The cheapest and fastest trains from Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central
Cheapest price
£44
Average price
£54
Fastest journey
1 h 51 m
Average duration
1 h 57 m
Trains per day
5
Distance
183 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central will cost around £54 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £44.
Of the 5 trains that leave Cologne Hbf for Brussels-Central every day 5 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct trains cover the 183 km distance in an average of 1 h 57 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 1 h 51 m .
The slowest trains will take 2 h 7 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.










Travel Information
Compare train, coach and flight for Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from £10. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 2h 17m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £10, and a flight costs an average of £157.
Distance: 183 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Coach | Flight |
|---|---|---|
£51 Average Price | £15 Average Price Cheapest | £433 Average Price |
2h 47m Average total duration Fastest 2h 17m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 43m Average total duration 3h 13m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 8h 5m Average total duration 5h 5m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Live departures
Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central train times
The table below shows live departures for Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central trains for today, Wednesday 18 March. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICE 14 · R 3988 | On time 14:41 Cologne Hbf | 1h53 | 16:34 Brussels-Central | 1 change | |
ICE 12 · R 3990 | On time 16:43 Cologne Hbf | 1h51 | 18:34 Brussels-Central | 1 change | |
ICE 10 · R 3992 | On time 18:43 Cologne Hbf | 1h51 | 20:34 Brussels-Central | 1 change | |
ICE 318 · IC 3245 | On time 20:02 Cologne Hbf | 2h36 | 22:38 Brussels-Central | 1 change | |
| Thursday 19 March | |||||
![]() | 08:00 Cologne Hbf | 2h34 | 10:34 Brussels-Central | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 08:30 Cologne Hbf | 2h04 | 10:34 Brussels-Central | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 08:41 Cologne Hbf | 1h53 | 10:34 Brussels-Central | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 10:43 Cologne Hbf | 1h51 | 12:34 Brussels-Central | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 12:42 Cologne Hbf | 1h52 | 14:34 Brussels-Central | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central by train, coach or flight
Compare train, coach 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.
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Why should you book Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central trains with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs Deutsche Bahn?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for Deutsche Bahn, but also compare tickets for the likes of Eurostar, Trans Regio Deutsche Regionalbahn GmbH or Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) to find the best option for your trip from Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare Deutsche Bahn with all available travel options, which are train, bus and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central.
Why book with Omio over Trainline, Wanderu or Rome2rio?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can also compare tickets for the likes of Eurostar, Trans Regio Deutsche Regionalbahn GmbH or Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) to find the best option for your trip from Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train, bus and flight to find the ideal travel option from Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central.
Journey information
Overview: Train from Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central
Trains from Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central run on average 5 times per day, taking around 2h 17m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £22 but you can travel from only £10 by coach.
The earliest train runs at 05:39, the last at 20:42. The fastest train covers the 183 km distance in 1h 51m.
Distance 183 km |
Average train duration 2h 17m |
Cheapest ticket price £22 |
Trains per day 5 |
Fastest train 1h 51m |
First train 05:39 |
Last train 20:42 |
Train companies: Deutsche Bahn, Eurostar, Trans Regio Deutsche Regionalbahn GmbH, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) from Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central trainsDeutsche Bahn, Eurostar, Trans Regio Deutsche Regionalbahn GmbH, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) trains will get you between Cologne Hbf and Brussels-Central from £10. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Deutsche Bahn
A Bordrestaurant (restaurant car) where you can sit and eat.
A Bordbistro (bistro bar) with snacks, hot meals, and drinks to-go.
At-seat service in 1st class: staff will take your order and serve food/drinks directly to your seat.
Regional trains (RE / RB / S-Bahn):
No onboard catering.
You’re welcome to bring your own food and drinks.
Not included by default.
You can add a seat reservation when booking (recommended for busy routes).
Costs around €4.90 per seat (or €5.90 if booked separately later).
First Class:
Yes, always included in the ticket price.
Allowed for free if they can fit in a transport box (max. size: hand luggage).
Must stay in the box for the entire journey.
Large dogs:
Require a separate (paid) ticket — typically half the price of a regular second-class ticket.
Must be leashed and wear a muzzle while on the train.
Cannot sit on seats.
Assistance dogs:
Travel free of charge.
Do not need a muzzle or leash if medically not required.
Allowed to accompany the passenger at all times.
Eurostar
Trans Regio Deutsche Regionalbahn GmbH
Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
FAQs: Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central train
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central 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 Brussels-Central, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Important Stations and Airports in Cologne Hbf and Brussels-Central
- Mon - Fri: 06:00 - 21:00
- Sat - Sun: 07:00 - 21:00
- Free Wi-Fi for 30 minutes only.
- There are luggage lockers in the station.
- asiagourmet
- Coffee Fellows
- dean&david
- Dunkin' Donuts
- KFC
- McDonald's
- Pizza Hut
- Nordsee
- Starbucks
- Schweinske
- & more
- Wheelchair accessible & mobility assistance staff. Contact the Mobility Service Centre at +49 3065212888 or [email protected].
- Wyndham Koeln
- Hilton Cologne
- Excelsior Hotel Ernst
- One near the departure/arrival board and another near the escalators close to Platforms 4 and 5.
- Mon - Fri: 06:00 - 21:00
- Sat - Sun: 07:00 - 21:00
- Free Wi-Fi for 30 minutes only.
- There are luggage lockers in the station.
- asiagourmet
- Coffee Fellows
- dean&david
- Dunkin' Donuts
- KFC
- McDonald's
- Pizza Hut
- Nordsee
- Starbucks
- Schweinske
- & more
- Wheelchair accessible & mobility assistance staff. Contact the Mobility Service Centre at +49 3065212888 or [email protected].
- Wyndham Koeln
- Hilton Cologne
- Excelsior Hotel Ernst
- One near the departure/arrival board and another near the escalators close to Platforms 4 and 5.
- Mon - Sun: 06:15 - 22:00
- Free Wi-Fi available in Starbucks.
- Luggage lockers are located on Level 0 near Platforms 1 and 2.
- Starbucks
- Brasserie 28 Brewery
- Panos
- Delitraiteur Eat & Go
- Station has a wide range of facilities for passengers with limited mobility: elevators and escalators to platforms, wheelchair lifts and mobile ramps, barrier-free toilets and accessible parking spaces. Additional assistance can be contacted via the SNCB Mobility Call Center.
- Hilton Brussels Grand Palace
- Hotel NH Brussels Carrefour de l'Europe
- Hôtel The Moon
- Mon - Sun: 06:15 - 22:00
- Travel Center / information desk is located on the left side from the main entrance.
- Metro lines: 1, 5
- Train lines: IC, Intercity Direct 9200, RER (S1, S2, S3, S6, S8, S10)
Most popular train connections from Cologne Hbf
More options for your journey from Cologne Hbf to Brussels-Central
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