Paris to Cologne by train
Direct Eurostar trains (former Thalys) from Paris Gare du Nord to Köln Hbf in about 3 hours 20 minutes, five or six a day. Reservation included.
Direct Eurostar trains leave Paris Gare du Nord for Köln Hbf five or six times a day, and the journey takes about 3 hours 20 minutes.
Take the direct Eurostar
These are the former Thalys trains, now run by Eurostar. They call at Bruxelles-Midi, Liège-Guillemins and Aachen Hbf, then reach Cologne without a change. Some carry on to Düsseldorf, Duisburg and Dortmund, so stay alert for the Köln Hbf stop.
Departures run from early morning to early evening: five or six a day, with six on Fridays and Sundays. They can be two to four hours apart. Choose the train before you plan the rest of the day.
Gare du Nord, not Paris Est
Leave from Gare du Nord. Eurostar asks you to arrive 20 minutes before departure.
Paris Est has direct trains to Germany too, but none to Cologne. Going that way means at least one change and takes more than five hours.
Changing in Brussels
When the direct trains are full or badly timed, take a Eurostar to Bruxelles-Midi and change to the Deutsche Bahn ICE for Cologne. It takes about 4 hours in total, and the ICE follows the same line through Liège and Aachen.
Tickets and prices
Eurostar Standard fares to Cologne usually start from around €35 one way. Sale fares can go lower, and the cheapest seats go first. Plus gives you a larger reclining seat; Premier adds lounge access and a meal at your seat.
Your ticket includes a reserved seat on one train. Standard and Plus tickets can be exchanged free until one hour before departure, and refunds cost €25 up to seven days before travel. Two bags of up to 75 x 53 x 30 cm plus hand luggage are allowed, with no weight limit.
With an Interrail pass
Pass holders must reserve. The Eurostar pass-holder reservation from Paris to Germany costs around €32 in Standard or €37 in Plus, pass places are limited, and the reservation cannot be refunded or exchanged. A second-class pass gets you Standard only, and Premier is not available on a pass.
Going via Brussels does not avoid the fee: the Eurostar from Paris to Brussels needs a reservation, at around €27 in Standard. The ICE on to Cologne does not.
The new timetable and January in Cologne
The new timetable starts on 13 December 2026. Early 2027 keeps a similar pattern of direct trains, still about 3 hours 20 minutes.
From 21:00 on 8 January to 21:00 on 19 January 2027, Köln Hbf is closed to long-distance trains while Deutsche Bahn brings a new signal box into service. Eurostar has not yet shown how its trains run during the closure, so if you travel in that window, check which Cologne station your train actually arrives at before you set off.
Where to book
Train service
- Check times & prices
Eurostar runs high-speed trains from London St Pancras to Paris (2 h 16 min), Brussels (1 h 53 min) and Amsterdam; London departures require border checks.
Official website
Find places to stay in Cologne
Frequently asked questions
Is there a high-speed train from Paris to Cologne?
Yes. Eurostar runs five or six direct high-speed trains a day from Paris Gare du Nord to Köln Hbf. These are the former Thalys trains.
How long is the Eurostar from Paris to Cologne?
About 3 hours 20 minutes. Changing in Brussels to an ICE takes about 4 hours.
Does the Eurostar from Paris go straight to Cologne?
Yes, without a change. It stops at Brussels, Liège and Aachen on the way, and some trains continue beyond Cologne to Düsseldorf, Duisburg and Dortmund.
How much is the train from Paris to Cologne?
Eurostar Standard tickets usually start from around €35 one way, sometimes less in a sale, and the lowest fares sell out first. Plus and Premier cost more.
Can I use an Interrail pass from Paris to Cologne?
Yes, but you need a pass-holder reservation on the Eurostar, around €32 in Standard or €37 in Plus. Pass places on each train are limited, and Premier is not available on a pass.
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