Day trip to Cologne.
From London Stansted, back by 21:05.
Germany·Mon 2 Nov · 8.7 hours in the city
Time in the city
8.7 hours
after transfersAfter transfers and airport time
Airport distance
15km
to the centreFrom Cologne centre (CGN)
Daylight
9.7 hours
07:23 to 17:07Sunrise 07:23, sunset 17:07
First EU trip since 2025? Allow 25 min more.
07:00
Leave London Stansted
Ryanair, direct
09:49
In the city
Lands 09:15, 20min immigration, 14min from the airport
18:31
Leave the city
14min back, 120min at the airport incl. immigration
21:05
Back in London Stansted
Flies 20:45
- Leave London StanstedRyanair, direct07:00
- Land in Cologne1h 15min09:15
- In the city20min immigration, 14min from the airport09:49
- Leave the city14min back, 120min at the airport incl. immigration18:31
- Fly home1h 15min20:45
- Back in London Stansted21:05
How we'd do it
Open up the maps to see full detail.
Museum Ludwig is closed on Mondays, so we've put Cologne Cathedral Treasury in its place.
Cologne’s Christmas markets open 16 Nov
Also on in Cologne
Coming up in Cologne: Cologne carnival season opening (Sessionseröffnung, 11.11.), 11 Nov
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 £26.07. The food and drink prices are real menu prices we read in Cologne on 22 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.
Try it for 14 days. Full refund if it's not for you.
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.
Museum Ludwig is closed on Mondays, so we've put Cologne Cathedral Treasury in its place.
What a day in Cologne costs
Flights and on-the-ground spend, per person.
£144.65/ all in, per person
Google Flights price. Checked 22 Oct, 15:50.
Estimated cost. Fares last checked 22 Oct, 15:50. 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 120 kg CO2e per person (UK government 2026 factors), about the same as driving 460 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.
Try it for 14 days. Full refund if it's not for you.
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 Stansted
Per person. Not in the total above. Prices checked 25 Sept 2026 to 21 Oct 2026.
Free
- Free drop-off at the Mid Stay car parkFree
Free shuttle bus to the terminal. Source
Train
- From London (Liverpool Street, Stansted Express)£9.90 each way48 min
Advance single. First train 03:40, last train 23:21 Source
Coach
- National Express from London£10.50 each way
Cheapest advertised single. Runs round the clock. Source
Taxi
- From London£90-£130 one way~42 miles
Estimate, not a quote. Uber or Bolt usually £55-£85.
Parking at the airport
- Paid drop-off, Short Stay car parkfrom £13
Up to 30 min £13, up to 1 hr £21. Source
More parking
- Short StayNo same-day price
From £87 (4-day stay). Source
- Meet & GreetNo same-day price
From £81 (8-day stay). Source
- Mid StayNo same-day price
From £69.99 (8-day stay). Source
- Long StayNo same-day price
From £49.99 (8-day stay). Source
- JetParksNo same-day price
From £59.99 (stay length not stated on stanstedairport). 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.
- Ryanair airport check-in. £55 per person, per flight, if you don't check in online. Without a paid seat, online check-in opens 24 hours before and closes 2 hours before. Ryanair, fees
- Ryanair bags. One small bag (40 x 30 x 20 cm) under the seat is free. A 10kg cabin bag (55 x 40 x 20 cm) needs Priority & 2 Cabin Bags, £12.49 to £36 when booked. An oversize bag at the gate is refused or put in the hold for £70 to £75. Ryanair, fees
Comments on CologneShowHide
Comments
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