Current time in Cologne, Germany
The current local time in Cologne is shown below. Cologne observes CET in winter and CEST during daylight saving time.
What's the daylight saving status?
When are sunrise & sunset today?
What are the timezone facts?
What's the timezone history of Cologne?
Cologne sits at around 6.96 degrees east, somewhat west of the CET solar meridian, so solar noon arrives several minutes after clock noon in winter — more pronounced than the timing in Berlin or Munich. The Belgian and Dutch borders, both around 80 kilometres west, share CET, producing a continuous timezone region across the densely populated Rhine and Maas basins. The trinational point at Vaals on the Dutch-German-Belgian border sees no clock change in any direction.
What are the working hours in Cologne?
Cologne's working day runs 09:00 to 17:30, with the city's economy anchored by the insurance industry (Cologne is the German insurance capital), media production (RTL, Deutsche Welle), and a substantial trade fair calendar at Koelnmesse. The annual Carnival period reaches its peak in the so-called crazy days from Weiberfastnacht through Rose Monday, producing several days of effective city-wide closure during which most offices either shut entirely or operate skeleton staff. Public holidays follow North Rhine-Westphalia's Catholic-influenced calendar.
Where is Cologne?
Cologne occupies the western bank of the Rhine in North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous German state. The city proper holds around 1.1 million residents, making it the fourth-largest in Germany behind Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. The wider Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region extends north and east to encompass Düsseldorf, Essen, Dortmund, and Duisburg, with a combined population above 10 million. The Gothic cathedral on the right bank dominates the city centre's skyline and the riverfront, having survived the Second World War's bombing of the surrounding city.