Buy train and bus tickets for UK and Europe - the easy way
Cologne to Copenhagen by train
-
First train04:00
-
Last train23:17
-
Avg changes1
-
Fastest journey9hr 7m
-
Distance646 kilometres
-
Trains per day26
-
Avg. journey time13hr 48m
-
Train operators
Travelling from Cologne to Copenhagen by train
Fast trains from Cologne to Copenhagen take around 9 hours and 7 minutes, covering a distance of approximately 646 kilometres. There are frequent services on the rail route between Cologne and Copenhagen.
1. Are there direct trains from Cologne to Copenhagen?
Journeys between Cologne and Copenhagen usually involve one change of train.
We usually find around 44 departures on the route from Cologne to Copenhagen every weekday that leave enough time to change trains without waiting around for longer than necessary.
Trains are typically more frequent on weekends, when we found around 54 departures.
2. How long is the train journey from Cologne to Copenhagen?
The Cologne to Copenhagen train travel time is normally about 9 hours and 7 minutes, whatever time you make the journey.
3. What are the Cologne to Copenhagen train times and schedule?
On weekdays the earliest train to Copenhagen is usually scheduled to depart Cologne around 04:00 and the last train is around 23:17. This is the same at the weekend.

What's the Cologne to Copenhagen train price?
The earlier you book the better, and the cheapest tickets we've found for trains from Cologne to Copenhagen are $59.40.
Trains departing 30 days in advance will cost around $59 while booking 7 days in advance the price is around $92. Booking on the day of travel is likely to be more expensive, so it is worth booking in advance if you can to save money.
When to book Cologne to Copenhagen train tickets?
Trains for this journey usually open for booking around 6 months in advance. If booking is not yet open for your dates then you can set a booking alert to receive an email on the day that the cheapest tickets are released for your journey from Cologne to Copenhagen by train.
Which train companies operate between Cologne and Copenhagen?
More than one train company operates on the route from Cologne to Copenhagen, so you’ll be travelling with one or more of the following rail operators:
- Eurocity (EC)
- Intercity
- Intercity-Express (ICE)
You can check which train you’ll be travelling on by looking for the train name in search results.
Other journeys to Copenhagen View all journeys to Copenhagen
-
From Hamburg From $34.24
-
From London From $99.23
-
From Paris From $80.36
-
From Brussels From $45.42
-
From Amsterdam From $45.42
-
From Osnabrück Hbf From $46.12
-
From Berlin From $45.42
-
From Stockholm From $83.86
-
From Karlsruhe From $71.28
-
From Mannheim From $78.97
-
From Flensburg From $38.44
-
From Fredericia From $58.00
ICE & EuroCity
The first stretch of your journey from Cologne to Copenhagen is usually with a German ICE train from Cologne to Hamburg where you change for the direct EuroCity service to Copenhagen. At certain times IC or EuroCity trains may substitute for ICEs on the first leg to Hamburg, but on this route that makes no difference to the journey time.
During the second leg of the journey, from Hamburg to Copenhagen, the entire train is shunted onto a ferry for a 45-min ride across the Baltic. If you can possibly contrive to do that last stretch in daylight, you’re in for a very memorable experience.
Cologne to Hamburg

The four-hour journey from Cologne to Hamburg wins no prizes for exceptional scenery. Hourly trains on this route cross the Ruhr industrial region and then track north-east across the North German Plain, pausing in Bremen before heading east to Hamburg. Most trains make about eight intermediate stops on the run from Cologne Hauptbahnhof to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof. Several types of train serve this route. There are German ICE and IC services, the occasional Swiss EuroCity and also trains run by private operator HKX.
At certain times, Loco2 will show additional options from Cologne to Hamburg via Hannover. Distance-wise this route is longer, but the journey via Hannover fills occasional gaps in the timetable and takes no longer than the direct trains.
Hamburg to Copenhagen

Running north-east from Hamburg the first stop is at the beautiful city of Lubeck. The route then takes in some fine Baltic scenery. The highlight is a short sea crossing on a ferry from Puttgarden in Germany to Rødby in Denmark. Your train rolls onto the ferry with passengers on board. You then have free run of the ship, with time to have a meal on board or stroll on deck, before rejoining the train as the ship docks at Rødby. The ride through Denmark from Rødby to Copenhagen takes two hours with four stops along the way.
All services leave from Hamburg Hauptbahnhof and arrive at the centrally located Hovedbanegård in Copenhagen.
-
Easy, fast and cheap
-
Pay in EUR, GBP, USD or CAD
-
Cheaper UK tickets with Pricehack
Subscribe to our newsletter
Subscribe to receive top tips, train news and travel inspiration straight to your inbox