Est. 2006
Shining a light on the green and gorgeous
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What is green travel?
Flight-free from the UK to Europe
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Train travel to Europe:
Eurostar Route Map
Under 5 hours
by train from London:
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Arrive same day by train from London:
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Require overnight stopover from London:
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Train + Ferry:
How to travel by train from London to Cologne, Germany
It is possible to travel by train to Cologne from London in less than 5 hours by travelling on the Eurostar via Brussels then a simple change of train from Brussels to Cologne.
Cologne is one of Germany’s oldest cities. A vast Gothic cathedral, the city’s best-known landmark and most visited site in the country, presides over an architectural patchwork of Roman towers, medieval churches and post-war office blocks. Around the cathedral is the Altstadt, or Old Town, where hops-loving visitors indulge in Kölsch, the distinctive local brew.
Flight-free travel from London to Cologne:
Journey Time: from 4 hours 52 mins
Sample timetable: Depart London 12.58pm, arrive Cologne 18.15
Changes: 1
Transfer: Quick same-station change of platform within Brussels Midi station
Carbon emissions: 12.7kg (flight would be 45kg)*
Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available.
How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation
If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries.
On Board Eurostar
For ticket types (Standard, Plus and Premier) and information on what it's like on board, see our Guide to Eurostar
What's the journey like?
Take the Eurostar to Brussels Midi station where there's an easy same-station platform change to board the high-speed Thalys or ICE trains to Cologne. Keep an eye out on the platform at Brussels for the handy guide to the layout of incoming trains, which shows you where your carriage will arrive into the station so you can walk to the correct part of the platform before the train arrives.
Miss your connection?
Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager.
Stopover in Brussels 🏠
If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Brussels while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay conveniently near Brussels Midi.
Hotels close to Brussels Midi station 🚉
As their names imply, both Appart'City Confort Bruxelles Centre Gare du Midi and Park Inn by Radisson Brussels Centre Midi are just a few minutes walk from Gare du Midi (where you'll arrive on Eurostar). Rooms from about €100 per night. For more hotels near the station, see Hotels near Brussels Midi station
Green Traveller's Top Pick 💚
Aloft Brussels Schuman is the latest brand to join the Starwood Hotels group fold. Aimed squarely at a younger, socially connected, urban audience. This 147-room branch in the centre of Brussels features rooms with kingsize beds, a bar that’s home to both a resident DJ and a pool table, a 24-hour “grab and go” cafe and an in-house gym. It’s Green Key certified, with electricity supplied from renewable sources and rooms cleaned with biodegradable products.
Eco-certified hotels in Brussels ✔️
If you're looking for other sustainable green hotels in Brussels, then these have all been certified by an accredited ecolabel:
Hotel Made In Louise is a 15-min walk from The European Parliament (and just 5 mins walk from the Louise Metro Station, which is three stops from Gare du Midi).
Stanhope Hotel by Thon Hotels is an upmarket boutique hotel where you can have breakfast on a courtyard terrace. Nearest metro is Trone.
On Arrival in Cologne
Willkommen in Köln! Cologne Central train station (Hauptbahnhof) is in the centre of the city, so it’s just a short stroll from the station to the magnificent Dom Cathedral, the city’s main tourist office, and many shops, bars and restaurants. The city also has an excellent public transport network to take you across the city and further afield. Cologne’s handy Welcome Card (€9) enables you to travel on any public transport for up to 24 hours as well as discounts on many of the city’s main attractions, tours and facilities, including the Cologne City Museum, the Chocolate Museum, and the Rent a Bike service. As part of the huge Rhine-Ruhr urban region, Cologne is served by several lines of the local S-bahn rail network, and its Hauptbahnhof is a major hub thereof: here is a map of the S-bahn in Cologne and the surrounding area, the website also offers ticketing information (in German, can be translated).
Hotels in Cologne
Green Traveller's Top Pick 💚
Hotel Domstern is a spick and span three-star 16-room hotel right by Cologne Haupbahnhof (the main railway station). Electricity comes from a green energy supplier and breakfasts are sourced ethically: organic, fair trade coffee comes from a small local roasting company; eggs, honey and more come from farmers around Cologne – the owners discovered their fruit juice supplier on a bicycle tour in the surrounding “Bergische Land”. Other items they make themselves, including yoghurt, jam, bread, butter and cream cheese.
Eco Certified Hotels in Cologne ✔️
Art’Otel has artistic sensibilities and a modern outlook. Its 218 guest rooms are bright and largely white, its restaurant serves pan-Asian food, it hosts a permanent exhibition of collages by Korean-born artist SEO and its terrace overlooks a harbour that was recently gentrified as part of the Rheinhaufen urban redevelopment project. Set in the southern reaches of the city’s Old Town, it’s also one of the city’s greener hotels with water-saving showers, sophisticated ventilation systems and energy-efficient lighting.
Radisson Blu Hotel Köln is an ultra-contemporary, four-star property in the city’s Deutz district, this 393-room hotel is a popular choice among business visitors. Free wifi, extensive gym and sauna facilities and easy access to the city’s leafy Rheinpark help guests unwind after hours, as does the hotel’s Feng Shui-inspired architecture. Motion detector lighting and green cleaning supplies help boost the hotel’s eco credentials.
Hostel Kohn is a modern, seven-story former office building (with 262 beds in 72 rooms) on a quiet side street between Neumarkt and Rudolph Place. It's just about the perfect place to stay for the flashpacker - rooms are smart, light and minimal, and cost from €19 in a 6-bed dorm, €24 in a 4-bed dorm, €30 per person for a twin room, or €45 for a single room to yourself. Prices include ample breakfast with wide choice of cereals, yogurt and bread.
More about Cologne:
Germany's most visited tourist attraction pulls in over 6.5 million visitors a year. Chances are, the cathedral - or Dom - will be the first thing you lay eyes on when you exit the main station. Dating back to 1248, the massive gothic cathedral took some six decades to complete and was once the tallest building in the world. There are some 509 steps to climb to the top of the south tower, but the view of the city at the top is well worth the effort. Its treasury also contains a wealth of artefacts and artworks. Just beside it is the Romano-Germanic Museum, where exhibits include the famous Dionysus mosaic and the world’s largest collection of Roman glassware. There are many other wonderful local attractions in Cologne (many of which you can see from the top of the cathedral!).
For more information about where to stay and eat in Cologne, plus local attractions and other things to see and do, see Green Traveller's Guide to Cologne
