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Innsbruck to Köln / Cologne / Koeln by train
How to take a rail journey from The Tyrol to Köln/Cologne
There are typically three optimum options for taking a train from Innsbruck to Cologne/Koln:
- The direct daytime train, which also happens to take the most scenic possible between the two cities;
- The faster daytime option is to travel via Munchen/Munich and make a connection there
- Travelling through the night on a direct Nightjet service.
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Routes
Option 1: taking the direct day train
Journey Summary
9hr 49 min
Daily
Travel Information
This train is typically scheduled to depart from Innsbruck at 08:54, but due to the length of its route, it often has its scheduled altered due to works on the line.
Final Destination: Munster (usually)
This train also calls at: Koblenz and Bonn
This is the only train which travels through both The Arlberg Pass and The Rhine Gorge during its journey, so taking this train is a fantastic experience.
Though it is due to travel through The Rhine Gorge between Bingen and Koblenz after 17:00 so the journey can be best appreciated between March and October.
1 x train per day
Tickets
On DB Bahn look for the journey with 0 changes that departs Innsbruck at around 08:54 and has:
- 0 in the Chg. colum
- IC (and only IC) in the Product column.
However, due to the length of the journey, this train departure is particularly susceptible to cancellation or alteration due to works on the line.
If you can't see a journey with 0 changes on your travel date it means that this direct train is not running that day, so you will need to choose from one of the other options.
Reservations are highly recommended for this journey, particularly if you'll be travelling 2nd class; it's worth it to ensure that you have an assigned seat for the entire trip.
Though eservations are now automatically included when booking 1st class tickets.
But this is a journey when travelling 1st class can pay off, you'll typically have greater opportunities to switch sides across the coach on the train, to ensure that you're always seeing the best of the views!
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DB Bahn | from €39 | |
| Trainline | from €39 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
The train will reverse direction on departure from Lindau and Friedrichshafen and Stuttgart.
This is one of Europe's most epic train journeys.
Particularly if you're travelling in the summer when you can also see the stunning views of the Upper Rhine Valley between Bingen and Bonn; the train isn't scheduled to arrive in Bingen until after 17:00.
What are guaranteed if the weather is fine at any time of year are the incredible views between Innsbruck and Feldkirch, because after St.Anton the train will travel through the stunning Arlberg Pass.
Sit on the right on the train, when facing the direction of travel, as it travels through the The Rhine Gorge north of Bingen.
The spectacular Rhine Valley views continue for more than 45 mins as the train heads towards Koblenz.
All of the videos were taken from trains travelling in the opposite direction - but they showcase how fabulous this journey can be, even when the weather isn't so great.
Option 2: Saving time by make a connection
Journey Summary
6hr 48min - 7hr 23min
Daily
Travel Information
If you want to take this combination of trains look for the journeys which usually involve leaving Innsbruck at 07:17; 10:40 and 14:40 and have 1x connection.
The connection which involves departing Innsbruck at 07:17 has the journey time of 6hr 48 mins because it allows around 20 mins to change trains at Munchen Hbf; on the other two options at 10:40 and 14:40, the transfer time will be around an hour.
3 x optimum connections per day
When looking up this journey you will see a multitude of different journey options, which involve taking various combinations of trains.
From these we have singled out this combination of trains:
(1) An EC train from Innsbruck Hbf to Munchen Hbf
(2) An ICE train from Munchen Hbf to Koln Hbf.
For these reasons:
- It only involves 1 x change of train
- Munchen Hbf is an exceptionally easy large station in which to change trains
- You will be making the entire journey on comfortable express trains.
- You will arrive at the city centre station in Koln/Cologne.
Take care not to choose the journey options on which the ICE train arrives at Koln Messe-Deutz station, as it isn't in the city centre.
Tickets
Online bookings usually open: 6 months ahead of the travel date
On DB Bahn look for the journeys which have '1' in the chg. column and 'EC, ICE in the Products column.
Taking the optimum routing
(1) EC train to Munchen Hbf
(2) ICE train from Munchen Hbf to Koln Hbf, the city centre station,
is usually possible when departing from Innsbruck at 07:17; 10:40 and 14:40.
Book 1st class ticket journey tickets and your seat reservation is included; but they're optional when booking 2nd class tickets, or if you will be travelling with a 1st or 2nd class rail pass.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DB | from €39.90 |
Train 1
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Munchen Hbf
Sit on the right for the best of the views, for much of the journey between Innsbruck and Kufstein the train travels beside the River Inn.
Train 2
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Koln or Munster or Dortmund or Hannover
These trains, which travel via Stuttgart, arrive at Koln Hbf.
During the day they usually depart from Munich/Munchen every other hour; in the odd hours.
These trains travel on the high speed lines between Stuttgart and Mannheim and that between Frankfurt Flughfafen and Seigburg/Bonn.
These trains reverse direction on departure from Stuttgart.
This is a journey of six distinct phases
- Until Stuttgart the train will travel on a conventional railway and the most scenic part of this journey occurs to the north of Ulm, when the railway threads through some narrow valleys.
- The train will reverse direction on departure from Stuttgart and head on to the high speed line.
- For around 25 minutes the train will travel at more than 250 km/h until the outskirts of Mannheim.
- Between Mannheim and Frankfurt Flughafen the railway travels through a string of commuter towns.
- On departure from Frankfurt Flughafen comes the part of the journey with a wow factor, when the train spends around 40 minutes racing along the rollercoaster that is the high speed line to Siegburg/Bonn, at more than 280 km/h.
- After Siegburg/Bonn the final part of the journey is on a conventional railway.
Option 3: travel through the night
Journey Summary
11hr 29 min
Nightly
Travel Information
This Nightjet train is usually scheduled to depart from Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 and arrive in Koln/Cologne at around 06:50.
Final Destination: Amsterdam (usually)
This train also calls at: Koblenz (05:11) and [Bonn] (05:59) (https://goo.gl/maps/Vt4nivoE8ewSiguD8)**
1 x train per night
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open:
6 months ahead of the travel date on OBB*
3 months ahead of the travel date on DB Bahn
When looking for tickets on the English language versions of OBB or DB Bahn, enter COLOGNE as the From/Dep station.
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
The first price you will see on the OBB ticketing site will be for the compartment seats.
Click the train button for more info including the rail pass reservation fees:
Travelling with a rail pass:
Rail pass users must reserve before boarding this train.
However, these rail pass reservations can NO longer be booked online the DB website, but you can now book rail pass reservations without paying booking fees on the OBB website (OBB operates these trains).
Though the process for doing so isn't particularly obvious, hence the step-by-step guide.
If you'd rather not do so, rail pass reservations can be arranged and paid for at the ÖBB Reisebüro desk in Innsbruck Hbf; ideally do this when you first arrive at Innsbruck on the preceding train on your itinerary.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| OBB | * | |
| DB Bahn | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
On departure from Innsbruck the coaches heading to Dusseldorf via Koln/Cologne, will be joined to another train that's heading to Hamburg.
On summer mornings when the sun rises before 06:00, if you happen to wake early, you'll get the chance to see some fabulous views of The Rhine Gorge and Valley.
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