Originally Posted by
etch5895
Store your bags at the airport. There will be a storage facility somewhere. Check the Fraport website.
I did the Cologne to FRA ICE-3 run last year and it takes 40-45 minutes. There isn't much pretty scenery but it doesn't really matter because that train is a-bookin! You will probably hit speeds of 280-300 kph on some of the segments of track. Be advised, however, this is NOT an inexpensive ticket. I think IIRC my one-way, single person ticket last year was 60 euros. If you wanted instead to take a slower, cheaper, more scenic train ride, try this: Take the train to Mainz and then go up to Bingen & Koblenz. You will get the nice Rhine Valley tour and have a little time in Koblenz. Koblenz is where the two big wine rivers merge (Mosel and Rhine), and is a pretty town with nice shopping opportunities. Plan on 2-3 hours each way, however.
Etch,
Thanks for your reply. My wording may not have been clear, but my main question was how much time should I allow between my plane's scheduled arrival at FRA at 0700 and the ICE train's departure?
Your advice is great, but I'm more interested in getting to Cologne quickly to see the cathedral. (I know the surrounding areas are worthy of a more lengthy visit, but I can only do so much in a few hours.
)
By the way, if you order train tickets in advance, you can get a discount for more than one person. For four people (two adults, two kids), the FRA--Cologne ICE roundtrip is available for 126 euro. These savings require a non-refundable ticket, so I am wondering what is the best time to schedule the train. Thanks again.