In the present study stationary and rotating smooth and ribbed two-pass cooling channels were investigated numerically. The results were compared to the experimental data from Wagner and Johnson. The simulations were performed by incorporating the commercial solver ANSYS CFX utilizing different two-equation turbulence models. In a sensitivity analysis different modifications of the widely used SST turbulence model and an explicit algebraic Reynolds stress model were tested. The SST model in combination with the reattachment modification and the curvature correction produced the best results in this study. Furthermore, the influence of the inlet boundary condition was investigated under rotation for the smooth and the ribbed configuration. Both block profiles and developed profiles with and without swirl were incorporated. The Reynolds number was 25,000 and the inlet coolant-to-wall density ratio was 0.13. For the rotation numbers 0, 0.24 and 0.36 the flow field and the heat transfer were investigated comprehensively. Both the prominent heat transfer characteristics in the first pass and the minor changes in the second pass could be reproduced in a satisfying way.