Cologne keeps UTC+1 (CET) until 29 March 2026, then UTC+2 (CEST) from 29 March to 25 October, and UTC+1 again for the rest of the year — the clocks go forward an hour on the first date and back an hour on the second. The clock above is the live local time in Cologne, Germany, to the second, and follows both changes on its own.
About time in Cologne
Cologne operates on the Europe/Berlin time zone. Cologne is on UTC+1 (CET) until 29 March 2026, UTC+2 (CEST) from 29 March to 25 October, and UTC+1 again for the rest of the year. Located in Germany at 50.94°N, 6.96°E, the city’s sunrise, sunset and day length shift through the year with the seasons. Whether you are scheduling a call with someone in Cologne, planning travel, or coordinating remote work across time zones, the live clock above always shows the exact current time.
Planning more than a quick call? See the full Cologne remote-work guide — cost of living, internet speed, safety and visa options for digital nomads and travellers.
Frequently asked questions
What time is it in Cologne right now?
The clock above shows the exact local time in Cologne, updated every second. Cologne is on UTC+1 (CET) until 29 March 2026, UTC+2 (CEST) from 29 March to 25 October, and UTC+1 again for the rest of the year.
What time zone is Cologne in?
Cologne, Germany uses the Europe/Berlin time zone. Cologne is on UTC+1 (CET) until 29 March 2026, UTC+2 (CEST) from 29 March to 25 October, and UTC+1 again for the rest of the year.
Does Cologne observe daylight saving time?
Yes. The clocks go forward an hour on 29 March 2026 and back an hour on 25 October 2026, moving Cologne between UTC+1 and UTC+2.
How far ahead or behind is Cologne?
Cologne is 1 hour ahead of UTC until 29 March 2026, then 2 hours ahead of UTC from 29 March to 25 October. Use the comparison list above to see the current time in major world cities relative to Cologne.
Cologne time zone explained
Cologne follows the Europe/Berlin time zone, UTC+2 at mid-year. Daylight saving applies: clocks move forward in spring and back in autumn, so the UTC offset changes twice a year. The zone abbreviation is CET in January and CEST in July.
Time difference from Cologne to major cities
Cologne is 1 hour ahead of London
Cologne is 6 hours ahead of New York
Cologne is 9 hours ahead of Los Angeles
Cologne is the same time as Paris
Cologne is 2 hours behind Dubai
Cologne is 6 hours behind Singapore
Cologne is 7 hours behind Tokyo
Cologne is 8 hours behind Sydney
Differences use mid-year offsets; daylight saving in either city can shift them by an hour. For exact call windows use the Meeting Planner or the time-zone converter.
Sunrise lands around 03:51 (solar time) in June and about 08:08 in December. Long summer evenings and short winter days are pronounced at this latitude — factor them into early or late calls.
Approximate sunrise by month (solar time)
Jan 07:54
Feb 07:07
Mar 06:13
Apr 05:12
May 04:20
Jun 03:51
Jul 04:03
Aug 04:49
Sep 05:49
Oct 06:48
Nov 07:41
Dec 08:08
Values are computed from latitude for mid-month and shown in local solar time; clock time can differ up to an hour or more with daylight saving and position within the time zone.
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