How to travel from München / Munich to Köln / Cologne by train

Final Destination: Hamburg or Dortmund

These trains also call at: Munchen-Pasing (the trains on the alternative route don't call at this station)

These trains, which travel via Stuttgart, arrive at Koln Hbf, the city's main station

During the day they usually depart from Munich/Munchen every other hour - in the odd hours.

Book early and save:** Yes

Online bookings usually open:
Tickets for travel on this route can now be booked up until a year ahead!

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 and Flexpreis Plus

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 and Flexpreis Plus 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 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.

When travelling to and from the major cities, the Sparpreis, Flexpreis and Flexpreis Plus tickets also include 'City tickets', which can be used on public transport between locations in the city centres of Munich / Cologne and the stations where the trains depart and arrive.

Seat reservations

Seat reservations are optional on ICE trains for journeys within Germany - take note if you will be using a rail pass.
They cost €5.50 when travelling in 2nd Class and €6.90 when travelling in 1st class.
When a journey involves two or more trains on which seat reservations are available, the fees when first booking, cover all trains.
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.

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

If you want to take THESE trains to Koln Hbf, then when looking up schedules or ticket prices enter ‘Köln Hbf’ into the ‘To’ box.
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.

Do that, then on DB Bahn most of the journeys you will see involve making connections, (many of these options will be reaching Koln Hbf from the trains that only call at Koln Messe/Deutz).

If you enter ‘COLOGNE’ into the ‘To’ box when looking up schedules or ticket prices -you will also see the direct trains to Koln Messe/Deutz.

Final Destination: Essen Or Dortmund

Now that the newest German high-speed line has been opened between Ulm and Wendlingen additional trains are now available between München / Munich and Köln Messe/Deutz on a route through Stuttgart and Mannheim
The trains on this route mostly operate every other hour, in the even hours - and they're the fastest option by around 20mins.

The ICE 'Neo' trains are typically used on the more frequent route via Nurnberg and Frankfurt, but ICE 'Velaro' trains are used on the route via Stuttgart and Mannheim.

How tickets can be booked and used corresponds to the Option 1 journey.

If you want to include these trains to Koln Messe/Deutz AND the alternative trains to Koln Hbf (when looking up schedules or ticket prices on the DB website, then enter ‘COLOGNE’ into the ‘To’ box.

Whether you enter 'Cologne' or Koln Hbf in the ‘To’ box, what you will also see is a multitude of options that involve taking more than one train from Munich to Cologne and making connections.

Final Destination: Dortmund (or Koln)

The train also calls at: Munchen-Passing and Seigburg/Bonn

If the timings of the daytime ICE trains from Munich to Cologne don't meet your requirements an option is to travel overnight on this departure.

This train is usually scheduled to depart from Munchen Hbf nightly shortly after midnight and is scheduled to arrive in Koln/Cologne at 07:05.
It is (much) slower than the daytime trains because it makes more station calls; it is 21 stops from Munich to Cologne if you take this train.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: Tickets for travel on this route can now be booked up until a year ahead!

This train typically departs from Munchen Hbf shortly after midnight.

If you're happy to only have access to seats on a overnight journey from Munchen/Munich to Koln/Cologne, it is usually cheaper than travelling by the alternative Nightjet train

Though when comparing prices note that the initial price shown for Nightjet train will be for the ordinary seat; and not for places in its couchette berths or sleeping cabins.

Final Destination: Amsterdam or Dusseldorf

This train is usually scheduled to depart from Munchen Hbf at around 22:50 and arrive in Köln shortly before 07:00
The train typically arrives in Köln Hbf, but when works on the line impact on its normal route, it arrives at Köln Messe/Deutz station.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date

Despite the trains on this route travelling between two German cities and not through Austria, these trains are provided by Austria's national rail operator, OBB.
The train will have commenced its journey in Innsbruck.

Look for train which is usually scheduled to depart from Munchen Hbf at 22:50.

The train conveys:

• Compartment Seats (Sitzwagen)
• Couchettes (Liegewagen); 4 berths AND 6 berths
• Standard sleeping cars (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
• Deluxe sleeping cars with showers (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins

Click the train button below* for more info including the rail pass reservation fees:

Rail pass users must reserve before boarding these trains and these reservations can be booked on the OBB website