diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index dadd889db..77af2d694 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- When using `DataCube.load_collection()` without a connection, it is not necessary anymore to also explicitly set `fetch_metadata=False` ([#638](https://github.com/Open-EO/openeo-python-client/issues/638))
+
 
 ## [0.32.0] - 2024-09-27
 
diff --git a/openeo/rest/datacube.py b/openeo/rest/datacube.py
index 7be11cc3c..fe80c79c0 100644
--- a/openeo/rest/datacube.py
+++ b/openeo/rest/datacube.py
@@ -152,7 +152,8 @@ def load_collection(
         Create a new Raster Data cube.
 
         :param collection_id: image collection identifier
-        :param connection: The connection to use to connect with the backend.
+        :param connection: The backend connection to use.
+            Can be ``None`` to work without connection and collection metadata.
         :param spatial_extent: limit data to specified bounding box or polygons
         :param temporal_extent: limit data to specified temporal interval.
             Typically, just a two-item list or tuple containing start and end date.
@@ -191,7 +192,7 @@ def load_collection(
         if isinstance(collection_id, Parameter):
             fetch_metadata = False
         metadata: Optional[CollectionMetadata] = (
-            connection.collection_metadata(collection_id) if fetch_metadata else None
+            connection.collection_metadata(collection_id) if connection and fetch_metadata else None
         )
         if bands:
             if isinstance(bands, str):
diff --git a/tests/rest/datacube/test_datacube.py b/tests/rest/datacube/test_datacube.py
index 1b746beb1..32f9899f3 100644
--- a/tests/rest/datacube/test_datacube.py
+++ b/tests/rest/datacube/test_datacube.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 import shapely
 import shapely.geometry
 
+from openeo import collection_property
 from openeo.api.process import Parameter
 from openeo.rest import BandMathException, OpenEoClientException
 from openeo.rest._testing import build_capabilities
@@ -81,6 +82,60 @@ def _get_leaf_node(cube, force_flat=True) -> dict:
         raise ValueError(repr(cube))
 
 
+class TestDataCube:
+    def test_load_collection_connectionless_basic(self):
+        cube = DataCube.load_collection("T3")
+        assert cube.flat_graph() == {
+            "loadcollection1": {
+                "arguments": {"id": "T3", "spatial_extent": None, "temporal_extent": None},
+                "process_id": "load_collection",
+                "result": True,
+            }
+        }
+
+    def test_load_collection_connectionless_full(self):
+        cube = DataCube.load_collection(
+            "T3",
+            spatial_extent={"west": 1, "east": 2, "north": 3, "south": 4},
+            temporal_extent=["2019-01-01", "2019-02-01"],
+            bands=["RED", "GREEN"],
+            properties=[collection_property("orbit") == "low"],
+        )
+        assert cube.flat_graph() == {
+            "loadcollection1": {
+                "process_id": "load_collection",
+                "arguments": {
+                    "id": "T3",
+                    "spatial_extent": {"east": 2, "north": 3, "south": 4, "west": 1},
+                    "temporal_extent": ["2019-01-01", "2019-02-01"],
+                    "bands": ["RED", "GREEN"],
+                    "properties": {
+                        "orbit": {
+                            "process_graph": {
+                                "eq1": {
+                                    "process_id": "eq",
+                                    "arguments": {"x": {"from_parameter": "value"}, "y": "low"},
+                                    "result": True,
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    },
+                },
+                "result": True,
+            }
+        }
+
+    def test_load_collection_connectionless_temporal_extent_shortcut(self):
+        cube = DataCube.load_collection("T3", temporal_extent="2024-09")
+        assert cube.flat_graph() == {
+            "loadcollection1": {
+                "arguments": {"id": "T3", "spatial_extent": None, "temporal_extent": ["2024-09-01", "2024-10-01"]},
+                "process_id": "load_collection",
+                "result": True,
+            }
+        }
+
+
 def test_filter_temporal_basic_positional_args(s2cube):
     im = s2cube.filter_temporal("2016-01-01", "2016-03-10")
     graph = _get_leaf_node(im)