Köln (Cologne) to Beijing (CGN–PEK) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

CGN Airport Page →
airlines charter/private
On-time Some delays Frequent delays
Connecting Flight Schedule 19 1-stop flights
No nonstop service between CGN and PEK. Nearest airports to CGN with scheduled service: Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA, 85 mi) · Düsseldorf Airport (DUS, 34 mi) · Dortmund Airport (DTM, 49 mi)
Nonstop Charter / private 1-Stop 2-Stop Hide separate tickets Hide overnight Hide codeshares
  Flight Airline AC Dep Arr Dur OTP Sched  
✈ Nonstop

No flights match your filters.

No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.

✦ 1-Stop connections via 10 hubs
LGW London 12h 10m EW CA London (LGW) to Beijing flights
MUC Munich 12h 10m AZBTEW AZCALH Munich (MUC) to Beijing flights
MAN Manchester, Greater Manchester 12h 25m FR HU Manchester, Greater Manchester (MAN) to Beijing flights
BER Berlin 13h 10m EW HU Berlin (BER) to Beijing flights
VIE Vienna 13h 15m EWFRNH CAJUOS Vienna (VIE) to Beijing flights
IST Istanbul 14h TK CATK Istanbul (IST) to Beijing flights
BCN Barcelona 14h 11m EWFR CAZH Barcelona (BCN) to Beijing flights
ARN Stockholm 14h 28m EWFR CA Stockholm (ARN) to Beijing flights
BUD Budapest 16h EW CA Budapest (BUD) to Beijing flights
ATH Spata-Artemida 16h 16m EWFR CA Spata-Artemida (ATH) to Beijing flights
1-STOP More options, longer trips
2-STOP Loading... Reach the hardest destinations
Köln (Cologne) to Beijing
Connecting service available through multiple hubs.
+6h ahead

While no nonstop service exists between CGN and PEK, 1-stop connecting options are available.

Connection Landscape

1-stop and 2-stop options for CGN to PEK.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
19
Hubs
~12h
Fastest
~34h
Longest
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
2,144
Candidates
Two-stop connections loaded in the connections tab above.
Connections computed from published schedules with minimum connection time verification. Use the interactive explorer above the fold to filter by airline, tier, and layover time.

Other ways to reach Beijing from Köln (Cologne)

Nearby airports with service to Beijing Capital International Airport.
Metric CGN→PEK FRA→PEK
Distance from CGN 85 mi
Nonstop airlines 3
Weekly flights 29
Airports within 200 miles of CGN with service to Beijing Capital International Airport.

Travel Essentials

Practical planning for this route.
Time Difference
+6h
Beijing is 6 hours ahead of Köln (Cologne).
CGN: CEST · PEK: CST

When it's 6:00 PM in Köln (Cologne), it's 12:00 AM (next day) in Beijing.
Visa & Entry

German passport holders currently qualify for visa-free entry to China for stays up to 30 days. This policy, extended through the end of 2025 and renewed into 2026, covers tourism, business visits, transit, and family visits. Just show up with a passport valid for at least 6 months and a return or onward ticket. No advance application needed.

If you need to stay longer than 30 days, apply for a visa at the Chinese embassy or a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) in Germany. A single-entry tourist visa (L visa) costs EUR 126 for German citizens. Processing takes 4 business days for regular service. Express service (2 days) costs EUR 151. You need the application form, a passport photo, flight booking, hotel reservation, and proof of funds.

China also offers 144-hour visa-free transit at major airports including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu if you are transiting to a third country. This is separate from the 30-day visa-free policy and useful for longer layover visits.

Getting from PEK

Airport Express to Dongzhimen takes 16 minutes (¥25) and connects to Metro Lines 2 and 13 for central Beijing. Running 6am to 11pm from T2 and T3. It bypasses road congestion regardless of traffic conditions.Taxis use the meter; central Beijing runs ¥80–120 from the airport. Didi ride-hailing is available and widely used. Airport express buses (¥25–30) serve multiple city zones. T3 (international hub) and T2 are connected by a free inter-terminal bus if not airside. Note: Beijing has two airports; Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX) are not connected by convenient transport.

Beijing Climate

Humid continental climate with cold, dry winters (−8 to 2°C) and hot summers (28–35°C). The primary flight disruption risks are winter fog and smog (November–February, heavily air quality-dependent), summer thunderstorms (July–August), and spring sandstorms from the Gobi Desert (March–May) that can reduce visibility rapidly.

Fall (September–October) brings clear skies and minimal disruptions. The 2022 Winter Olympics improved Beijing's snowfall preparedness. Fog and smog remain serious delay causes through winter.

CGN–PEK Quick Facts

Key statistics for the Köln (Cologne) to Beijing route.
Route details
Time difference+6 hours
Airlines (nonstop)0
1-stop connectionsAvailable
Origin: CGN
IATA / ICAOCGN / EDDK
TimezoneEurope/Berlin
Passengers/yr10.0M
Elevation302 ft / 92 m
Destination: PEK
IATA / ICAOPEK / ZBAA
TimezoneAsia/Shanghai
Passengers/yr67.3M
Elevation116 ft / 35 m

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about CGN to PEK flights.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available, ranked by layover time. Common connecting points include London Gatwick, Munich and Manchester.
On a single ticket, yes. Your bags are checked through to PEK and move between planes without you. On two separate tickets you collect your bags at the connecting airport and recheck them, so build in extra layover time.
Beijing is 6 hours ahead of Köln (Cologne).
Nearby alternatives include FRA. See the Alternatives section for a full comparison.
Click the 'Search Flights' button to check availability and prices on Google Flights. You can also compare airlines and schedules on this page to find the best option.
Route data is updated regularly from official airline schedules. On-time performance data comes from recent airport delay snapshots.

Connecting Options and Alternatives

1-stop connecting options are also available, commonly via London Gatwick, Munich and Manchester. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Frankfurt am Main (FRA).