Can i buy ice train ticket to Amsterdam from the Cologne station at the same day that i want to go there?

Question

i heard that i must reserve the ticket 2 days before the departure date and there is no ticket if i want to travel at the sameday

Answer 1

This highly depends on which train you plan to take.

In general you are not obligated to get reservations for european trains (except for a few special trains, mostly international night trains), but there are however some routes or at least some trains (usually the faster ones) which are likely to be crowded. I don't know for sure, but Cologne-Amsterdam might be such a route. A reservation does not cost too much and can help avoid problems.

In addition there are special offers on some routes with a limited amount of tickets sold for a very low price (TEE City Star). These low-priced tickets are often sold out months in advance... City Star tickets are also bound to specific trains (as opposed to normal priced tickets, which are valid on any train within a given period - usually 1 month for international tickets).

Answer 2

There is no rule as such that you have to buy tickets for ICE trains in advance. However, if there is any rush for any particular train, it may be necessary to book in advance.Check with your local station.