The cheapest and fastest trains from Munich to Cologne
Cheapest price
£69
Average price
£113
Fastest journey
4 h 9 m
Average duration
4 h 10 m
Trains per day
41
Distance
456 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Munich to Cologne is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Munich to Cologne will cost around £113 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £69.
Of the 41 trains that leave Munich for Cologne every day 21 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct trains cover the 456 km distance in an average of 4 h 10 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 4 h 9 m .
The slowest trains will take 4 h 11 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 784 · ICE 2416:066h18Munich Hbf22:24Cologne Hbf£691One-way1 change
ICE 522 · ICE 92019:456h13Munich Hbf1:58Cologne Messe/Deutz£731One-way1 change
ICE 512 · IC 234717:286h08Munich Hbf23:36Cologne Hbf£821One-way1 change
ICE 698 · IC 6040222:466h58Munich Hbf5:44Cologne Hbf£821One-way1 change
ICE 882 · ICE 9268:056h15Munich Hbf14:20Cologne Hbf£821One-way1 change
ICE 91612:204h09Munich Hbf16:29Cologne Messe/Deutz£1141One-way0 changes
ICE 91216:204h09Munich Hbf20:29Cologne Messe/Deutz£1141One-way0 changes
ICE 10108:194h10Munich Hbf12:29Cologne Messe/Deutz£1501One-way0 changes
ICE 91810:194h10Munich Hbf14:29Cologne Messe/Deutz£1271One-way0 changes
ICE 91018:194h11Munich Hbf22:30Cologne Hbf£1181One-way0 changes
Travel Information
Compare train, coach and flight for Munich to Cologne
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Munich to Cologne among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from £23. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 7m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £23, and a flight costs an average of £95.
Distance: 456 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Coach | Flight |
|---|---|---|
£76 Average Price | £38 Average Price Cheapest | £225 Average Price |
5h 28m Average total duration 4h 58m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 10h 43m Average total duration 10h 13m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 7m Average total duration Fastest 1h 7m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.5 - 1.1kg CO2 emissions | 1.4 - 2.7kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular airline |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
Munich to Cologne train times
The table below shows live departures for Munich to Cologne trains for today, Saturday 23 May. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICE 698 · IC 60402 | Delayed 20:56 22:46Munich Hbf | 6h58 | 5:44 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
| Sunday 24 May | |||||
57002 · 59110 · ICE 1022 · ICE 1612 | On time 1:59 Munich Hbf | 7h33 | 9:32 Cologne Hbf | 3 changes | |
ICE 614 | On time 5:33 Munich Hbf | 4h32 | 10:05 Cologne Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 614 · ICE 1049 | On time 5:33 Munich Hbf | 5h57 | 11:30 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 820 · ICE 1020 | On time 5:44 Munich Hbf | 6h38 | 12:22 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 820 | On time 5:44 Munich Hbf | 4h48 | 10:32 Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 612 | On time 7:28 Munich Hbf | 4h37 | 12:05 Cologne Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 612 · IC 1947 | On time 7:28 Munich Hbf | 5h47 | 13:15 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 882 · ICE 926 | On time 8:05 Munich Hbf | 6h15 | 14:20 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 1010 | On time 8:19 Munich Hbf | 4h10 | 12:29 Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 690 · ICE 200 | On time 8:45 Munich Hbf | 4h20 | 13:05 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 724 | On time 8:45 Munich Hbf | 4h48 | 13:33 Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 610 | 9:28 Munich Hbf | 4h37 | 14:05 Cologne Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 610 · ICE 1645 | On time 9:28 Munich Hbf | 5h47 | 15:15 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 880 · ICE 1228 | On time 10:12 Munich Hbf | 5h54 | 16:06 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 918 | On time 10:19 Munich Hbf | 4h10 | 14:29 Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 598 · ICE 108 | On time 10:45 Munich Hbf | 4h20 | 15:05 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 720 | On time 10:45 Munich Hbf | 4h45 | 15:30 Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 518 | On time 11:28 Munich Hbf | 4h37 | 16:05 Cologne Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 518 · IC 2012 | On time 11:28 Munich Hbf | 5h48 | 17:16 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 916 | On time 12:20 Munich Hbf | 4h09 | 16:29 Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 596 · ICE 106 | On time 12:45 Munich Hbf | 4h20 | 17:05 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 626 | On time 12:45 Munich Hbf | 4h49 | 17:34 Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 516 | On time 13:28 Munich Hbf | 4h37 | 18:05 Cologne Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 516 · IC 1941 | On time 13:28 Munich Hbf | 5h47 | 19:15 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 624 | On time 13:45 Munich Hbf | 4h48 | 18:33 Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 786 · ICE 1224 | On time 14:06 Munich Hbf | 5h59 | 20:05 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 224 | On time 14:20 Munich Hbf | 4h23 | 18:43 Cologne Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 514 | On time 15:28 Munich Hbf | 4h37 | 20:05 Cologne Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 514 · ICE 1649 | On time 15:28 Munich Hbf | 5h48 | 21:16 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 784 · ICE 24 | On time 16:06 Munich Hbf | 6h18 | 22:24 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 912 | On time 16:20 Munich Hbf | 4h09 | 20:29 Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 528 | On time 16:44 Munich Hbf | 4h43 | 21:27 Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 592 · ICE 102 | On time 16:45 Munich Hbf | 4h20 | 21:05 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 512 | On time 17:28 Munich Hbf | 4h37 | 22:05 Cologne Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 512 · IC 2347 | On time 17:28 Munich Hbf | 6h08 | 23:36 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 910 | On time 18:19 Munich Hbf | 4h11 | 22:30 Cologne Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 590 · ICE 100 | On time 18:45 Munich Hbf | 4h25 | 23:10 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 510 | On time 19:28 Munich Hbf | 4h42 | 0:10 Cologne Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
ICE 522 · ICE 920 | On time 19:45 Munich Hbf | 6h13 | 1:58 Cologne Messe/Deutz | 1 change | |
ICE 522 | On time 19:45 Munich Hbf | 4h56 | 0:41 Cologne Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
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Compare prices and tickets Munich to Cologne 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 Munich to Cologne 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 TGV, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) or SNCB to find the best option for your trip from Munich to Cologne.
- 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 Munich to Cologne.
Why book with Omio over Trainline or Wanderu?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can also compare tickets for the likes of TGV, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) or SNCB to find the best option for your trip from Munich to Cologne.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train, bus and flight to find the ideal travel option from Munich to Cologne.
How far in advance should I book train tickets from Munich to Cologne?
ReviewsReviews for the rail journey from Munich to Cologne

Journey information
Overview: Train from Munich to Cologne
Trains from Munich to Cologne run on average 17 times per day, taking around 4h 58m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £18 if you book in advance.
There are 10 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:01, the last at 23:58. The fastest train covers the 456 km distance in 4h 20m.
Distance 456 km |
Average train duration 4h 58m |
Cheapest ticket price £18 |
Trains per day 17 |
Direct trains 10 |
Fastest train 4h 20m |
First train 0:01 |
Last train 23:58 |
Cheapest Month Dec |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 91 days |
Train companies: Deutsche Bahn, TGV, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), SNCB from Munich to Cologne trainsDeutsche Bahn, TGV, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), SNCB trains will get you between Munich and Cologne from £18. 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.
TGV
Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
SNCB
FAQs: Munich to Cologne train
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Munich to Cologne 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 Cologne, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Important Stations and Airports in Munich and Cologne
- Mon - Sun: 07:00 - 21:00
- Free Wi-Fi for 30 minutes.
- The station has luggage lockers.
- Cantina Estación Mediterrano
- Rischart Bakery
- Ditsch Pretzels
- backWERK
- Cafe-Shop
- Le Crobag
- Yorma's
- Coffee Fellows
- Dunkin Donuts
- McDonald's
- & many more
- Accessibility equipment, elevators, & mobility service. Contact the Mobility Service Centre at +49 3065212888 or [email protected].
- a&o München Hauptbahnhof
- IntercityHotel München
- Sofitel Munich Bayerpost
- There is an information desk located on the main concourse near the food court.
- Monday: 07:00 - 20:00
- Tuesday: 07:00 - 20:00
- Wednesday: 07:00 - 20:00
- Thursday: 07:00 - 20:00
- Friday: 07:00 - 20:00
- Saturday: 08:00 - 18:00
- Sunday: 08:00 - 18:00
- Burger King
- McDonald's
- Hunsinger in der Goldenen Gans
- Orexi Taverna
- Guenstigwohnen24.de
- Jagdschloss Residenz
- Hotel Miano
- Monday: 07:00 - 20:00
- Tuesday: 07:00 - 20:00
- Wednesday: 07:00 - 20:00
- Thursday: 07:00 - 20:00
- Friday: 07:00 - 20:00
- Saturday: 08:00 - 18:00
- Sunday: 08:00 - 18:00
- Haidhauser Augustiner
- Burger King
- Tassilogarten
- Mitani
- Hilton Munich City
- MOMA1890
- Mk Hotel
- Hotel Pension Christl
- 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 - 19:00
- Tuesday: 07:00 - 19:00
- Wednesday: 07:00 - 19:00
- Thursday: 07:00 - 19:00
- Friday: 07:00 - 20:00
- Saturday: 08:00 - 17:00
- Sunday: 10:00 - 18:00
- Imbiss Athena
- Arena Grill
- Cafe Especial
- Joe Champs
- Pension Helenenwall
- Zur guten Quelle
- Zum Goldenen Hut
- Merlin
- Monday: 09:00 13:00 - 12:30 18:00
- Tuesday: 09:00 13:00 - 12:30 18:00
- Wednesday: 09:00 13:00 - 12:30 18:00
- Thursday: 09:00 13:00 - 12:30 18:00
- Friday: 09:00 13:00 - 12:30 18:00
- Saturday: 09:00 13:30 - 13:00 16:00
- Sunday: 12:00 16:00 - 15:30 20:00
- Café Bistro Leysieffer
- Mishba
- Ständige Vertretung
- Kamps
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