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Car Hire at Cologne Train Station - Exploring the Rhine Valley

Cologne Central Train (known locally as Köln Hauptbahnhof) is a large railway and local transport facility located right next to the cathedral in the heart of the city. Handling regular national and international services from all over Europe, it caters for around 300,000 passenger movements per day, making it the 5th-busiest railway station in Germany. Originally built in 1857, the station quickly developed and has more recently grown into one of the hubs of European long-distance traffic with direct connections to and from Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium and beyond.

Cologne itself is a top tourist destination with an impressive array of first-rate attractions, including two excellent museums, namely the Wallraf with its extensive collection from the medievel period and Museum Ludwig, one of Germany's best modern art centres. The city is also renowned for its fine Romanesque churhes (over a dozen in all) which rank amongst the country's most prized architectural treasures. Officially called the Cathedral of St Peter and St Mary, Cologne's impressive Cathedral is a major landmark and the tallest twin-spired church in the world.

With a car hire from Cologne Train Station you can drive to Cologne Zoo (one of the oldest and best of its kind in Germany), followed by a visit to the Flora und Botanischer Garten Köln to enjoy its 11.5-hectare expanse of well-kept botanical gardens. Further out lies the 18th-century Late Baroque/Rococo palace of the Archbishop of Cologne in the picturesque town of Brühl. Cologne is also well situated for exploring western Germany, including Bonn and Dusseldorf, two of the most attractive cities in the Rhine Valley.

Besides Cologne Hauptbahnhof, Auto Europe offers several convenient pick-up locations in and around the city centre. Whether it's a small, manoeuvrable car you require for city sightseeing or a more robust SUV for an extensive tour of the enchanting Rhine Valley region, you'll always find exactly what you're looking for through our state-of-the-art booking engine. Choose from the most prestigious local, national and international car hire suppliers operating in the city, including Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Sixt and Buchbinder.

Please call our award-winning rental specialists on +44 123 3225 114 should you need any help with your reservation and they will be more than happy to find you the best deal. Operating since 1954, we are one of the world's leading car hire companies with over 24,000 convenient pick-up locations in more than 180 different destinations, so we know a thing or two about car hire! Check out what others say about us on our Cologne car hire reviews page and read the genuine comments they posted about their recent car rental in the city. Please also consult our Driving in Germany page for advice on the local age restrictions, driving distances, road rules, motorway tolls, etc.

Station Information

As one of Europe’s most important railway hubs, Cologne Station facilitates quick and easy travel to this vibrant metropolis from major cities in Germany and many other key European countries. Each day over 1,300 trains run between Cologne and destinations right across the country and beyond, including high-speed services to London, Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels. The local public transport system in Cologne and the surrounding region is also excellent, featuring underground, tram and bus services that will provide visitors with optimal mobility during their stay in the city.

Where to pick up my car hire at Cologne Train Station

There are several car rental companies inside Cologne Hauptbahnhof and in the station's direct vicinity. You can find some of their offices on Passage D opposite the DB Travel Center, while others are located just outside the station's main entrance. Before arriving to pick up your car rental at Cologne Train Station, make sure you have all the necessary doscuments with you, including your passport, driving licence, credit card and Auto Europe booking voucher.

	Avis at Cologne Train Station Buero Im Hbf Reisezentrum 2 Cologne, Germany 50668 +49 221 9130063	Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-10pm
	Europcar at Cologne Train Station TrankgasseR 11 Cologne, Germany 50667 +49 221 1392748	Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-7pm (9am-1pm Sat & Sun)
	Sixt at Cologne Train Station Trankgasse 11 Cologne, Germany 50667 +49-8966060060	Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-6pm Sat: 8am-12pm (closed Sun)

Station facilities

Cologne Station's passenger facilities would be worthy of an international airport! There are plenty of options for a quick bite to eat; there's everything from McDonald's and Burger King to sushi bars, ice-cream parlours and coffee shops. Travellers with more time on their hands can wine and dine in several excellent restaurants located on the station's premises. For last-minute shopping for friends and family back home, Cologne Hauptbahnhof has everything covered with florists, gift shops, drugstores, pharmacies, perfumeries, supermarkets, delicatessens and a large number of fashion boutiques. Other facilities include a left-luggage office, first-class lounge, Wi-fi, ATMs and a tourist information booth.

How to get to and from Cologne Train Station

The Hauptbahnhof is located in the heart of the city centre, right in front of the cathedral and in close proximity to the main shopping areas, so you won't have any trouble picking up your car hire at Cologne Train Station. Arriving at or departing from the station by bus and tram is easy because it is very well connected to both networks. There are many ways to continue your journey owing to an abundance of taxis which can be found on both sides of the station, with more ranks outside the nerby cathedral and on Breslauer Platz. There are two subway stations - Dom/Hauptbahnhof and Breslauer Platz/Hauptbahnhof - which are accesible via the A-Passage inside the station's main concourse. Cologne Station is on S-Bahn routes 10 and 11, plus the city's far-reaching light railway network (the Stadtbahn) also serves the station and incorporates both the subway (U-Bahn) and the overground tram routes with direct connections to the bus and tram network. The station is also very well served by trains and buses from Cologne Bonn Airport, which is located approximately 15 km north-east of Bonn and the same distance east of Cologne.

Parking tips

There are plenty of large car parks located in the city centre, some of which are in close proximity to Cologne Train Station, including Contipark Hauptbahnhof (Breslauer Platz 1), Parkhaus Am Dom (Hackenberg-Platz 2), Parkhaus Gross Sankt Martin (Große Neugasse 4), Contipark Philharmonie (Bischofsgartenstraße 1) and Parkhaus Hohe Strasse (Marspfortengasse 10). For cheap parking and quick connections to the city centre, it's always best to use the Park and Ride (P+R) system, especially those who choose to rent a car at Cologne Train Station. Please note that a Low Emission Zone (Umweltzone) exists in certain parts of Cologne city centre, and without the Umweltzone sticker on your windscreen these area will be prohibited.

Useful links

Cologne Tourist Info