is £16.96, and a day that does not watch the pennies runs to £26.06. The food and drink prices are real menu prices we read in Cologne on 22 Oct and 23 Oct, turned into pounds at the day's exchange rate, not guesses.
First 1,000 members
Become a founder
Half the price, for as long as you stay, for the first 1,000 members.
Full refund within 14 days, no questions asked.
Built by Josh and Samar£19 today for your first year, then £19 a year for as long as you stay.
How we'd do it
Open up the maps to see full detail.
What a day in Cologne costs
On the ground only. We could not price the flight for this pair, so the day costs more than this.
£38.65/ on the ground, plus flights
We could not price this pair. Check the fare on the airline's site before you count on the figure above.
Estimated cost. Prices and availability change and are set by the airline or agent when you book.
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Day Trip Flight Details
Return flights: about 130 kg CO2e per person (UK government 2026 factors), about the same as driving 480 miles in an average UK car. How we work this out
First 1,000 members
Become a founder
Half the price, for as long as you stay, for the first 1,000 members.
Full refund within 14 days, no questions asked.
Built by Josh and Samar£19 today for your first year, then £19 a year for as long as you stay.
What you get
- Unlimited searches
- Every sight on the day, with prices
- Save unlimited trips and places
- Ask about any city, unlimited
- Live fare for your exact date
- All your saved places on one map
- Your preferences: airports, days, flight length
- Themes: 8 looks and your own colour
- Every UK airport
Only for founders
- £19 a year instead of £39.99, a saving of £20.99 every year
- Your price never goes up, even if everyone else's does
- Full refund within 14 days, no questions asked.
Getting to the airportShowHide
Getting to Gatwick
Per person. Not in the total above. Prices checked 25 Sept 2026 to 21 Oct 2026.
Free
- Free drop-offFree
Long Stay car park: free for 0-2 hours, with a free shuttle bus (10-12 min) to the terminal. Source
Train
Coach
- National Express from LondonPrice not published
Taxi
- From London£100-£160 one way~30 miles
Estimate, not a quote.
Parking at the airport
- Paid drop-offfrom £10
Drop-off zone: £10 for 10 min, then £1/extra minute up to 20 min, maximum daily charge £30, maximum stay 30 min, payable by midnight the next day. Source
- Short Stay£70
"12-24 hours" walk-up (roll-up) rate. Source
- Premium Short Stay£87.50
"12-24 hours" walk-up rate. Source
- Long Stay£38
"2-24 hours" band (first 2 hours free). Source
Parking nearby
No same-day price published. See multi-day prices
Costs people forgetShowHide
Costs people forget
Not in the total above. Worth a minute before you go.
- Phone data. EE, Vodafone and Three charge about £2.75 a day to use your allowance in Europe. O2, Tesco Mobile and giffgaff include it free.
- Card fees. Many cards add a foreign-exchange fee to every payment abroad. Check yours before you go, or take one that doesn't charge it.
Comments on CologneShowHide
Comments
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