Eurostar is currently offering a sale connecting France and Belgium to Germany and the United Kingdom. This is a perfect opportunity for those in Paris or Brussels to visit the Rhine-Ruhr region or vice versa.
One-way tickets on the Brussels 
Cologne or Liège Cologne routes start at €19. If you’re traveling from/to Paris, prices on the Paris Cologne route start at €32. You can also reach or leave London for just €39 (~£34). In contrast to previous sales, short term availability is very good, especially from/to Paris.
We have found the following best one-way prices for the high-speed link from France and Belgium to Germany. In Germany, these trains serve Aachen, Cologne, Düsseldorf (including the Airport), Duisburg, Essen, and Dortmund.
We have been able to find the following prices (one-way, the cheapest ticket available):
From Belgium:
- Brussels Cologne: €19
- Liège Cologne: €19
- Brussels Aachen: €19
- Liège Aachen: €19
- Brussels London: €39
From London:
- London Amsterdam: €39 (~€39)
- London Brussels: €39 (~€39)
- London Lille: €39 (~€39)
- London Paris: €39 (~€39)
- London Rotterdam: €39 (~€39)
From Paris:
- Paris Cologne: €32 (many short term dates)
- Paris Aachen: €35
- Paris Düsseldorf: €35
- Paris Dortmund: €35
- Paris London: €39
Editor’s Note: A great advantage, besides the price, is that seat reservations on Eurostar are already included in the ticket price, unlike with Deutsche Bahn, where you have to pay an extra fee. A few years ago, I traveled from Cologne to Paris on a Thalys train, and it was a good experience.
Search & Book
Availability is generally open for travel until March 2027, if you buy in advance. The highlight of the current sale are the short-term tickets from/to Paris. These are available until early July 2026.
You can use the Eurostar availability calendar on their website to find the cheapest dates. Simply enter your desired route, and you’ll immediately see in the results whether the lowest fare is available on your preferred travel date.
Tickets in the Standard fare can be rebooked free of charge up to one hour before departure (though you must pay any price difference). Cancellations are possible up to 7 days before departure, for a fee of €25 per person and per direction. After that window, tickets are non-refundable.
Traveling with Thalys Eurostar
The journey from Paris to Cologne takes approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes. Arriving at Cologne Hbf puts you directly next to the famous Cathedral in the city center. Since seat reservations are mandatory on these trains, you are always guaranteed a seat.
- Seating: Standard Class offers comfortable seats with large folding tables. These are well-suited for work or relaxation during the 3-hour trip.
- Luggage: Large luggage racks are available at the entrance of each carriage, offering more space than typical domestic trains in Germany or France.
- Onboard Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi is provided (usually with a 250MB high-speed cap). While not fast enough for streaming, it is reliable for messaging and checking emails across borders.