How to take the rail journey from Cologne/Köln to Copenhagen / København

The usual schedule is that these connections with only 1 x change of train depart from Köln Hbf at 08:11 and 12:09,
Depart from Koln on the 08:11 train and there will around 40 mins to make the connection in Hamburg, but if you depart at 12:09, just over an hour will be available to make the onward transfer.

Though, for most of the year, if you leave Koln/Cologne by that 12:09 departure you will be connecting into the final train of the day on to Copenhagen/København,
So to allow more time to make the connection, on most dates there is an option is to depart Köln Hbf at 11:09 on an ICE train which then allows more than an hour to make the transfer.
To see this option on DB, before looking up the journey, change the 'duration of transfer' to more than 45 mins.

When looking up this journey, you will also see other options which involve taking more than two trains, but there is no need to make more than one connection, when taking this journey.

If you depart Köln Hbf at 08:11, easily timed onward connections from København will be available to Malmo* and Goteborg; and the typical transfer time into a train to Stockholm will only be around 45 mins; though this train which typically departs at 18:19 is the final departure of the day from København to Stockholm.
*= Connections to Malmo are also available when departing Koln/Cologne at 11:09 /12:11.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings usually open: 3 months ahead of the travel date

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 Europa and Super Sparpreis Europa
Two types of non-discounted ticket - Flexpreis Europa and Flexpreis Plus Europa.

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 Europa and Flexpreis Plus Europa tickets can be refunded at no additional charge.

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

Note that none of the tickets can be exchanged to a different departure.
There's no need for this to be available for Flexpreis Europa tickets, as they aren't train departure specific.
If you book a Sparpreis Europa 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 Europa tickets can't be exchanged or refunded.

The Sparpreis, Flexpreis and Flexpreis Plus tickets also include 'City tickets', which can be used on public transport between locations in Köln city centre and Köln Hbf.

Seat reservations

Seat reservations are optional on this route - take note if you will be using a rail pass.
They cost €4.90 when travelling in 2nd Class and €5.90 when travelling in 1st class and this covers both trains - if added to the original booking.
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 if you opt to book later you will be charged for a reservation fee per train.

Reservations are compulsory for the Hamburg to København journey between mid June end early October .
During this time rail pass users will need to pay a reservation fee prior to boarding; €5.30 1st class, €4 2nd class.
When booking 1st AND 2nd class tickets between these dates, the seat will be automatically assigned.

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‘. and enter KOBENHAVN- in the 'To' box

Connections 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.

If you would prefer to have more than 40 minutes in which to make the connection between trains in Hamburg, you can see other options by extending the 'duration of transfer' between trains when booking on DB.
Increase it to more than 45 minutes, the guide to booking tickets with DB explains how.