Everything a tourist needs to know about Cologne train station: passenger services, transportation links, contact information and much more.
Cologne Central Station or Köln Hauptbahnhof is Cologne's main train station and one of the busiest stations in Germany. It is located in the very center of the city, literally a few steps away from the famous Cologne Cathedral. The station serves both local and international routes, including ICE and Eurostar high-speed trains.
History and architecture of the station
Once upon a time, in the mid-19th century, Cologne had as many as five different train stations - each railroad company had its own. The Bonn-Cologne, Cologne-Krefeld, Rhine, Brandenburg and Cologne-Minden companies operated there. All this created a real confusion, so the idea arose: one big central Cologne railway station was needed.
In 1857, the site where the botanical garden used to be was allocated for construction, and the work boiled over. The project was developed by architect Hermann Otto von Pflaume, and two companies built it together. To connect the two banks of the Rhine, the Cathedral Bridge was built together with the station.
It soon became obvious that the new station could not cope with the flow of passengers. But the problem could only be solved after 1880, when all railroads were united into one Prussian network.
There were two options: to rebuild the old station or to build a new one in another place. The authorities in Berlin wanted the first option, but Cologne decided in its own way - in January 1883 they chose a new location right by the Cologne Cathedral. The project was drawn by architect Georg Frenzen: a huge two-storey building with a covered platform 255 meters long.
The construction started in 1889 and was completed five years later. The new station changed the traffic in the city so much that the entire railroad system had to be rebuilt. The old Cathedral Bridge was dismantled, and in 1911 a new one, the Hohenzollern Bridge, was opened.
World War II dealt the city a terrible blow. Among other things, the Cologne railway station was almost completely destroyed. After the war it was thought to move it to another neighborhood, but in the end they decided to restore it in its old place. It was not possible to completely restore the old building - in 1953 a new modern building with a hotel was built.
In 1975, the station received two additional tracks to run the city's electric train system, and in 1989 two more were added. In 2000 the Cologne railway station was transformed again: it was thoroughly restored, investing almost 200 million marks.
Cologne train station infrastructure
Passengers at the Cologne train station are offered:
11 platforms serving different destinations;
Passenger waiting areas, including the DB Lounge;
Escalators and elevators;
Luggage storage rooms;
A modern restroom at the station itself and three additional restrooms nearby.
Under the S-Bahn tracks, 70 stores and restaurants are located on more than 11,000 m². Today, around 700 people work there - making the station not just a transportation hub, but also a great shopping destination!
Transportation accessibility
In Cologne, the railway station is located in the heart of the city, so you can walk to most attractions in a few minutes. There are parking and cab stands nearby, as well as bus and streetcar stops to get to the right neighborhood.
From Cologne/Bonn Airport, you can get to the station by S-Bahn train (line S19) in about 14-16 minutes;
Cologne's central bus station is located close to the train station, providing a convenient transfer.
The station itself is a major transfer point for the city's trains (S-Bahn) and subway (U-Bahn), providing convenient connections to various parts of Cologne.
Contact information
Address: Trankgasse 11, 50667 Köln, Germany
Official website: bahnhof.de/koeln-hbf
German Railways website: int.bahn.de
Opening hours of ticket offices:
Monday - Friday: 06:00 - 22:00
Saturday - Sunday: 07:00 - 21:00
Tickets can be purchased via Deutsche Bahn's official apps and websites such as bahn.de and Trainline. And also via the DB Navigator mobile app (Android/iOS). Sometimes you need to show the document linked to your ticket when boarding. In Germany, passes such as the Deutschlandticket for all regional trains are very popular.
Passenger services
Passengers at Cologne Central Railway Station have access to:
Ticket offices, information boards and train timetable stands;
Many stores, cafes and restaurants, including popular chains and local establishments;
Rest areas for comfortable train waiting.
Significance of Cologne train station
Cologne's main train station is one of Europe's key transportation hubs. Important highways running along both banks of the Rhine River pass through Cologne. The station itself is located on the left, western bank, and via the famous Hohenzollern Bridge it connects to the Köln Messe/Deutz station on the right bank.
Trains from the Ruhr area, southern Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands arrive here. Some high-speed ICE trains also stop at the Köln Messe/Deutz station (on the deep level). Every day the station serves about 280,000 passengers and more than 1,200 trains. Eleven routes run in all directions at once.
Cologne station is a huge transfer center for the high-speed Intercity Express (ICE) and Intercity trains. Most destinations are served hourly or every two hours.
From Cologne, you can quickly reach major cities in Germany and neighboring countries. For example:
Eurostar takes passengers directly via Aachen, Liège and Brussels to Paris;
Another international ICE train runs between Brussels, Liège, Aachen and Cologne, and onward to Frankfurt.
Numerous Regional-Express and Regionalbahn, which connect Cologne with other cities in North Rhine-Westphalia, also stop here. Most regional trains depart every half hour or every hour, but some depart less frequently, every two hours.
Tips for travelers
We recommend arriving at the Cologne Train Station address 30-45 minutes before the train departs, especially if you have luggage or are unfamiliar with the location of the platforms.
If you're planning to take the ICE high-speed train or an international route, it's best to book tickets in advance to guarantee availability.
Despite the fact that the platforms here are divided into three sections, there are always a lot of people, especially during rush hours. The station cannot be expanded - the historic buildings around it are in the way. Keep this in mind!
Interesting facts
The station has played an important role in the history of the city, including periods of reconstruction after World War II and modernization in recent decades.
Various cultural events and festivals are often held nearby, making the station the center of city life.
Cologne once seriously discussed the idea of building a covered moving sidewalk (similar to those at airports) over the Rhine to connect the two stations. But the project was frozen due to cost.
