How to get from Berlin to Cologne
- 474 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: train, 5h 34m
- 92 bus departures a day with FlixBus
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
At a glance
Fastest
8h 30m
direct
Bus
€34
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 8 Oct 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Berlin to Cologne. The most useful door-to-door route takes 8h 30m by bus with no transfer. The two cities are about 474 km apart in a straight line. The price and operators below come from a real route search.
This is the lowest fare we have recorded for this route in the last 14 days.
474 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | €57Checked Oct 5 | 1h 05mFlight only | See Flight details |
| Train | €18Omio catalogue, Oct 9 | 5h 34mdirect | See Train details |
| Bus | €24Omio catalogue, Oct 9 | 8h 30mdirect | See Bus details |
- Flight€57Checked Oct 51h 05m · Flight onlySee Flight details
- Train€18Omio catalogue, Oct 95h 34m · directSee Train details
- Bus€24Omio catalogue, Oct 98h 30m · directSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Berlin to Cologne: cheapest or fastest?
All from the same recent search. Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Berlin central → Cologne Airport CGNbus
FlixBus·8h 30m
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
Which date should you go?
The amounts on each day are fares seen earlier, not live offers. A day with no figure is one we have not priced, not one without a service.
Departures from Berlin to Cologne
FlixBus runs 92 scheduled departures a day, the first at 00:05 and the last at 23:40.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBusbus | 92 | 00:05 | 23:40 |
| Deutsche Bahntrain | 39 | 04:36 | 23:52 |
All departuresFlixBus
- 00:05
- 00:40
- 00:55
- 01:05
- 01:20
- 01:40
- 01:55
- 02:05
- 02:20
- 02:40
- 02:55
- 03:20
- 03:40
- 05:05
- 05:24
- 05:32
- 05:38
- 05:43
- 05:49
- 05:51
- 06:04
- 06:05
- 06:24
- 06:27
- 06:28
- 06:32
- 06:39
- 06:50
- 08:40
- 09:03
- 09:10
- 09:19
- 09:40
- 10:00
- 10:03
- 10:05
- 10:10
- 10:19
- 10:22
- 10:40
- 10:49
- 11:00
- 11:05
- 11:10
- 11:40
- 12:00
- 13:19
- 13:26
- 14:19
- 14:26
- 14:28
- 14:39
- 14:48
- 14:49
- 14:50
- 16:45
- 17:45
- 19:30
- 20:15
- 20:30
- 20:40
- 21:15
- 21:30
- 21:40
- 22:00
- 22:40
- 23:40
All departuresDeutsche Bahn
- 04:36
- 05:26
- 05:41
- 06:39
- 06:52
- 07:13
- 07:41
- 07:47
- 08:38
- 08:52
- 09:41
- 09:47
- 10:39
- 10:52
- 11:41
- 11:47
- 12:39
- 12:52
- 13:32
- 13:41
- 13:47
- 14:38
- 14:47
- 14:52
- 15:16
- 15:32
- 15:41
- 15:47
- 16:38
- 16:47
- 16:52
- 17:32
- 17:41
- 17:47
- 18:38
- 18:47
- 19:47
- 23:51
- 23:52
Departure times come from operator timetables and are local time at the origin. Where a row shows no times, the frequency is the operator's own and the timetable is not published to us. Times can change on holidays and at short notice; confirm with the operator before you travel.
Departure and arrival
Ticket prices on this route
What each way of travelling costs, as the operator publishes it. These describe the route rather than a date you pick, and they refresh once a day. Booking opens at our partner Omio.
Omio last refreshed these on Fri, Oct 9
Operators seen on these journeys
FlixBusBerlin central-Cologne Airport CGNBook →
EurowingsBerlin Brandenburg-Cologne/Bonn AirportSee live options and dates →
Deutsche BahnBerlin-CologneBook →On this route you travel with FlixBus, Eurowings, Deutsche Bahn; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Berlin to Cologne works
Start with a FlixBus bus from Berlin central to Cologne Airport CGN, about 8h 30m. In total it's roughly €34 over 8h 30m, direct, no transfers.
Berlin to Cologne: common questions
How long does it take to get from Berlin to Cologne?
The most useful route takes about 8h 30m by bus, with no transfer.
When is the first bus from Berlin to Cologne?
The first bus with FlixBus leaves at 00:05 and the last at 23:40, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Berlin to Cologne?
92 a day with FlixBus, between 00:05 and 23:40.
When is the first train from Berlin to Cologne?
The first train with Deutsche Bahn leaves at 04:36 and the last at 23:52, according to the published timetable.
How many train departures a day are there from Berlin to Cologne?
39 a day with Deutsche Bahn, between 04:36 and 23:52.
How far is Cologne from Berlin?
About 474 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Berlin to Cologne cost?
Our latest search put the route we recommend at €34. Other options on this page can cost less, and the exact fare depends on your travel date.
Which operators run Berlin to Cologne?
On this route you travel with FlixBus, Eurowings, Deutsche Bahn.
Can you get from Berlin to Cologne without flying?
Yes. A ground route by train takes about 4h 10m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Berlin to Cologne?
Usually a flexible date, or leaving from a nearby airport. A live search puts every option for your dates side by side.
Can I book directly?
Yes. Routavio sends you straight to the operator or an independent third-party provider. We never add a booking fee. The final fare and availability are confirmed by that provider.
Other ways people search Berlin to Cologne
- how to get from Berlin to Cologne
- Berlin to Cologne travel time
- Berlin to Cologne distance
- cheapest way from Berlin to Cologne
- Berlin to Cologne by bus
Sources and method
Routes are calculated by Routavio's multimodal engine from operator timetables and flight data. Durations come from timetables, and prices are the most recent observation, not a guarantee.
Operators: FlixBus
Route calculated: 8 Oct 2026