Cologne, the largest city on the Rhine, is perfectly positioned to showcase the best of what Germany has to offer in terms of culture and nature. There are many direct flights available to Cologne from across Europe, including a variety of low-cost options arriving at the nearby airport on a daily basis. Indirect flights are also available from an even greater number of carriers.
Cologne’s airport is the Cologne Bonn Airport, which is just nine to ten miles away from both Cologne and Bonn. The airport has two passenger terminals, both of which host a variety of flag carriers and low-cost airlines. Both terminals are directly connected to the airport’s railway station, from where travellers can catch a high-speed ICE train to Cologne city centre. The railway station is also connected to the S-Bahn, Cologne’s urban train service with routes across the city.
Cologne Bonn Airport is a base for Eurowings, which offers many flights to Cologne from various destinations across Europe, including internal flights from Berlin and Munich. Passengers from the UK can catch direct Eurowings flights from London Heathrow and London Stansted. Ryanair also offers frequent services to Cologne, including flights from London Stansted, Manchester and Bristol.
Cologne Bonn Airport is one of Germany’s only 24-hour airports, which makes it extra convenient for travellers to plan a quick trip. Direct flights from the UK are available every couple of hours from London or once a day from Bristol and Manchester, so there are always plenty of options. Flights to Cologne can be considerably less expensive than flights to Berlin or Munich, but all of Germany has excellent rail infrastructure, so it’s easy to visit those cities from Cologne if the mood strikes.
Cologne is known for its ancient architecture and its grand universities, but it’s also a great place to hit the beach. The city boasts several river beaches along the banks of the Rhine. Beach clubs and bars like SonnenscheinEtage and Poller Strandbar offer beautiful views of the famous Cologne Cathedral, which is best seen from a deckchair with a cold drink in hand. Cologne’s extensive network of S-Bahn trains and trams runs all night at weekends, so you can head home from the beach whenever you’re ready.
Flights to Cologne from the UK are frequent and depart from a number of airports across the country, including Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle. The operating airline is dependent on the departure airport but flights are available through British Airways, KLM, Flybe, Lufthanse and Air France amongst others. Flights to Cologne arrive at Cologne-Bonn airport, which lies just over 10 km from the centre of the city. Public transport between Cologne and the airport is readily available with the Intercity-Express train being the fastest option. In addition, there is a regular bus service and taxi ranks are positioned at both of the airport's terminals. Car rental is another available option.
One of the oldest cities in Germany, Cologne is a highly popular city break destination, with visitors attracted by the rich mix of elegant history and vibrant nightlife. The city is home to a number of beautiful historic buildings but the one that immediately catches the eye is the huge Cologne Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece which dominates the skyline and offers wonderful views of the Rhine River. Culture is a big part of city life here and there is a large collection of fascinating museums such as the unique-looking Museum Ludwig and the Farina Fragrance Museum, the birthplace of Eau de Cologne.
Seamlessly mixing with the historic and cultural aspects of the city, Cologne's nightlife scene is lively yet varied. You can partake in a glass or two of the famous Kölsch pale ale in a proper German beer hall or dance throughout the night at one of the many pulsating clubs. With Cologne having more bars per capita than any other German city, there is never a shortage of things to do in the evening.
Travel to Cologne on Eurowings, easyJet and Smartwings flights with Omio. When comparing timetables and tickets, we will also show you other options with multiple connections or other travel modes if they’re available.
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