How to take the stunning rail journey from Cologne/Koln to Austria's second city

Final Destination: Graz

This train is named the 'Wörthersee' for a good reason as it links the cities of north-west Germany to the popular Austrian lake resort.

On the new timetable it has had its journey extended to [Graz(https://www.austria.info/en-us/recommendations/discover-austria/graz-in-3-days/) thanks to the opening of the Koralm Railway.

The train also calls at: Villach and Klagenfurt

The train will reverse direction on departure from Stuttgart and Munchen.

This daily direct train is usually scheduled to depart from Koln/Cologne before 09:00am, so target that time when looking up this journey

However, due to the length of the journey, this train departure is particularly susceptible to cancellation or alteration due to works on the line.

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 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 €5.50 when travelling in 2nd Class and €6.90 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.

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‘.

You can find this direct train more easily by making a proactive selection of 'Direct Trains Only'.

Or to see all the combinations of trains and journey options, take off the 'fastest connections' default.