Day trip to Cologne.
From Manchester, back by 22:50.
Time in the city
10.6 hours
after transfersAfter transfers and airport time
Airport distance
15km
to the centreFrom Cologne centre (CGN)
Daylight
7.9 hours
08:31 to 16:27Sunrise 08:31, sunset 16:27
06:15
Leave Manchester
Ryanair, direct
09:24
In the city
Lands 08:50, 20min immigration, 14min from the airport. First EU trip since 2025? Allow 25min more
20:01
Leave the city
14min back, 120min at the airport incl. immigration
22:50
Back in Manchester
Flies 22:15 with Ryanair UK
- Leave ManchesterRyanair, direct06:15
- Land in Cologne1h 35min08:50
- In the city20min immigration, 14min from the airport09:24
- Leave the city14min back, 120min at the airport incl. immigration20:01
- Fly homeRyanair UK, 1h 35min22:15
- Back in Manchester22:50
Best day for your flights
Open up the maps to see full detail.
Best day for your flights
Open up the maps to see full detail.
What a day in Cologne costs
Flights and on-the-ground spend, per person.
£171.65/ all in, per person
Google Flights price. Checked 24 Oct, 01:41.
Out with Ryanair, back with Ryanair UK. Two separate tickets. Book both before you go.
Estimated cost. Fares last checked 24 Oct, 01:41. 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 are about 180 kg CO2e per person (UK government 2026 factors), about the same as driving 660 miles in an average UK car. How we work this out
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
Busy that day, local schools are off
- Christmas Holidays, 19 Dec to 6 Jan, some regions
Expect queues at the big family sights. Book tickets ahead where you can.
Holiday data OpenHolidays (ODbL)
Getting to the airportShowHide
Getting to Manchester
Per person. Not in the total above. Prices checked 21 Oct 2026.
Free
- Free drop-off areaFree
24/7 shuttle bus to the terminals. Source
Train
- From Manchester Piccadilly£2.90 each way13-20 min
Advance single. last train 01:34 Source
- From Leeds£6.90 each way83-96 min
Advance single Source
- From Liverpool (Lime Street)£3.60 each way46-73 min
Advance single. First train 05:00, last train 00:18 Source
First train too late for this flight. It gets you to Manchester less than 90 min before take-off.
Coach
- National Express from Manchester / Leeds / Liverpool£5.50 each way
Cheapest advertised single. Runs round the clock. Source
Taxi
- From Manchester city centre£25-£35 one way~10 miles
Estimate, not a quote. Uber or Bolt usually £15-£25.
- From Leeds£90-£120 one way~45 miles
Estimate, not a quote. Uber or Bolt usually £60-£90.
- From Liverpool£75-£100 one way~35 miles
Estimate, not a quote. Uber or Bolt usually £50-£75.
Parking at the airport
No same-day price published. See multi-day prices
- Short StayNo same-day price
From £64.00 (4-day stay). Source
- JetParksNo same-day price
From £54.99 (8-day stay). Source
- Mid StayNo same-day price
From £69.00 (8-day stay). Source
- Drop & GoNo same-day price
From £59.99 (8-day stay). Source
- Meet & GreetNo same-day price
From £82.99 (8-day stay). Source
- Multi StoreyNo same-day price
From £64.00 (4-day stay). Source
Cologne on a budgetShowHide
A day in Cologne costs £16.26 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 £16.93, and a day that does not watch the pennies runs to £25.92. The food and drink prices are real menu prices we read in Cologne on 22 Oct and 27 Oct, turned into pounds at the day's exchange rate, not guesses.
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
Ask about Cologne
Your hours, your budget, what you like. Answered from real costs and tips from people who have been.
Comments on CologneShowHide
Comments
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