Check routes online at the Deutsche Bahn (DB) Web site or at Dresden's main station, the Dresden-Hauptbahnhof (see Resources). You can also book your tickets online or in person.
Consider traveling at night to save on hotel expenses. City Night Line (CNL) trains, couchette cars, or other sleeper-car trains with berths and/or reclining seats are usually far less expensive than hotels. Be aware, however, that you must book reservations for these trains and that a surcharge is typically added to the regular fare.
Know that the duration of your train ride to Cologne will vary depending on route and train type. An ICE (Inter City Express) train, for example, will reach Cologne in fewer than 6 hours, while an overnight train can take nearly twice as long.
Book tickets on an ICE train for the fastest, most efficient way to travel Dresden to Cologne, but be prepared to pay a bit more for tickets.
Reserve a seat on the ICE train from Dresden to Cologne for a small additional fee. You will want to make a reservation for travel during peak times such as summers or holidays or if you want access to special features (such as repeaters that make using your cell phone on the train more convenient). You can make a reservation up to 3 months in advance of your travel.
Arrive at one of the largest and busiest stations in all of Europe, Cologne Central Station--Köln Hbf. A plethora of restaurants and shops and some of Cologne's top attractions are within walking distance.
Explore the Cologne Cathedral. This gothic treasure is situated near the station and is open most days from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Stretch your legs after your long journey by climbing the cathedral's 509 steps. A stunning view of Cologne from the observation platform awaits you.
Visit the 4711 house, where Eau-de-Cologne originated. Located on Glockengasse Street near the cathedral, the house boasts a fountain with a running tap of 4711 Cologne. Eventually dubbed "Eau de Cologne" by French Revolutionary troops who sent it home as gifts, this famous product was originally marketed as "Aqua Mirabilis" by Wilhelm Mulhens.
