Days in Köln are currently getting shorter, about 27 minutes shorter than a week ago.*
* Calculated from sunrise and sunset times; actual visible daylight can vary slightly with weather, elevation and atmospheric conditions.
Geographic position of Köln
Köln is located in the Northern Hemisphere and the Eastern Hemisphere. Its coordinates are 50.9333° N, 6.9500° E.
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Distance from the Equator:
about 5,670 km (3,523 mi)
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Distance from the North Pole:
about 4,349 km (2,702 mi)
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Distance from the South Pole:
about 15,689 km (9,749 mi)
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Distance from the Prime Meridian:
about 488 km (303 mi) east
Köln lies in the temperate latitude zone. This latitude affects daylight length, seasonal variation and how local solar time compares with standard clock time.
Antipode of Köln
The point on Earth exactly opposite Köln is near Christchurch - when it's noon in Köln, it's close to midnight there.
Golden Hour & Blue Hour in Köln
Approximate times based on sunrise/sunset. Actual golden hour quality varies with weather and season.
Current Season in Köln
Köln is currently in Autumn. Autumn begins around September 22, which is 4 days from now.
Because Köln is in the Northern Hemisphere, its seasons run opposite to cities in the other hemisphere. When it is autumn here, places on the other side of the equator are experiencing the opposite season at the same time.
Longest & Shortest Day in Köln
In Köln, the longest day of the year falls around June 21 and lasts about 16h 32m. The shortest day falls around December 21 and lasts about 7h 55m, a difference of roughly 8h 37m between the two.
This seasonal swing depends on Köln's latitude: cities closer to the equator see little variation in daylight throughout the year, while cities farther from it, like Köln at 50.93° N, experience a much wider gap between summer and winter daylight.
Population Ranking of Köln
With a population of 963,395, Köln ranks as the 4th most populous city in Germany, out of 1,144 cities tracked on this site.
Nearest Airport to Köln
Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN / EDDK) is a major international airport located about 16 km (10 mi) from Köln.
Current local time at the airport is 03:33:58.
Daylight saving time changes in Köln
Köln uses the IANA time zone identifier Europe/Berlin. The current local offset is UTC+2 / CEST.
2026
Previous change: Daylight saving time started
- The offset changed from UTC+1 / CET to UTC+2 / CEST.
- The clock was moved forward from 02:00 to 03:00 local time.
2026
Next change: Standard time starts
- The offset will change from UTC+2 / CEST to UTC+1 / CET.
- The clock will be moved back from 03:00 to 02:00 local time.
Best Time to Call Köln
Business hours in Köln (9 AM-5 PM local time) fall at these local times elsewhere:
- New York: 3:00 AM - 11:00 AM ( Outside normal hours)
- Los Angeles: 12:00 AM - 8:00 AM ( Outside normal hours)
- London: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM ( Convenient)
- Dubai: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM ( Convenient)
- Mumbai: 12:30 PM - 8:30 PM ( Partial overlap)
- Tokyo: 4:00 PM - 12:00 AM (next day) ( Partial overlap)
- Sydney: 5:00 PM - 1:00 AM (next day) ( Partial overlap)
Times shown reflect current UTC offsets and may shift by up to an hour around daylight saving transitions.
Time Difference from Köln
Compare time in Köln with major cities worldwide.
Public Holidays Affecting Köln
Official national holiday observed in Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time zone is Köln in?
Köln follows the Europe/Berlin time zone, the official IANA identifier used by computers and databases worldwide to track local time accurately. Right now, this puts Köln at UTC+2.
What time is it in Köln right now?
The current local time in Köln is 03:33:58 on Thursday, 17 September 2026. This page updates automatically, so refreshing it will always show the live time.
Does Köln observe daylight saving time?
Yes. Köln is currently observing daylight saving time, which temporarily shifts the clock forward by one hour compared to standard time.
How far ahead or behind UTC is Köln?
Köln is currently UTC+2, meaning local time is +2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
What is the nearest airport to Köln?
Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) is the nearest airport to Köln, located about 16 km away. The current local time at the airport is 03:33:58.
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