Travel by train from the UK to Interlaken in under 9 hours by taking the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord and then change to Paris Gare de Lyon to take the train to Basel and from there to Interlaken.

Stopover in Cologne 🏠

If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Cologne while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay conveniently near Cologne's railway station as well as certified green places to stay throughout the city.

Hotels near Cologne Station 🚉

For hotels near Cologne Hauptbahnhof - the city's main railway station, see Hotels near Cologne station

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.