- Must visit
Museum Ludwig
Major modern and contemporary art museum beside the cathedral, known for Pop Art, Picasso works, and a strong international collection.
Cheapest price
$37
Average price
$139
Fastest journey
4 h 11 m
Average duration
4 h 17 m
Trains per day
39
Distance
455 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Munich Hbf to Cologne Hbf is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Munich Hbf to Cologne Hbf will cost around $139 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $37.
Of the 39 trains that leave Munich Hbf for Cologne Hbf on Wed, Jun 17, 13 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Wed, Jun 17 the direct trains cover the 455 km distance in an average of 4 h 17 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 4 h 11 m .
On Wed, Jun 17 the slowest trains will take 4 h 19 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
ICE 698 · IC 60402
ICE 618
ICE 510
ICE 1068 · ICE 774 · ICE 1049
ICE 522 · ICE 920
ICE 910
ICE 1014 · S19
ICE 912 · S19
ICE 916 · S19
ICE 2582 · ICE 102Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Munich Hbf to Cologne Hbf among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $28. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 7m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $28, and a flight costs an average of $115.
Distance: 282 miles (455 km)
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$99 Average price | $48 Average price Cheapest | $270 Average price | $1 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 25m Average total duration 5h 55m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 58m Average total duration 7h 28m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 7m Average total duration Fastest 1h 7m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 6h 19m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Munich Hbf to Cologne Hbf:
A bus is $51 (€42) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Munich Hbf to Cologne Hbf costing on average $99 (€81).
A bus is $222 (€180) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Munich Hbf to Cologne Hbf costing on average $270 (€219).
Other travel options to Cologne Hbf take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 55m.
Bus takes on average 7h 28m.
You'll arrive about 24m sooner (5h 55m by train vs 6h 19m by car). Tickets start at around $99 (€81) compared to roughly $1 (€0.91) in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Direct services run with Deutsche Bahn.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Munich Hbf to Cologne Hbf trains for today, Tuesday, June 16. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICE 1014 · S19 | On time 4:20 AM Munich Hbf | 4h19 | 8:39 AM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 1014 · ICE 1022 | On time 4:20 AM Munich Hbf | 5h46 | 10:06 AM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 822 · S6 | On time 4:41 AM Munich Hbf | 4h42 | 9:23 AM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 1068 · ICE 774 · ICE 1049 | On time 4:59 AM Munich Hbf | 6h06 | 11:05 AM Cologne Hbf | 2 transfers | |
ICE 614 | 5:33 AM Munich Hbf | 4h32 | 10:05 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 1012 · ICE 1020 | Delayed 6:20 AM Munich Hbf | 5h45 | 10:09 AM 10:09 AMCologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 1012 · S19 | On time 6:20 AM Munich Hbf | 4h19 | 10:39 AM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 692 · ICE 202 | On time 6:42 AM Munich Hbf | 4h23 | 11:05 AM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 728 · S6 | On time 6:44 AM Munich Hbf | 4h39 | 11:23 AM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
TGV 9576+ ICE 772 · IC 1947 | On time 6:51 AM Munich Hbf | 6h14 | 1:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 2 transfers | |
ICE 612 | 7:28 AM Munich Hbf | 4h37 | 12:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 726 · S6 | On time 7:42 AM Munich Hbf | 4h41 | 12:23 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 1010 · ICE 926 | Delayed 8:19 AM Munich Hbf | 5h46 | 12:09 PM 12:09 PMCologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 1010 · S19 | On time 8:19 AM Munich Hbf | 4h20 | 12:39 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 690 · ICE 200 | On time 8:45 AM Munich Hbf | 4h20 | 1:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 2284 · S6 | On time 8:45 AM Munich Hbf | 4h38 | 1:23 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 2816 · ICE 200 | On time 8:45 AM Munich Hbf | 4h20 | 1:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 568 · ICE 770 · ICE 1645 | On time 9:02 AM Munich Hbf | 6h03 | 3:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 2 transfers | |
ICE 610 | 9:28 AM Munich Hbf | 4h37 | 2:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 722 · S6 | On time 9:46 AM Munich Hbf | 4h37 | 2:23 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 918 · ICE 228 | Delayed 10:19 AM Munich Hbf | 5h47 | 2:09 PM 2:09 PMCologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 918 · S19 | On time 10:19 AM Munich Hbf | 4h20 | 2:39 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 518 | On time 11:28 AM Munich Hbf | 4h37 | 4:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 628 · S6 | On time 11:45 AM Munich Hbf | 4h38 | 4:23 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 916 · ICE 28 | On time 12:20 PM Munich Hbf | 5h46 | 6:06 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 916 · S19 | On time 12:20 PM Munich Hbf | 4h19 | 4:39 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 596 · ICE 106 | On time 12:45 PM Munich Hbf | 4h20 | 5:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 516 | On time 1:28 PM Munich Hbf | 4h37 | 6:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 624 · S6 | On time 1:45 PM Munich Hbf | 4h38 | 6:23 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 224 | On time 2:20 PM Munich Hbf | 4h23 | 6:43 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 224 · ICE 26 | On time 2:20 PM Munich Hbf | 5h46 | 8:06 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 594 · ICE 104 | On time 2:45 PM Munich Hbf | 4h20 | 7:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 514 | On time 3:28 PM Munich Hbf | 4h37 | 8:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 620 · S6 | On time 3:45 PM Munich Hbf | 4h38 | 8:23 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 912 · S19 | On time 4:20 PM Munich Hbf | 4h19 | 8:39 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 912 · ICE 24 | On time 4:20 PM Munich Hbf | 5h45 | 10:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 2582 · ICE 102 | On time 4:46 PM Munich Hbf | 4h19 | 9:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 512 | On time 5:28 PM Munich Hbf | 4h37 | 10:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 526 · S6 | On time 5:46 PM Munich Hbf | 4h37 | 10:23 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 910 · ICE 22 | On time 6:19 PM Munich Hbf | 5h47 | 12:06 AM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 910 | On time 6:19 PM Munich Hbf | 4h11 | 10:30 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 524 | Delayed 6:44 PM Munich Hbf | 4h53 | 9:39 PM 9:39 PMCologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 590 · ICE 100 | On time 6:45 PM Munich Hbf | 4h25 | 11:10 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 510 | On time 7:28 PM Munich Hbf | 4h42 | 12:10 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 522 | On time 7:45 PM Munich Hbf | 4h46 | 12:31 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 522 · ICE 920 | On time 7:45 PM Munich Hbf | 6h20 | 2:05 AM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 698 · IC 60402 | On time 10:47 PM Munich Hbf | 6h57 | 5:44 AM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train, bus, and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from Munich Hbf to Cologne Hbf run on average 6 times per day, taking around 5h 55m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $25 (€20) if you book in advance.
There are 1 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 02:03, the last at 22:51. The fastest train covers the 282 miles (455 km) distance in 4h 20m.
Distance 282 miles (455 km) |
Average train duration 5h 55m |
Cheapest ticket price $25 (€20) |
Trains per day 6 |
Direct trains 1 |
Fastest train 4h 20m |
First train 2:03 AM |
Last train 10:51 PM |
Cheapest Month Dec |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Jan - Mar |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Wed |
Least Busy Day Thu |
Discover the best of Cologne — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Cologne trip today.
Major modern and contemporary art museum beside the cathedral, known for Pop Art, Picasso works, and a strong international collection.
Cologne’s key archaeological museum for Roman heritage, famous for mosaics and finds from the city’s ancient past. Parts of the collection may be presented in temporary locations during building works
Leading fine arts museum with important medieval, Baroque, and 19th-century paintings, offering one of Cologne’s strongest classic art collections.
Revitalized waterfront district with striking modern architecture, promenades, and photogenic Rhine views, popular on social media.
Wide riverside steps and promenade on the right bank, famous for postcard views back toward the cathedral skyline.
Historic Old Town square lined with traditional facades and lively public life, ideal for absorbing the classic Cologne atmosphere.
The city’s signature top-fermented beer, traditionally served in small cylindrical glasses. It is central to Cologne’s brewing culture and best enjoyed in a classic brauhaus.
A classic Cologne snack of rye roll, Gouda cheese, mustard, onions, and pickles. Despite the name, it contains no chicken and is a staple in local beer halls.
A traditional Rhineland dish of mashed potatoes and apple sauce, often served with black pudding and fried onions. The name means 'Heaven and Earth.'
Established traditional brewery restaurant in the old town, popular for authentic Cologne specialties, Kölsch, and rustic historic atmosphere.
Well-known central brauhaus serving Sion Kölsch and dependable local dishes. A solid choice for visitors wanting a classic Cologne beer hall experience.
A long-established restaurant by the Rhine, especially known for pork knuckle and hearty German fare in a traditional, tourist-friendly setting.
Moderate by German standards. Budget eats are easy to find, but hotels and central dining cost more.
Service is usually included, but rounding up is standard. In restaurants, add about 5-10% for good service. Round up taxis. Small tips are optional in cafes and bars.
Official public transport app
Köln Hbf, Köln -> Köln Dom, Köln
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Munich Hbf to Cologne Hbf by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Cologne Hbf, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

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