- Must visit
Liebig-Museum
Key Giessen museum on chemistry and everyday life, centred on Justus Liebig’s work and preserved historic laboratory spaces.
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Cologne to Giessen is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Cologne to Giessen will cost around £47 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £43.
On Sun 01 Nov, we found 3 trains from Cologne to Giessen, including 3 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 126 km distance in an average of 2 h 48 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 2 h 25 m .
The slowest trains will take 3 h 33 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.

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Trains from Cologne to Giessen run on average 8 times per day, taking around 2h 7m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £15 but you can travel from only £8 by coach.
The earliest train runs at 00:08, the last at 23:55. The fastest train covers the 126 km distance in 1h 41m.
Distance 126 km |
Average train duration 2h 7m |
Cheapest ticket price £15 |
Trains per day 8 |
Fastest train 1h 41m |
First train 0:08 |
Last train 23:55 |
Cheapest Month Jul |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Wed |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Best time to book 1 day |
Use these quick route answers to check fares, travel time, departure options, and direct services before booking from Cologne to Giessen.
The table below shows live departures for Cologne to Giessen trains for tomorrow, Sunday 1 November. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 6:22 Cologne | 2h25 | 8:47 Giessen | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 7:22 Cologne | 2h25 | 9:47 Giessen | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 7:53 Cologne | 3h33 | 11:26 Giessen | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Review the details behind your booking, from operators and ticket rules to luggage, onboard amenities, accessibility, and route-specific travel policies.
Discover the best of Giessen — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Giessen trip today.
Key Giessen museum on chemistry and everyday life, centred on Justus Liebig’s work and preserved historic laboratory spaces.
Compact mathematics museum with hands-on exhibits and puzzles, popular with families and anyone curious about numbers and logic.
Municipal art museum showing paintings, prints and changing exhibitions in a central location suited to a short cultural stop.
Popular city park with lawns, paths and seasonal flower displays, ideal for a relaxed walk close to the centre.
Botanical garden founded for university teaching, with labelled plants, glasshouses and peaceful paths in a historic setting.
Large central square framed by public buildings and fountains, a practical starting point for exploring Giessen on foot.
A hearty Hessian potato soup, often enriched with vegetables and sausage. It is a traditional comfort dish commonly eaten across central Hesse.
Green sauce made with seven fresh herbs, usually served with boiled eggs and potatoes. It is a classic Hessian staple strongly associated with the region.
Slow-cooked sour marinated beef, typically served with gravy and sides. This festive dish is traditional in Hesse and nearby central German regions.
Established restaurant for refined regional and seasonal cooking with a calm, polished atmosphere suited to a longer meal.
Traditional brewery restaurant serving German classics and house-brewed beer in a lively, rustic setting near the centre.
Casual local venue known for Hessian and German dishes, generous portions, and a friendly tavern-style atmosphere.
Moderate for Germany. Accommodation and dining are usually cheaper than in Frankfurt, while local buses and everyday meals remain fairly affordable for visitors.
Service is usually included, but rounding up or adding 5-10% is polite in restaurants. Round up taxi fares, and leave small change in cafés if service was good.
Official public transport app
Gießen Hauptbahnhof -> Marktplatz, Gießen
Get destination-focused answers for the end of your trip, including what to do, when to go, practical entry details, and tips for making the most of your time in Giessen.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Cologne to Giessen 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 Giessen, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Cologne to Giessen trains use the Köln Hbf to Gießen station pair. Use this guide to compare Cologne and Giessen train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Köln Hbf is 1 km from Cologne city centre. Public transport options include:
Köln Hbf has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food options include: asiagourmet, Coffee Fellows, dean&david, Dunkin' Donuts, KFC, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Nordsee, Starbucks, Schweinske, & more
Free Wi-Fi for 30 minutes only. ATMs are available at Köln Hbf.
Ticket office support is available at Köln Hbf. Information desks are one near the departure/arrival board and another near the escalators close to Platforms 4 and 5.
Luggage storage is there are luggage lockers in the station. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Köln Hbf: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Köln Hbf: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Köln Hbf: Wheelchair accessible & mobility assistance staff. Contact the Mobility Service Centre at +49 3065212888 or [email protected].
Nearby hotels include Wyndham Koeln, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst.
Köln/Bonn Flughafen is 13 km from Cologne city centre. Public transport options include:
Köln/Bonn Flughafen has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food options include: Café Bistro Leysieffer, Mishba, Ständige Vertretung, Kamps
Wi-Fi is available at Köln/Bonn Flughafen. ATMs are available at Köln/Bonn Flughafen.
Ticket office support is available at Köln/Bonn Flughafen. Information desks are available at Köln/Bonn Flughafen.
Luggage storage is available at Köln/Bonn Flughafen. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Köln/Bonn Flughafen: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Köln/Bonn Flughafen: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Köln/Bonn Flughafen.
Köln Messe/Deutz is 1 km from Cologne city centre. Public transport options include:
Köln Messe/Deutz has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food options include: Imbiss Athena, Arena Grill, Cafe Especial, Joe Champs
Wi-Fi is available at Köln Messe/Deutz. ATMs are available at Köln Messe/Deutz.
Ticket office support is available at Köln Messe/Deutz. Information desks are available at Köln Messe/Deutz.
Luggage storage is available at Köln Messe/Deutz. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Köln Messe/Deutz: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Köln Messe/Deutz: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Köln Messe/Deutz.
Nearby hotels include Pension Helenenwall, Zur guten Quelle, Zum Goldenen Hut, Merlin.
Gießen has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food options include: Aydin Grill, Südwinde, Subway, Alt Giessen
Wi-Fi is available at Gießen. ATMs are available at Gießen.
Ticket office support is available at Gießen. Information desks are available at Gießen.
Luggage storage is available at Gießen. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Gießen: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Gießen: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Gießen.
Nearby hotels include Liebig-Hotel, Hotel Flamingo, Hotel Köhler, Hotel Adler.
Check train stations information for Cologne and Giessen, including where trains depart and arrive on this route.
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