- Must visit
Museum Ludwig
Major modern and contemporary art museum beside the cathedral, known for its strong Picasso collection and Pop Art holdings.
Cheapest price
$96
Average price
$112
Fastest journey
15 h 35 m
Average duration
16 h 45 m
Buses per day
24
Distance
956 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Budapest to Cologne is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Budapest to Cologne will cost around $112 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $96.
Of the 24 buses that leave Budapest for Cologne on Sat, Jun 20, 3 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Sat, Jun 20 the direct buses cover the 956 km distance in an average of 16 h 45 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 15 h 35 m .
On Sat, Jun 20 the slowest buses will take 17 h 20 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
FlixBus · FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBus
FlixBus · FlixBusOmio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Budapest to Cologne among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $61. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 27m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.3 - 0.9kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $61, and a flight costs an average of $101.
Distance: 594 miles (956 km)
| Bus | Most popular Train | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$92 Average price Cheapest | $175 Average price | $514 Average price | $247 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
18h 37m Average total duration 18h 7m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 13h 2m Average total duration 12h 32m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 27m Average total duration Fastest 2h 27m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 11h 35m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
1.0 - 2.4kg CO2 emissions | 0.3 - 0.9kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 2.9 - 5.7kg 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 Budapest to Cologne:
A bus is $83 (€68) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Budapest to Cologne costing on average $175 (€144).
A bus is $422 (€346) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Budapest to Cologne costing on average $514 (€421).
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Train takes on average 12h 32m.
Bus takes on average 18h 7m.
Tickets start at around $92 (€75) compared to roughly $247 (€202) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $155 (€127). The journey takes 18h 7m versus 11h 35m 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.
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 01:45AM | Arrival Time 10:10PM | Duration 20h25 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $73 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:45AM | Arrival Time 02:55AM | Duration 20h10 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $63 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:05AM | Arrival Time 02:55AM | Duration 19h50 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $63 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:35AM | Arrival Time 03:35AM | Duration 20h00 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $64 |
Operator Infobus | Departure Time 09:30AM | Arrival Time 09:00AM | Duration 23h30 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $121 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:15AM | Arrival Time 03:35AM | Duration 17h20 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $65 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:35AM | Arrival Time 03:35AM | Duration 17h00 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $65 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:40AM | Arrival Time 05:50AM | Duration 19h10 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $65 |
Operator RegioJet a.s. | Departure Time 10:50AM | Arrival Time 08:05AM | Duration 21h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $119 |
Operator RegioJet a.s. | Departure Time 11:15AM | Arrival Time 08:05AM | Duration 20h50 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $119 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:30PM | Arrival Time 10:00AM | Duration 21h30 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $63 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:40PM | Arrival Time 06:20AM | Duration 17h40 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $64 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 01:15PM | Arrival Time 06:20AM | Duration 17h05 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $73 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 01:25PM | Arrival Time 01:41PM | Duration 24h16 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $127 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 01:35PM | Arrival Time 06:20AM | Duration 16h45 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $73 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 01:45PM | Arrival Time 10:00AM | Duration 20h15 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $63 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:40PM | Arrival Time 09:05AM | Duration 18h25 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $63 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 11:45AM | Duration 19h45 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $142 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:10PM | Arrival Time 11:45AM | Duration 18h35 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $64 |
Operator FlixTrain | Departure Time 05:10PM | Arrival Time 01:41PM | Duration 20h31 | Departure days Thu, Sun | Cheapest price $129 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:40PM | Arrival Time 11:45AM | Duration 18h05 | Departure days Tue, Wed | Cheapest price $74 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:55PM | Arrival Time 11:45AM | Duration 17h50 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $73 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:00PM | Arrival Time 11:45AM | Duration 17h45 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $140 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:30PM | Arrival Time 01:41PM | Duration 19h11 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $70 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:50PM | Arrival Time 01:41PM | Duration 18h51 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun | Cheapest price $70 |
Operator FlixTrain | Departure Time 07:00PM | Arrival Time 01:41PM | Duration 18h41 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $128 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:15PM | Arrival Time 10:50AM | Duration 15h35 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $65 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:45PM | Arrival Time 09:40PM | Duration 24h55 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $64 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:30PM | Arrival Time 08:35PM | Duration 23h05 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $65 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:30PM | Arrival Time 05:25PM | Duration 18h55 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $64 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:00PM | Arrival Time 05:25PM | Duration 18h25 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $66 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:20PM | Arrival Time 05:25PM | Duration 18h05 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $66 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:30PM | Arrival Time 05:43PM | Duration 18h13 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $71 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:35PM | Arrival Time 09:40PM | Duration 22h05 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $73 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:45PM | Arrival Time 09:20PM | Duration 21h35 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $62 |
The table below shows live departures for Budapest to Cologne buses for today, Friday, June 19. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FlixBus · FlixBus | 7:05 AM Budapest, Kelenföld Vasútállomás | 19h50 | 2:55 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 7:35 AM Budapest, Liszt Ferenc Nemzetközi Repülőtér | 20h00 | 3:35 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
7087793 | 9:30 AM Budapest | 23h30 | 9:00 AM Köln, ZOB | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 10:15 AM Budapest, Népliget Autóbusz-Pályaudvar | 17h20 | 3:35 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 10:35 AM Budapest, Kelenföld Vasútállomás | 17h00 | 3:35 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 10:40 AM Budapest, Kelenföld Vasútállomás | 19h10 | 5:50 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
(Budapest -> Prague) · (Prague -> Amsterdam) | 10:50 AM Budapest, Népliget Autóbusz-Pályaudvar | 21h15 | 8:05 AM Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 1 transfer | |
(Budapest -> Prague) · (Prague -> Amsterdam) | 11:15 AM Budapest, Kelenföld Vasútállomás | 20h50 | 8:05 AM Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 12:30 PM Budapest, Mexikói Út M | 21h30 | 10:00 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 12:40 PM Budapest, Liszt Ferenc Nemzetközi Repülőtér | 17h40 | 6:20 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 1:15 PM Budapest, Népliget Autóbusz-Pályaudvar | 17h05 | 6:20 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 1:35 PM Budapest, Kelenföld Vasútállomás | 16h45 | 6:20 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 1:45 PM Budapest, Népliget Autóbusz-Pályaudvar | 20h15 | 10:00 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 2:40 PM Budapest, Kelenföld Vasútállomás | 18h25 | 9:05 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 4:00 PM Budapest, Népliget Autóbusz-Pályaudvar | 19h45 | 11:45 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 5:10 PM Budapest, Liszt Ferenc Nemzetközi Repülőtér | 18h35 | 11:45 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus+ FlixTrain | 5:10 PM Budapest, Liszt Ferenc Nemzetközi Repülőtér | 24h33 | 5:43 PM Cologne Hbf | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 5:55 PM Budapest, Kelenföld Vasútállomás | 17h50 | 11:45 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus | 7:15 PM Budapest, Népliget Autóbusz-Pályaudvar | 17h55 | 1:10 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus | 7:15 PM Budapest, Keleti Vasútállomás (Kerepesi út) | 20h20 | 3:35 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus+ FlixTrain | 8:45 PM Budapest, Liszt Ferenc Nemzetközi Repülőtér | 24h55 | 9:40 PM Cologne Hbf | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus+ FlixTrain | 9:30 PM Budapest, Keleti Vasútállomás (Kerepesi út) | 24h10 | 9:40 PM Cologne Hbf | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus | 9:30 PM Budapest, Keleti Vasútállomás (Kerepesi út) | 22h40 | 8:10 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 10:30 PM Budapest, Liszt Ferenc Nemzetközi Repülőtér | 18h55 | 5:25 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus | 11:00 PM Budapest, Népliget Autóbusz-Pályaudvar | 18h25 | 5:25 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 11:20 PM Budapest, Krisztina körút / Kosciuszkó Tádé utca | 18h05 | 5:25 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 11:20 PM Budapest, Kelenföld Vasútállomás | 18h05 | 5:25 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus+ FlixTrain | 11:30 PM Budapest, Népliget Autóbusz-Pályaudvar | 18h13 | 5:43 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus+ FlixTrain | 11:35 PM Budapest, Mexikói Út M | 22h05 | 9:40 PM Cologne Hbf | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 11:45 PM Budapest, Kelenföld Vasútállomás | 21h35 | 9:20 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus+ FlixTrain | 11:45 PM Budapest, Kelenföld Vasútállomás | 17h58 | 5:43 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
| Saturday, June 20 | |||||
FlixBus · FlixBus | 1:45 AM Budapest, Népliget Autóbusz-Pályaudvar | 20h25 | 10:10 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 6:45 AM Budapest, Népliget Autóbusz-Pályaudvar | 20h10 | 2:55 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 1 transfer | |
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 Budapest to Cologne run on average 24 times per day, taking around 18h 7m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $61 (€50) if you book in advance.
There are 2 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:25, the last at 23:55. The fastest bus covers the 594 miles (956 km) distance in 15h 35m.
Distance 594 miles (956 km) |
Average bus duration 18h 7m |
Cheapest ticket price $61 (€50) |
Buses per day 24 |
Direct buses 2 |
Fastest bus 15h 35m |
First bus 12:25 AM |
Last bus 11:55 PM |
Cheapest Month Jul |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Wed |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Best time to book 28 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, known for its strong Picasso collection and Pop Art holdings.
Cologne’s key archaeology museum for Roman heritage, especially famous for the Dionysus mosaic and Roman artifacts from the city.
Important fine arts museum with medieval, Baroque, and 19th-century painting, including one of Germany’s leading Impressionist collections.
Popular riverfront promenade in Deutz with one of the city’s best postcard views toward the cathedral skyline, especially at sunset.
Classic walking area with narrow lanes, traditional houses, churches, and river access, ideal for first-time visitors.
One of the Old Town’s best-known squares, surrounded by historic facades and a lively atmosphere close to major sights.
Cologne’s signature top-fermented pale beer, traditionally served in small cylindrical glasses. It is central to the city’s brewing culture and best enjoyed in a local brauhaus.
A classic Cologne dish of mashed potatoes and apple sauce, usually served with black pudding and fried onions. The sweet-savory combination is strongly associated with Rhineland home cooking.
Despite the name, this is not chicken but a rye bread roll with aged Gouda, butter, mustard, and onions. It is a beloved Kölsch beer snack in traditional Cologne pubs.
An established fine-dining restaurant in central Cologne offering refined modern European cuisine, polished service, and an elegant hotel dining room.
A well-known casual restaurant loved for schnitzel and hearty German comfort food. It has a relaxed, local feel and a strong reputation among visitors and residents.
One of Cologne’s most famous brauhäuser near the cathedral, known for Kölsch and classic Rhineland dishes in a lively traditional atmosphere.
Moderate by German standards. Museums and transit are reasonable, while hotels and central dining cost more.
Service is usually included. Round up small bills; tip about 5-10% in restaurants for good service. Add EUR 1-2 for taxis, and round up in cafés if table service is provided.
Official public transport app
Köln ZOB, Cologne -> Köln Hauptbahnhof, Cologne
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Budapest 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.

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need