- Must visit
Museum Ludwig
Important collection of modern and contemporary art near the cathedral, including Pop Art and post-war works. A staple for art-focused visitors.
Cheapest price on 19 Sept
£30
Average ticket price on 19 Sept
£45
Fastest journey on 19 Sept
1 h 41 m
Average journey duration on 19 Sept
1 h 49 m
Trains on 19 Sept
8
Distance
180 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Schaerbeek to Cologne is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Schaerbeek to Cologne will cost around £45 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £30.
On Sat 19 Sept, we found 8 trains from Schaerbeek to Cologne, including 3 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 180 km distance in an average of 1 h 49 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 1 h 41 m .
The slowest trains will take 1 h 58 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 11
IC 3427 · ICE 11
IC 522 · R 5005 · 26809
R 3695 · IC 522 · R 5005 · 26809
ICE 13
ICE 15
ICE 13
ICE 11
R 3681 · ICE 15
R 3679 · ICE 13Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Schaerbeek to Cologne among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £17 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 2h 21m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £17, while a flight costs an average of £278.
Distance: 180 km
Most popular Train | Coach | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
£33 Average Price | £17 Average Price Cheapest | £278 Average Price | £31 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
2h 21m Average total duration Fastest 1h 51m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 37m Average total duration 3h 7m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 49m Average total duration 5h 49m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 2h 29m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Schaerbeek to Cologne:
A coach is £16 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Schaerbeek to Cologne costing on average £33.
A coach is £261 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Schaerbeek to Cologne costing on average £278.
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Coach takes on average 3h 7m.
Flight takes on average 5h 49m.
You'll arrive about 38m sooner (1h 51m by train vs 2h 29m by car). Tickets start at around £33 compared to roughly £31 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Direct services run with Deutsche Bahn, Eurostar, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), SNCB.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Schaerbeek to Cologne trains for today, Friday 18 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R 3681 · ICE 15 | On time 10:16 Station Brussel-Schaarbeek | 1h59 | 12:15 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 15 | On time 10:34 Brussels-North | 1h41 | 12:15 Cologne Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
| Saturday 19 September | |||||
R 3695 · IC 522 · R 5005 · 26809 | 0:16 Station Brussel-Schaarbeek | 7h28 | 7:44 Cologne Hbf | 3 changes | |
IC 522 · R 5005 · 26809 | 0:31 Brussels-North | 7h13 | 7:44 Cologne Hbf | 2 changes | |
IC 3427 · ICE 11 | On time 6:12 Station Brussel-Schaarbeek | 2h04 | 8:16 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 11 | On time 6:31 Brussels-North | 1h45 | 8:16 Cologne Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
R 3679 · ICE 13 | On time 8:18 Station Brussel-Schaarbeek | 1h58 | 10:16 Cologne Hbf | 1 change | |
ICE 13 | On time 8:34 Brussels-North | 1h42 | 10:16 Cologne Hbf | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
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.
Trains from Schaerbeek to Cologne run on average 10 times per day, taking around 1h 51m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £18 but you can travel from only £13 by coach.
There are 4 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:03, the last at 23:15. The fastest train covers the 180 km distance in 1h 41m.
Distance 180 km |
Average train duration 1h 51m |
Cheapest ticket price £18 |
Trains per day 10 |
Direct trains 4 |
Fastest train 1h 41m |
First train 0:03 |
Last train 23:15 |
Cheapest Month May |
Cheapest Day Sun |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jul - Sept |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 1 day |
Discover the best of Cologne — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Cologne trip today.
Important collection of modern and contemporary art near the cathedral, including Pop Art and post-war works. A staple for art-focused visitors.
Archaeological museum built around Roman remains, especially the Dionysus mosaic. Excellent for understanding Cologne’s Roman origins.
Major art museum with medieval painting, sculpture and applied arts. A strong choice for seeing Cologne’s artistic heritage in one place.
Historic old town lanes and squares by the Rhine, packed with colourful houses, churches and viewpoints. Ideal for a classic Cologne stroll.
Long Rhine promenade with bridge, cathedral and river views. Popular for walking, photography and watching boats pass through the city centre.
Lively square in the old town framed by historic buildings and museums. A useful base for sightseeing and one of Cologne’s best-known public spaces.
Rye bread with butter, cheese, ham or sausage, traditionally served in Cologne breweries as a simple local snack with Kölsch.
Hearty dish of black pudding with fried onions and mashed potatoes, a Rhineland classic closely associated with Cologne home cooking.
Slow-cooked horsemeat in a sweet-sour raisin sauce, a historic Rhineland speciality still served in a few traditional Cologne restaurants.
Classic Brauhaus serving Päffgen Kölsch and Rhineland favourites in a bustling, wood-panelled setting popular with locals.
Traditional brewery venue by Heumarkt with house Kölsch and dependable regional cooking in a spacious historic hall.
Long-established restaurant for refined German and Rhineland cooking, with a more formal atmosphere than a typical Brauhaus.
Moderate for Germany: hotels can be pricey in peak periods, but dining and public transport are broadly manageable for most city-break budgets.
Service is often included, but it is usual to round up or add about 5-10% in restaurants. Round up taxi fares, and leave small change in cafés if service was good.
Official public transport app
Cologne Hbf -> Neumarkt, Cologne
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Schaerbeek 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.

Most Schaerbeek to Cologne trains use the Brussels-Nord to Köln Hbf station pair, with some services arriving at Köln/Bonn Flughafen. Use this guide to compare Schaerbeek and Cologne train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Station Brussel-Schaarbeek is 1 km from Schaerbeek city centre. Public transport options include:
Station Brussel-Schaarbeek has practical services for this route, including Accessibility.
Accessibility facilities are available at Station Brussel-Schaarbeek.
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-Ehrenfeld is 3 km from Cologne city centre. Public transport options include:
Köln-Ehrenfeld 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: I Siciliani-Dolce&Salato, Burger King, Café Franck, Eichendorf
Wi-Fi is available at Köln-Ehrenfeld. ATMs are available at Köln-Ehrenfeld.
Ticket office support is available at Köln-Ehrenfeld. Information desks are available at Köln-Ehrenfeld.
Luggage storage is available at Köln-Ehrenfeld. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Köln-Ehrenfeld: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Köln-Ehrenfeld: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Köln-Ehrenfeld.
Nearby hotels include Kölnotel, Black Hotels.
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