The cheapest and fastest trains from Cologne Hbf to Hamburg Altona
Cheapest price
£51
Average price
£74
Fastest journey
4 h 18 m
Average duration
4 h 21 m
Trains per day
18
Distance
354 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Cologne Hbf to Hamburg Altona 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 Hamburg Altona will cost around £74 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £51.
Of the 18 trains that leave Cologne Hbf for Hamburg Altona every day 4 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct trains cover the 354 km distance in an average of 4 h 21 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 4 h 18 m .
The slowest trains will take 4 h 24 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 1541+
82856+
S3
S19 · ICE 106
S19 · ICE 104
S19 · ICE 518
ICE 645 · ICE 584 · S3
ICE 1032
ICE 1036
ICE 206
ICE 514
IC 2310 · S3Travel Information
Compare train, coach and flight for Cologne Hbf to Hamburg Altona
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne Hbf to Hamburg Altona 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 flight which can get you there in 1h 5m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £10, and a flight costs an average of £185.
Distance: 354 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Flight | Coach |
|---|---|---|
£28 Average Price | £446 Average Price | £24 Average Price Cheapest |
4h 46m Average total duration 4h 16m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 5m Average total duration Fastest 1h 5m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 7h 58m Average total duration 7h 28m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Live departures
Cologne Hbf to Hamburg Altona train times
The table below shows live departures for Cologne Hbf to Hamburg Altona trains for today, Friday 20 March. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICE 514 | Delayed 19:14 19:11Cologne Hbf | 4h23 | 23:34 Hamburg Altona | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 647+ 82848 · 81600+ S3 | On time 20:26 Cologne Hbf | 6h22 | 02:48 Hamburg Altona | 3 changes | |
ICE 1541+ 82856+ S3 | On time 22:27 Cologne Hbf | 7h01 | 05:28 Hamburg Altona | 2 changes | |
| Saturday 21 March | |||||
ICE 206 | On time 06:11 Cologne Hbf | 4h23 | 10:34 Hamburg Altona | 0 changesdirect | |
IC 2310 · S3 | On time 06:44 Cologne Hbf | 4h24 | 11:08 Hamburg Altona | 1 change | |
S12 · ICE 616 | On time 07:01 Cologne Hbf | 4h33 | 11:34 Hamburg Altona | 1 change | |
ICE 1036 | On time 07:44 Cologne Hbf | 4h18 | 12:02 Hamburg Altona | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 1747 · ICE 612 | On time 11:01 Cologne Hbf | 4h33 | 15:34 Hamburg Altona | 1 change | |
ICE 1032 | On time 11:45 Cologne Hbf | 4h18 | 16:03 Hamburg Altona | 0 changesdirect | |
89716 · ICE 200 | On time 11:57 Cologne Hbf | 4h37 | 16:34 Hamburg Altona | 1 change | |
S19 · ICE 610 | On time 13:01 Cologne Hbf | 4h33 | 17:34 Hamburg Altona | 1 change | |
ICE 641 · ICE 588 · S3 | On time 13:26 Cologne Hbf | 4h52 | 18:18 Hamburg Altona | 2 changes | |
S19 · ICE 518 | On time 15:01 Cologne Hbf | 4h33 | 19:34 Hamburg Altona | 1 change | |
ICE 643 · ICE 586 · S3 | On time 15:26 Cologne Hbf | 4h52 | 20:18 Hamburg Altona | 2 changes | |
S19 · ICE 106 | On time 16:01 Cologne Hbf | 4h33 | 20:34 Hamburg Altona | 1 change | |
S19 · ICE 516 | On time 17:01 Cologne Hbf | 4h32 | 21:33 Hamburg Altona | 1 change | |
ICE 645 · ICE 584 · S3 | On time 17:25 Cologne Hbf | 4h53 | 22:18 Hamburg Altona | 2 changes | |
S19 · ICE 104 | On time 18:01 Cologne Hbf | 4h33 | 22:34 Hamburg Altona | 1 change | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Cologne Hbf to Hamburg Altona 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.
21 Mar
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23 Mar
24 Mar
25 Mar
26 Mar
27 Mar
Why should you book Cologne Hbf to Hamburg Altona 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 Trans Regio Deutsche Regionalbahn GmbH or Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) to find the best option for your trip from Cologne Hbf to Hamburg Altona.
- 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 Hamburg Altona.
Why book with Omio over Trainline or Wanderu?
- 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 Hamburg Altona.
Journey information
Overview: Train from Cologne Hbf to Hamburg Altona
Trains from Cologne Hbf to Hamburg Altona run on average 13 times per day, taking around 4h 16m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £16 but you can travel from only £10 by coach.
There are 7 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:41, the last at 22:27. The fastest train covers the 354 km distance in 4h 6m.
Distance 354 km |
Average train duration 4h 16m |
Cheapest ticket price £16 |
Trains per day 13 |
Direct trains 7 |
Fastest train 4h 6m |
First train 00:41 |
Last train 22:27 |
Train companies: Deutsche Bahn, Trans Regio Deutsche Regionalbahn GmbH, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) from Cologne Hbf to Hamburg Altona trainsDeutsche Bahn, Trans Regio Deutsche Regionalbahn GmbH, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) trains will get you between Cologne Hbf and Hamburg Altona 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.
Trans Regio Deutsche Regionalbahn GmbH
Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
FAQs: Cologne Hbf to Hamburg Altona train
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Cologne Hbf to Hamburg Altona 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 Hamburg Altona, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Important Stations and Airports in Cologne Hbf and Hamburg Altona
- 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.
- Monday: 06:00 - 21:00
- Tuesday: 06:00 - 21:00
- Wednesday: 06:00 - 21:00
- Thursday: 06:00 - 21:00
- Friday: 06:00 - 21:00
- Saturday: 07:00 - 20:00
- Sunday: 08:00 - 20:00
- Ethio
- Trattoria Toscana
- Marta
- Pavillon
- Schanzenstern Bio-Restaurant
- Hotel Hamburg Altona
- Hotel Central
- Best Western Raphael Hotel Altona
