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Trip Summary
There are 30 daily trains from Jena to Cologne. Traveling by train from Jena to Cologne usually takes around 5 hours and 41 minutes, but the fastest Deutsche Bahn train can make the trip in 4 hours and 7 minutes.
Distance | 202 mi (324 km) |
Fastest train | 4h 7m |
Lowest price | £58.67 |
Trains per day | 1 |
Most frequent service | Deutsche Bahn |
Train lines | 4 |
Which train should you take from Jena to Cologne?
There are 4 train lines with service from Jena to Cologne. Deutsche Bahn is the most popular choice with travelers, offering scheduled service on 29 trains each day.
Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
---|---|---|---|
DB Intercity | 1 | 5h 54m | £74.22 |
DB Intercity-Express | 7 | 5h 33m | £104.18 |
Deutsche Bahn | 29 | 5h 43m | £120.71 |
Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company | 3 | 5h 21m | £99.86 |
Deutsche Bahn IC is the German railway's long-distance train service provider with service across Germany and neighboring countries, including the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, and Poland. Onboard amenities include restrooms, power outlets, and a restaurant car where passengers can purchase drinks, snacks, and meals.
The most popular Deutsche Bahn ICE routes travel to Berlin, Cologne, Paris, and Munich. Seating is spacious with a good amount of legroom, and onboard amenities include complimentary WiFi, restrooms, and a restaurant car selling beverages, snacks, sandwiches, and hot meals. Unlike the rest of the Deutsche Bahn network, ticket prices on Deutsche Bahn ICE services are not based on a per-kilometer rate but on specific station-to-station links.
Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company train tickets from Jena to Cologne start from £94, and on average cost . Daily there are 3 Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company schedules to Cologne. Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company in Jena leaves from Jena West . And in Cologne trains arrive at Central Station and one other train station.
From Jena to Cologne train travel on Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company takes 5 hours and 21 minutes. If you are looking to get to Cologne faster, Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company offers more express schedule options with a travel time of 4 hours and 7 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance between Jena and Cologne is approximately 202 miles, or 324 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 5 hours and 41 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 4 hours and 7 minutes.
Looking for ways to pass the time? Most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music, browse social media or get some work done during your ride. That said, in case your train has a spotty signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and movies to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.
Trains departing from Jena to Cologne tend to have the most passengers on Saturday. With higher demand ticket prices also tend to be higher on Saturday. If you are trying to snag a cheap train tickets or just want an emptier train you'll have better luck by booking travel departing on Saturday as the least number of people tend to travel then.
The earliest train departs Jena at 00:00 while the last train of the day leaves at 23:00. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.
There are 30 scheduled trains on most days. There is one direct train, which you can stay on for the entire journey from Jena to Cologne. In contrast, taking a non-direct train would require you to transfer trains during your trip.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Cologne to Jena.
City Information
Jena
Image credit: Pixabay
Image credit: Pixabay
Image credit: Pixabay
Jena is a German city famous for its rolling hills and a variety of wild orchids. One of the most iconic landmarks in the city is Stadtkirche Sankt Michael, or the Church of St. Michael. The church's magnificent Gothic architecture includes a tower that may have once seemed tall, but is now dwarfed by the neighbouring JenTower skyscraper. The cylindrical JenTower has an observation deck and restaurant on the top floor where you can get the best views of Jena.
Jena has a wealth of quirky museums that are not your average art or history museums. For example, the Optical Museum exhibits a wide range of glasses, microscopes, and cameras from various points in optics history. Planetarium Jena often runs laser astronomy shows, and the Phyletic Museum hosts a small but rich collection of natural history exhibits. Of course, you can always simply stroll in the Botanischer Garten, one of the oldest botanical gardens in Germany.
The central hub of intercity coach transportation in the city is the Jena Paradies Bus Station, right in the city's centre. Travel to Jena includes coach service on FlixBus, plus numerous train routes on the Deutsche Bahn network.
Cologne
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Pixabay
There's no shortage of sights, culture, history, and adventure in Cologne, an alluring city on the Rhine. One of the most famous landmarks of the city is the Cologne Cathedral. This Gothic building and UNESCO World Heritage site remains the most iconic structure in the city. In fact, the Cologne Cathedral is the most visited landmark in Germany. Next door, the Museum Ludwig contrasts the cathedral's sense of history with an impressive collection of modern art, including works by Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol.
Cologne's breadth of museums also caters to a younger crowd. Families with children should head to the Cologne Chocolate Museum along the river or the Cologne Zoological Garden for memorable, kid-friendly experiences.
Foodies, rejoice! Cologne is home to mouthwatering German delicacies and upscale restaurants. Start your day with breakfast at Café Sehnsucht. For lunch, visit Herings Im Martinswinkel, and for dinner, head over to Bei Oma Kleinmann to feel like you're visiting your long-lost German grandmother.
Trains like Deutsche Bahn, DB Intercity, and FlixTrain connect Cologne to other major European cities, including Munich, Paris, and Vienna. You can also catch a coach from Cologne on FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, Sindbad, Union Ivkoni, or Columbuzz. Plus, the Cologne Bonn Airport is a large, well-outfitted airport with daily international flights for travelers coming from afar.
Station Information
Where is the train station in Jena?
Main departure station: Dornburg (Saale)
Jena has 3 stations where passengers can board the train to Cologne.
All train stations in Jena:
Dornburg (Saale)
Jena West
Jena Paradies Bus Station
Where is the train station in Cologne?
Image credit: Magnus Hagdorn
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: Central Station
Cologne Central Station is, unsurprisingly, the central station and main transport hub of Cologne. Multiple nationwide and regional trains stop here and connect to other routes. Thalys and Deutsche Bahn ICE provide service to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and many more. Inside the station, you can kill some time perusing souvenir shops and grab a meal at one of the restaurants- or skip straight to desert at one of the multiple bakeries available. There's even a shop for clothes and a bank in the building. Once outside, you'll be in the center of Cologne, so there are plenty of attractions and restaurants nearby.
Train stations in Cologne:
Central Station
Köln Messe/Deutz Gl.11-12
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Cologne to Jena?
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