- Must visit
Museum Ludwig
Major modern and contemporary art museum beside the cathedral, especially strong in Pop Art, Picasso, and postwar European art.










Cheapest price
$29
Average price
$53
Fastest journey
5h 30m
Average duration
7h 31m
Buses per day
11
Distance
465 km
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Berlin to Cologne among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $29. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 31m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $29, and a flight costs an average of $85.
Distance: 297 miles (479 km)
| Bus | Most popular Train | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$49 Average price Cheapest | $60 Average price | $295 Average price | $105 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
7h 41m Average total duration 7h 11m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 6m Average total duration 6h 36m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 31m Average total duration Fastest 1h 31m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 6h 43m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.5 - 1.2kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.4 - 2.9kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Berlin to Cologne:
A bus is $11 (€9) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Berlin to Cologne costing on average $60 (€49).
A bus is $246 (€202) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Berlin to Cologne costing on average $295 (€243).
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 36m.
Bus takes on average 7h 11m.
Tickets start at around $49 (€40) compared to roughly $105 (€86) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $56 (€46). The journey takes 7h 11m versus 6h 43m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Direct services are operated by FlixBus, BlaBlaCar.
Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:05AM | Arrival Time 01:20PM | Duration 11h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $44 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:40AM | Arrival Time 01:20PM | Duration 10h40 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $44 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:20AM | Arrival Time 01:05PM | Duration 9h45 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $38 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:40AM | Arrival Time 01:05PM | Duration 9h25 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $38 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:00AM | Arrival Time 10:50AM | Duration 5h50 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $45 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:30AM | Arrival Time 11:20AM | Duration 5h50 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $50 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:30AM | Arrival Time 03:10PM | Duration 6h40 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $39 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:50AM | Arrival Time 03:00PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $38 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:00AM | Arrival Time 03:10PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $43 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:30AM | Arrival Time 04:10PM | Duration 5h40 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:45AM | Arrival Time 08:20PM | Duration 9h35 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $38 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:00AM | Arrival Time 04:40PM | Duration 5h40 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $45 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:20AM | Arrival Time 08:20PM | Duration 9h00 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $38 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:20AM | Arrival Time 05:20PM | Duration 6h00 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:30AM | Arrival Time 05:40PM | Duration 6h10 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:00PM | Arrival Time 06:10PM | Duration 6h10 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Sat | Cheapest price $40 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:30PM | Arrival Time 06:10PM | Duration 5h40 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $56 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 01:00PM | Arrival Time 06:30PM | Duration 5h30 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $39 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 01:10PM | Arrival Time 07:10PM | Duration 6h00 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $45 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 01:30PM | Arrival Time 07:30PM | Duration 6h00 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $32 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:00PM | Arrival Time 08:10PM | Duration 6h10 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $51 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:20PM | Arrival Time 07:50PM | Duration 5h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue | Cheapest price $47 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:00PM | Arrival Time 09:00PM | Duration 6h00 | Departure days Thu, Sat | Cheapest price $64 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:20PM | Arrival Time 08:30PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $45 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:50PM | Arrival Time 09:20PM | Duration 5h30 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $56 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 10:00PM | Duration 6h00 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $45 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:20PM | Arrival Time 10:50PM | Duration 5h30 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $45 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:30PM | Arrival Time 11:00PM | Duration 5h30 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $51 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:40PM | Arrival Time 11:10PM | Duration 5h30 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $51 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:15PM | Arrival Time 08:20AM | Duration 10h05 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $38 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:40PM | Arrival Time 08:20AM | Duration 9h40 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $38 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:00PM | Arrival Time 08:20AM | Duration 9h20 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $38 |
The table below shows live departures for Berlin to Cologne buses for today, Saturday, July 11. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FlixBus | 10:45 AM Berlin, Bahnhof Südkreuz | 9h35 | 8:20 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 11:20 AM Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB) | 9h00 | 8:20 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 10:15 PM Berlin, Hardenbergplatz (Zoologischer Garten) | 10h05 | 8:20 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 10:40 PM Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB) | 9h40 | 8:20 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 11:00 PM Berlin, Kronprinzessinnenweg (Wannsee) | 9h20 | 8:20 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 2:05 AM Berlin, Bahnhof Südkreuz | 11h15 | 1:20 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 2:40 AM Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB) | 10h40 | 1:20 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 3:20 AM Berlin, Bahnhof Südkreuz | 9h45 | 1:05 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 3:40 AM Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB) | 9h25 | 1:05 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train, bus, and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.

Buses from Berlin to Cologne run on average 8 times per day, taking around 7h 11m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $29 (€24) but you can travel from only $22 (€18) by train.
There are 8 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:10, the last at 23:55. The fastest bus covers the 297 miles (479 km) distance in 9h 0m.
Distance 297 miles (479 km) |
Average bus duration 7h 11m |
Cheapest ticket price $29 (€24) |
Buses per day 8 |
Direct buses 8 |
Fastest bus 9h 0m |
First bus 12:10 AM |
Last bus 11:55 PM |
Cheapest Month Sep |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Mon |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 35 days |
Discover the best of Cologne — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Cologne trip today.
Major modern and contemporary art museum beside the cathedral, especially strong in Pop Art, Picasso, and postwar European art.
One of Germany’s key fine art museums, known for medieval painting, Gothic works, and major Impressionist holdings.
Cologne’s documentation center on National Socialism, housed in the former Gestapo headquarters with preserved prison cells.
Historic Old Town square surrounded by traditional facades and lively pedestrian streets, ideal as a base for central sightseeing.
Large central square in the Altstadt known for events, open space, and easy access to the Rhine promenade.
Trendy inner-city neighborhood popular for independent shops, street life, and photogenic urban corners beyond the main tourist core.
Cologne’s signature top-fermented pale beer, traditionally served in small Stangen glasses and central to the city’s brewing culture.
A classic Cologne rye roll with aged Gouda, mustard, and onion. Despite the name, it contains no chicken and is a beloved beer-hall snack.
A traditional Rhineland dish of mashed potatoes with apple sauce, often served with black pudding and fried onions. The name means ‘Heaven and Earth.’
Acclaimed fine-dining restaurant offering modern tasting menus and polished service for a high-end culinary experience in Cologne.
Historic brewery and restaurant loved for house-brewed Kölsch and authentic local specialties in a rustic traditional atmosphere.
Well-known casual restaurant famous for oversized schnitzels and hearty German comfort food with a friendly, classic atmosphere.
Moderate by German standards. Public transport is fair, while central hotels and dining cost more.
Service is usually included. Round up in cafes and taxis. In restaurants, 5-10% is common for good service; hand the tip directly when paying.
Official public transport app
Köln ZOB, Cologne -> Köln Hauptbahnhof, Cologne
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Berlin to Cologne by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Cologne, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Berlin to Cologne buses use the Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB) to Köln, Kennedystraße (Bonn Flughafen) station pair. Use this guide to compare Berlin and Cologne bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB) is 9 km from Berlin city centre. Public transport options include:
Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB) has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Cafeteria Berlin (in the station), Schnitzel Express (0.5 km), Currywurst Haus (0.7 km).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance and inside the waiting area.
Ticket office support is available at Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB).
Available at Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB): Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB): Elevators, ramps.
Berlin, Bahnhof Südkreuz is 6 km from Berlin city centre. Public transport options include:
Berlin, Bahnhof Südkreuz has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance.
Ticket office support is available at Berlin, Bahnhof Südkreuz.
Available at Berlin, Bahnhof Südkreuz: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Berlin, Bahnhof Südkreuz: Elevators, ramps.
Köln, Kennedystraße (Bonn Flughafen) is 13 km from Cologne city centre. Public transport options include:
Köln, Kennedystraße (Bonn Flughafen) has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Accessibility, and WC.
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the entrance.
Available at Köln, Kennedystraße (Bonn Flughafen): Parking, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Köln, Kennedystraße (Bonn Flughafen): Elevators, ramps.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need