How to take the rail journey from Cologne/Köln to Hamburg

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Köln / Cologne / Koeln to Hamburg by train

Despite being one of Germany's busiest railway routes, there is no high speed line between Cologne/Köln and Hamburg, this part of country is so densely populated that it would send construction costs into the stratosphere.

Though ICE trains are increasingly being switched to this route, as they have a more comfortable ambience than the IC trains and they also convey restaurant cars.

Routes you can take to go from Köln / Cologne / Koeln to Hamburg

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:

Looking for connections?

Journey guides for travel to Köln / Cologne / Koeln Journey guides for travel from Hamburg

Route Information

Option 1: taking the IC, EC or ICE trains

Station Guides

Köln/Cologne Hbf Rail Station Guide

Hamburg Hbf Rail Station Guide

Travel Time (approx)

3hr 45min - 4hr 10mins (approx)

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

1 or 2 x trains per hour

Is the journey from Cologne / Köln to Hamburg direct?
Yes, there is no need to make a connection when taking this route.

Is this journey option scenic?
Not particularly

What other locations are along this route from Cologne / Köln to Hamburg?
Depending on the route taken, these trains can call in Dusseldorf, Essen or Wuppertal.
Most trains also call in Bremen

When is the usual approximate earliest arrival at Hamburg Hbf from Köln Hbf on this journey option?
Before 09:15 daily by IC train
Source = European Rail Timetable

How easy is it to travel on from the station in Hamburg?
Hamburg Hbf is linked to other areas of the city by frequent local (S-Bahn) trains and the metro (U-Bahn) - See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay in its neighbourhood.

When is the usual approximate latest departure from Köln Hbf to Hamburg Hbf on this journey option
Before18:15 daily (by ICE train)
Source = European Rail Timetable

How easy is it to get to the station in Cologne / Köln?
Köln Hbf is conveniently located in the city centre - See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay in its neighborhood..

Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance for these Cologne / Köln to Hamburg trains?
Yes, and they can be purchased from a choice of booking agents - see below.
Click on the 'Good to know info' to access guides to how rail tickets are managed in Germany, plus step-by-step guides on how to make a booking.

How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale for these Cologne / Köln to Hamburg trains?
It can be up to 6 months ahead of the travel date; though the booking period will be typically be shorter when looking up journeys for travel after the second Sunday in December; and when looking up summer travel in March to May.

What are the child ticket terms for these Cologne / Köln to Hamburg trains?
Adults (aged 15 and over) purchasing discounted 'Sparschiene' tickets for travel in either First or Second class, can take up to four children (aged 14 and under) at no additional cost.

Does the ticket for these Cologne / Köln to Hamburg trains include assigned seats?
Only when booking the most expensive types of ticket = Flexpreise tickets for travel in 1st class.
So they are not included when booking tickets for travel in 2nd class, or any other type of ticket valid for travel in 1st class
They are available, so they can be added for an additional cost, when booking those types of ticket.
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information for insights on how to board the train.

Do rail pass users need to book reservations for these Cologne / Köln to Hamburg trains?
They are optional, but are recommended for travel at:

business hours,
Fridays after midday
Sundays after midday
See the guide to using rail passes in Germany

Is catering available on these Cologne / Köln to Hamburg trains?
Yes, there is a bar/bistro car and a restaurant car - regardless of the type of train used
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information.

What else is good to know about German rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Germany

Travel Information

Final Destination: Hamburg-Altona (or Kiel or Lubeck or Westerland)

Most trains also call at: Bremen

All of these trains will call at two stations adjacent to Hamburg city centre; Hamburg Hbf and Hamburg Dammtor
So it can be worthwhile working out which of these stations in the city, will suit your needs best, before making the journey.

The trains between Koln/Cologne and Hamburg also take one of two routes:

via Dusseldorf and Essen, or
via Wuppertal.
Trains that travel via Wuppertal are slightly faster than those which travel via Essen, but the time difference is marginal, so it's not worth targeting the trains that travel via Wuppertal.

Whether a train travels via Wuppertal or Essen also makes no difference to the ticket price.

This is a direct journey

You will be travelling on one of these trains...

IC (Germany) Train Guide

ICE 1 (Germany) Train Guide

ICE 4 (Germany) Train Guide

Exterior of a Swiss IC train typically used on these EC services

EC (Switzerland - Germany/Austria) Train Guide

An ICE 3 (406) train on a Bruxelles - Frankfurt service

ICE 3 (Germany) Train Guide

Journey Features

Not High SpeedScenic - No

Good to Know

The different trains and routes:

Despite there being no high speed lines between Koln/Cologne and Hamburg, most of the trains between the two cities are now ICE trains and multiple types of ICE trains are now used on these departures.

Two of the trains in the timetable, the departures which typically leave at 17:09 and 19:09 are EC trains as these trains will have commenced their journeys in Switzerland; so you may find yourself on a Swiss train.

The train which typically departs daily at 16:04 is designated as an ICE -Sprinter and it is this train which has a journey time of around 3hr 45 mins, because it makes fewer station calls than any other departure.
Though up to five other daily departures have a journey time of around 3hr 50min because they are non-stop between Munster and Hamburg, so don't divert off the direct route to call in Bremen.

The general guide to German rail travel Discover what's good to know about riding the trains, taking popular journeys, using the major stations, booking tickets and travelling with rail passes.

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date - but this period of time is shorter when looking up journeys in August to October.

A choice of tickets

Four types of tickets are available:
Two types of discounted tickets, which will be cheaper the further ahead you book - Sparpreis and Super Sparpreis
Two types of non-discounted ticket - Flexpreis Aktion and Flexpreis

A key difference between these types of tickets is refunds:

Super Sparpreis tickets are cheapest, but they can't be refunded at all.
Sparpreis tickets can be refunded for a fee, but the refund will be in the form of travel vouchers to be used for alternative / future journeys.
Flexpreis tickets can be refunded at no additional charge.
Flexpreis Aktion tickets can't be refunded either - but their higher cost is due to...

...the other key difference is that both types of Flexpreis tickets live up to their name, as they can be used on any departure on your travel date - in contrast, both types of Sparpreis tickets are only valid on the specific departures selected when booking,

Note that none of the tickets can be exchanged to a different departure.
There's no need for this to be available for both types of Flexpreis tickets, as they aren't train departure specific.
If you book a Sparpreis ticket and want to travel by a different departure you can refund it and then use the travel voucher towards the cost of the new booking.
Super Sparpreis tickets can't be exchanged or refunded.

The Sparpreis, Flexpreis Aktion and Flexpreis tickets also include 'City tickets', which can be used on public transport between locations in the city centre and the stations in Cologne and Hamburg..

Seat reservations

Seat reservations are optional on ICE trains for journeys within Germany.
They cost €4.90 when travelling in 2nd Class and €5.90 when travelling in 1st class.
Specific seats can be selected from seating plans - you don't have to accept the seat(s) that you will be automatically offered.

They are included within the cost of booking 1st class Flexpreis tickets and both 1st and 2nd class Flexpreis Plus tickets.
Though despite seats being automatically assigned when booking these three types of ticket - and these tickets being valid on any departure, you will need to pay to re-book the reservations, if you subsequently decide to travel on an alternative train.
So because you won't save by booking these types of tickets in advance, it can be a good idea to wait until you are sure when you will want to travel.

When booking Super Sparpreis, Sparpreis and 2nd class Flexpreis tickets, you have the option of purchasing seat reservations later.
It can be worth re-looking up a journey a week or two ahead of travel, because the DB website will indicate how busy a departure will be.
Though typically this is one of Germany's busiest rail routes

1st Class tickets

No matter what type of ticket booked, if you choose to travel 1st class, you will have access to the same seating areas on the train, ICE trains do not have Business or Executive lounges.
Though only those who have booked 1st class Flexpreis or Flexpreis Plus tickets can access the DB Lounges at the major stations.

Booking on the DB website

When looking for tickets from Köln Hbf on the DB website type ‘K‘ or 'COLOGNE' into the ‘from‘ box and not ‘Ko‘.

To see all the combinations of trains and journey options, some of which may be cheaper, take off the 'fastest connections' default.

Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so if you can be flexible with your departure time use the 'best prices' tool - at the top right on the list of journey options.

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How to take the rail journey from Cologne/Köln to Hamburg

Share this journey with a friend...

Köln / Cologne / Koeln to Hamburg by train