How to get from Cologne to Dortmund
- 73 km as the crow flies
- 40 train departures a day with Deutsche Bahn
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
Route details last verified on 25 September 2026.
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Cologne to Dortmund: bus. The two cities are about 73 km apart in a straight line. The operators below come from a real route search, last verified on 25 September 2026. Run a live search for current times and fares.
We do not know when this fare was last checked. Run a live search for today's price.
73 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | €6Omio catalogue, Oct 10 | 56mdirect | See Train details |
| Bus | €6Omio catalogue, Oct 10 | 1h 45mdirect | See Bus details |
- Train€6Omio catalogue, Oct 1056m · directSee Train details
- Bus€6Omio catalogue, Oct 101h 45m · directSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Cologne to Dortmund: cheapest or fastest?
Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Cologne Airport CGN → Dortmund centralbus
FlixBus·1h 45m
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
Departures from Cologne to Dortmund
Deutsche Bahn runs 40 scheduled departures a day, the first at 03:40 and the last at 14:44.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deutsche Bahntrain | 40 | 03:40 | 14:44 |
| FlixBusbus | 33 | 03:10 | 23:35 |
| National Expresstrain | 12 | — | — |
All departuresDeutsche Bahn
- 03:40
- 04:05
- 05:11
- 05:26
- 05:44
- 06:25
- 06:45
- 07:11
- 07:26
- 07:40
- 07:45
- 07:46
- 08:11
- 08:25
- 08:32
- 08:44
- 08:45
- 09:11
- 09:26
- 09:45
- 09:46
- 10:11
- 10:32
- 10:44
- 11:10
- 11:11
- 11:45
- 11:46
- 12:09
- 12:11
- 12:32
- 12:44
- 12:45
- 13:10
- 13:11
- 13:45
- 13:46
- 14:11
- 14:32
- 14:44
All departuresFlixBus
- 03:10
- 03:30
- 04:10
- 04:30
- 05:10
- 05:35
- 06:35
- 06:50
- 07:00
- 07:20
- 07:35
- 07:50
- 08:00
- 08:20
- 08:50
- 09:20
- 13:45
- 14:05
- 14:45
- 15:05
- 15:45
- 16:05
- 16:45
- 17:45
- 17:50
- 18:50
- 19:50
- 20:10
- 21:10
- 21:35
- 22:10
- 22:35
- 23:35
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 Sat, Oct 10
Operators seen on these journeys
On this route you travel with FlixBus, Deutsche Bahn; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Cologne to Dortmund works
Start with a FlixBus bus from Cologne Airport CGN to Dortmund central, about 1h 45m. In total it's roughly €9 over 1h 45m, direct, no transfers.
Cologne to Dortmund: common questions
When is the first train from Cologne to Dortmund?
The first train with Deutsche Bahn leaves at 03:40 and the last at 14:44, according to the published timetable.
How many train departures a day are there from Cologne to Dortmund?
40 a day with Deutsche Bahn, between 03:40 and 14:44.
When is the first bus from Cologne to Dortmund?
The first bus with FlixBus leaves at 03:10 and the last at 23:35, from Cologne Airport CGN, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Cologne to Dortmund?
33 a day with FlixBus, between 03:10 and 23:35.
Which station does the bus from Cologne to Dortmund leave from?
Cologne Airport CGN with FlixBus, according to the published timetable.
How far is Dortmund from Cologne?
About 73 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
Which operators run Cologne to Dortmund?
On this route you travel with FlixBus, Deutsche Bahn.
What is the cheapest way to get from Cologne to Dortmund?
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 Cologne to Dortmund
- how to get from Cologne to Dortmund
- Cologne to Dortmund travel time
- Cologne to Dortmund distance
- cheapest way from Cologne to Dortmund
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: 25 Sep 2026