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Köln / Cologne / Koeln to Salzburg by train

How to take the rail journey from Cologne/Köln to Salzburg

There are three optimum routings to choose from when taking a a journey by train from Cologne/Köln to Salzburg.

  1. Boarding the only direct daytime train
  2. The fastest option, but it involves departing from Koln Messe/Deutz station
  3. Departing from Koln Hbf and also making a connection between trains in Frankfurt.
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Routes

Option 1: the direct train

Journey Summary

From
Köln / Cologne / Koeln
Köln/Cologne Hbf Rail Station Guide
To
Salzburg
Looking down on the passage way beneath the platforms/tracks/gleis
Salzburg Hbf Rail Station Guide
Travel Time
7 hr 41min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

Final Destination: Klagenfurt

The train also calls at: Munchen and Prien am Chiemsee

This one direct train of the day to Salzburg is usually scheduled to depart from Koln hbf, the main city centre station at 08:18.

The alternative journey options:

Because this train follows the twisting route through the Rhine Valley, it is quicker to head south from Koln/Cologne on a high speed train and then make a connection in order to reach Salzburg.

SMTJ has singled out the two least stressful options if you want to do this.

(1) If the early departure time of this direct train doesn't suit, you can set off in the early afternoon and make a connection between trains in Frankfurt (Main).

(2) Or if you want to get to Salzburg in the fastest time you can travel via Munchen/Munich.
Though this means taking trains from Koln-Messe/Deutz station, instead of Koln Hbf.

1 x  train per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings usually open: 6 months ahead of the travel date

When looking for tickets from Köln on DB type ‘K or COLOGNE‘ into the ‘from‘ box and not ‘Ko‘.

When making an online booking, check that you’re looking at booking info for the direct EC train, which is usually scheduled to depart at 08:18; so target that time when looking up this journey.

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.
Opting to reserve is particularly recommended on this comparatively long journey.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
DB Bahn from €35.90

DB Bahn Guide

DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.

It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.

A key feature of DB website worth keeping mind is that it offers 1st class ticket purchasers complimentary seat reservations on journeys both within and to/from Germany.

Seat reservations for daytime in both 1st and 2nd class can also be booked separately from tickets.

OBB from €36

OBB Guide

OBB is the national rail operator and its booking service offers journeys by express trains within Austria, as well as international journeys which don't involve making a connection outside of Austria.

It pays off to book online, as the discounted 'Sparscheine' tickets are only ever made available on the website, and when making international journeys to and from Austria, these Sparscheine tickets tend to be cheaper.
OBB can offer particularly good value for money when travelling with children on international rail journeys, but something to watch out for when travelling between Austria and Germany on daytime trains, is that reservations are an optional extra; but if you book 1st class tickets with the Germany railways website DB, the reservations are complimentary.

OBB often takes a unique approach to its booking path, but a key thing to keep in mind is that the first price you will see for any journey is that of a Second Class seat.
The costs of upgrading to first class, a reservation, or a sleeping cabin etc, is then added to this price.

Trainline from €36

Trainline Guide

On this journey

Travelling On
The train to Klagenfurt awaits departure from Koblenz
EC (Germany - Austria/Croatia/Slovenia) Train Guide

Journey Features

Scenic - YesNot High Speed

Good to Know

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

Views of the Middle Rhine Valley as the train heads south from Koblenz Views of the Middle Rhine Valley as the train heads south from Koblenz
The views of the Rhine Valley can be seen from the left of the train The views of the Rhine Valley can be seen from the left of the train
A highlight of a Rhine Valley train journey is the view of Lorely A highlight of a Rhine Valley train journey is the view of Lorely
The spectacular Rhine Valley views from the train continue to Bingen The spectacular Rhine Valley views from the train continue to Bingen

Sit on the left on the train when facing the direction of travel, this may seem the wrong way round, but the train will initially head north on departure and then loop around the city before heading south on the river bank.

You can then see the stunning views of the Upper Rhine Valley between Koblenz and Bingen,

After Bonn there are some fabulous views of the Upper Rhine Valley from the LEFT of the train, when facing the direction of travel - if the train takes its usual route along the west bank, but if its switched to the east bank, the railway line is still right by the river.

The best of the views occur when the trains travel through The Rhine Gorge between Koblenz and Bingen.

This part of journey is a delight, you can't miss the endless parade of boats travelling up and down the river and look out for the multitude of castles perched on top of the hills.

The journey also has other scenic highlights, particularly between Stuttgart and Ulm - from the left of the train.

The train will reverse direction on departure from Stuttgart Hbf AND Munchen Hbf.

Option 2: connecting in Munich

Journey Summary

From
Köln / Cologne / Koeln
Köln/Cologne Hbf Rail Station Guide
To
Salzburg
Looking down on the passage way beneath the platforms/tracks/gleis
Salzburg Hbf Rail Station Guide
Travel Time
7hr 32 min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

If the early departure time of the one [direct train*of the day doesn't suit AND you want to depart from the city's main station, Koln Hbf, SMTJ has singled out this routing.

A train from Koln hbf, which usually departs at 12:27, has an easily timed connection in Frankfurt (Main) hbf, with more than 50 mins to change trains.

Though the faster option for a train journey from Koln to Salzburg involves departing from the city's other main station - Koln-Messe/Deutz.

1 x optimum connection per day

Change trains in: Frankfurt (Main)

Tickets

Online bookings usually open: 6 months ahead of the travel date.

On the DB, German national railways, ticket booking website look for the journey which;

  • departs Koln Hbf at 12:27
  • has '1' in the chg. column and 'ICE, EC' in the Products column.

Though alternative connections, particularly those which involve more than one change of train, can be cheaper.

Book 1st class ticket journey tickets and your seat reservatios are 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 *

DB Guide

DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.

It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.

A key feature of DB website worth keeping mind is that it offers 1st class ticket purchasers complimentary seat reservations on journeys both within and to/from Germany.

Seat reservations for daytime in both 1st and 2nd class can also be booked separately from tickets.

DB *

DB Guide

DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.

It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.

A key feature of DB website worth keeping mind is that it offers 1st class ticket purchasers complimentary seat reservations on journeys both within and to/from Germany.

Seat reservations for daytime in both 1st and 2nd class can also be booked separately from tickets.

Train 1

Between
Köln / Cologne / Koeln
Köln/Cologne Hbf Rail Station Guide
And
Frankfurt (Main)
The main station buildings at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
Frankfurt Main Hbf Rail Station Guide
Travelling On
An ICE 3 (406) train on a Bruxelles - Frankfurt service
ICE 3 (Germany) Train Guide

Journey Features

Scenic - NoHigh Speed

Good to Know

Final Destination: Frankfurt (Main) or Munchen

The view from the high speed south of Limburg #1 The view from the high speed south of Limburg #1
The view from the high speed south of Limburg #2 The view from the high speed south of Limburg #2

These trains travel at more than 270 k/mh Germany's fastest high speed line between Siegburg/Bonn and Frankfurt Flughafen.

If you have never travelled between Koln/Cologne and Frankfurt by train before, you have a choice between;

(1) experiencing the G-force on Germany's fastest train journey - this is a high speed line that most definitely has the wow factor,

OR (2) taking the alternative longer route via Koblenz*with its stunning views of The Rhine Valley;  it's Germany's most scenic journey taken by express trains.

Train 2

Between
Frankfurt (Main)
The main station buildings at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
Frankfurt Main Hbf Rail Station Guide
And
Salzburg
Looking down on the passage way beneath the platforms/tracks/gleis
Salzburg Hbf Rail Station Guide
Travelling On
The train to Klagenfurt awaits departure from Koblenz
EC (Germany - Austria/Croatia/Slovenia) Train Guide

Good to Know

Final Destination: Klagenfurt

The train also calls at: Munchen and Prien am Chiemsee

The train will reverse direction on departure from Stuttgart Hbf AND Munchen Hbf.

This is a pleasant rather than stunningly beautiful journey, the most scenic part of the train ride comes between Stuttgart and Ulm.

Approaching Stuttgart Approaching Stuttgart
Between Stuttgart and Ulm Between Stuttgart and Ulm
Between Stuttgart and Ulm Between Stuttgart and Ulm
Between Munchen and Salzburg Between Munchen and Salzburg

The train will reverse direction on departure from Stuttgart Hbf AND Munchen Hbf.

This is a pleasant rather than stunningly beautiful journey, the most scenic part of the train ride comes between Stuttgart and Ulm.

Option 3: the fastest journey

Journey Summary

From
Köln / Cologne / Koeln
The part of Messe/Deutz station used by the ICE trains, those heading south depart from gleis 11
Köln Messe/Deutz Rail Station Guide
To
Salzburg
Looking down on the passage way beneath the platforms/tracks/gleis
Salzburg Hbf Rail Station Guide
Travel Time
6hr 14min - 6hr 24min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

Look up a Koln/Cologne to Salzburg journey on DB and you will see a multitude of journey options, in addition to the daily direct train between the two cities.

We have singled out this alternative journey option as it's;
fastest
has a fairly easilly timed connection* of around 25 mins at Munchen Hbf
connects into a Railjet on from Munchen to Salzburg (the top ranked train on this route).

*If the train arrives in Munchen/Munich too late to make this connection, tickets can be used on the next train to depart.

The negative is that this routing leaves from Koln Messe/Deutz station and not from the city's main station Koln Hauptbahnhof.

Though if you do want to depart from Koln Hauptbahnhof there is also an alternative to taking the direct train.

up to 4 x optimum connections per day

Change trains in: Munchen/Munich

Tickets

Online bookings usually open: 6 months ahead of the travel date

On DB look for the journeys which have '1' in the chg. column and 'ICE, RJ' in the Products column.

Connections at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day -so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
Use the earlier/later buttons to search for the cheapest ticket prices.

Book 1st class ticket journey tickets and your seat reservations are 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 Bahn from €29.90

DB Bahn Guide

DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.

It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.

A key feature of DB website worth keeping mind is that it offers 1st class ticket purchasers complimentary seat reservations on journeys both within and to/from Germany.

Seat reservations for daytime in both 1st and 2nd class can also be booked separately from tickets.

Train 1

Between
Köln / Cologne / Koeln
The part of Messe/Deutz station used by the ICE trains, those heading south depart from gleis 11
Köln Messe/Deutz Rail Station Guide
And
München / Munich
The main station building at Munchen Hbf
München Hbf/Munich main station Rail Station Guide
Travelling On
An ICE 3 (406) train on a Bruxelles - Frankfurt service
ICE 3 (Germany) Train Guide

Journey Features

High Speed (partial)

Good to Know

Final Destination: Munchen Hbf

This is a journey of seven distinct phases:

  1. Until Siegburg/Bonn the first part of the journey is on a conventional railway.
  2. On departure from Siegburg/Bonn 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 Frankfurt Flughafen, at more than 280 km/h.
3. **The train will reverse direction on departure from Frankfurt (Main)** and then after Aschaffenburg comes the slowest, but most scenic part of the trip when the railway winds through the valleys. 4. The train will cross the River Main and then after a tunnel it will be on a high speed line for less than 15 minutes, but there are some nice views as the train crosses some long viaducts between yet more long tunnels. 5. On departure from Wurzburg the train will be on a conventional railway until it arrives in Nurnberg. 6. From Nurnberg until Ingolstadt station, the train will move on to another high speed line and travel at more than 275 k/mh for around 40 minutes. 7. The final part of the journey is back on a conventional railway.
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