Lowest Prices
We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.
Best Travel Options
We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.
Quick & Easy Booking
Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.
Fast Customer Support
We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.
Trip Summary
There are usually 54 daily train trips available from Cologne to Darmstadt. Traveling by train from Cologne to Darmstadt usually takes 2 hours and 34 minutes, but the fastest Deutsche Bahn train can make the trip in one hour and 35 minutes.
| Distance | 105 mi (168 km) |
| Fastest train | 1h 35m |
| Lowest price | $25.48 |
| Most frequent service | Deutsche Bahn |
| Train lines | 4 |
Which train should you take from Cologne to Darmstadt?
There are 4 train lines with service from Cologne to Darmstadt. Deutsche Bahn is the most popular choice with travelers, offering scheduled service on 30 trains each day.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| DB Intercity | 6 | 2h 51m | $38.27 |
| DB Intercity-Express | 4 | 2h 37m | $56.73 |
| Deutsche Bahn | 30 | 2h 29m | $64.21 |
| Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company | 28 | 2h 39m | $65.26 |
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 Cologne to Darmstadt start from $25, and on average cost . Daily there are 28 Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company schedules to Darmstadt. Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company in Cologne leaves from Central Station and one other station. And in Darmstadt trains arrive at Darmstadt TU-Lichtwiese and 7 other train stations.
From Cologne to Darmstadt train travel on Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company takes 2 hours and 39 minutes. If you are looking to get to Darmstadt faster, Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company offers more express schedule options with a travel time of 1 hours and 35 minutes.
If you're considering a weeked trip, Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company offers 107 schedules for you to choose from. You can expect to pay for a one-way train ticket to Darmstadt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Trains from Cologne to Darmstadt are the most crowded on Sunday. Tickets also tend to be more expensive then. If you are looking for a great deal on your train tickets or just want extra room to stretch out, consider traveling on Sunday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.
The earliest train departs Cologne at 3:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 11:00pm. 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 54 scheduled trains on most days. Unfortunately, none of them are direct connections, so you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train during your journey. Don't forget to bring your carry-on luggage when you switch trains. In some instances, you may also be responsible for transferring your own checked baggage.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Darmstadt to Cologne.
City Information
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 bus 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.
Darmstadt
Image credit: Pixabay
Image credit: Pixabay
Image credit: Pixabay
Darmstadt is a large city in the state of Hesse, near Frankfurt. It is known as Germany's City of Science due to the many scientific institutions and academies within the city's limits. A long list of notable landmarks makes Darmstadt a worthy destination to explore.
One of the most popular landmarks in the city is the ruins of Frankenstein Castle, which is said to have inspired the world-famous novel by Mary Shelley. Another is the St. Mary Magdalene Chapel, used by the Russian imperial family during their visit to the city. Finally, if you're a fan of quirky architecture, don't miss the art-nouveau museum Institut Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt or the Waldspirale, a colorful, spiraling residential building built in the 1990s.
To begin your Darmstadt adventure, catch a bus or train, both of which usually arrive at the Zweifalltorweg station. FlixBus and Sindbad connect Darmstadt to other cities by bus, and Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain, and Railjet provide travel by train. From Darmstadt, some of the most popular destinations are Stuttgart, Munich, Cologne, and Rotterdam.
Station Information
Where is the train station in Cologne?
Image credit: Magnus Hagdorn
Link to image attributionMain departure 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.
All train stations in Cologne:
Central Station
Köln Messe/Deutz Gl.11-12
Where is the train station in Darmstadt?
Main arrival station: Darmstadt-Wixhausen
There are more train stations and stops in Darmstadt than most cities. Most trains from Cologne will stop at one (or more) of the 8 following stations in Darmstadt:
All train stations in Darmstadt:
Darmstadt-Wixhausen
Darmstadt-Arheilgen
Darmstadt-Eberstadt
Darmstadt Süd
Darmstadt TU-Lichtwiese
Darmstadt Nord
Train Station
Darmstadt Ost
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Darmstadt to Cologne?
Search Train Tickets
Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.
With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.
Book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more