How to take the rail journey from Cologne/Köln to Munich/München

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Köln / Cologne / Koeln to München / Munich by train

Taking a train from Cologne/Köln to Munich/München is very straightforward but there is an unusually high number of options for taking a direct train, and in summary they are:
1: the most frequent service of high speed ICE trains, which happen to depart from Köln Messe/Deutz station.
2. faster 'Sprinter' ICE services which also depart from Köln Messe/Deutz station
3: other ICE trains which depart from the city's main central rail station, Köln hbf.
4. taking a more scenic, but slower route.
5. Travelling in a bed or a bunk on a Nightjet train
6. Travelling through the night on an ICE train

Routes you can take to go from Köln / Cologne / Koeln to München / Munich

When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.

Choose one of the following options:

Route Information

Option 1: taking an ICE train from Koln Messe/Deutz station
Travel Time (approx)

4hr 20 min - 4hr 35 min (approx)

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

1 or 2 x trains per hour

The trains on the route via Frankfurt (Main) are typically hourly, but in alternate hours other trains heading to Munchen/Munich from Koln Messe/Deutz station now use the new high speed line south of Stuttgart, hence they're now only five minutes slower.

Route Information

Option 2: taking the faster 'Sprinter' services

Route Information

Option 3: taking an ICE train from Koln Hbf

Route Information

Option 4: the more scenic route

Route Information

Option 5: overnight on an ICE train

Route Information

Option 6: overnight on the Nightjet sleeper train
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