- Recommended
Kurpfälzisches Museum
Heidelberg’s main city museum with archaeology, paintings, decorative arts, and regional history in a historic palace on Hauptstraße.
Cheapest price
$23
Average price
$27
Fastest journey
3 h 30 m
Average duration
3 h 51 m
Buses per day
9
Distance
210 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Cologne to Heidelberg is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Cologne to Heidelberg will cost around $27 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $23.
Of the 9 buses that leave Cologne for Heidelberg on Sat, Jun 20, 6 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 210 km distance in an average of 3 h 51 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 3 h 30 m .
On Sat, Jun 20 the slowest buses will take 4 h 25 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
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FlixBus
FlixBusOmio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Heidelberg among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $16. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 2h 34m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.2kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $16, and a flight costs an average of $527.
Distance: 130 miles (210 km)
| Bus | Most popular Train | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$24 Average price Cheapest | $59 Average price | $527 Average price | $46 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 47m Average total duration 3h 17m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 4m Average total duration Fastest 2h 34m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 20m Average total duration 3h 20m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 2h 44m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.2 - 0.5kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions Lowest | - CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
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 Cologne to Heidelberg:
A bus is $35 (€29) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Heidelberg costing on average $59 (€48).
A bus is $503 (€412) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Heidelberg costing on average $527 (€432).
Other travel options to Heidelberg take longer:
Bus takes on average 3h 17m.
Flight takes on average 3h 20m.
Tickets start at around $24 (€20) compared to roughly $46 (€38) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $22 (€18). The journey takes 3h 17m versus 2h 44m 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 02:20AM | Arrival Time 07:15AM | Duration 4h55 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:40AM | Arrival Time 06:20AM | Duration 2h40 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:50AM | Arrival Time 09:50AM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:50AM | Arrival Time 07:50AM | Duration 3h00 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:00AM | Arrival Time 08:30AM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:00AM | Arrival Time 10:30AM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:15AM | Arrival Time 01:00PM | Duration 4h45 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $18 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:50AM | Arrival Time 11:30AM | Duration 2h40 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:00AM | Arrival Time 12:00PM | Duration 3h00 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $23 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:10AM | Arrival Time 11:40AM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Tue, Wed | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:20AM | Arrival Time 11:50AM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $23 |
Operator BlaBlaCar Bus | Departure Time 09:25AM | Arrival Time 02:50AM | Duration 17h25 | Departure days Mon, Fri | Cheapest price $149 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:30AM | Arrival Time 12:00PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $22 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:40AM | Arrival Time 12:20PM | Duration 2h40 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:00AM | Arrival Time 12:50PM | Duration 2h50 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $22 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:30AM | Arrival Time 12:50PM | Duration 2h20 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:45AM | Arrival Time 03:10PM | Duration 4h25 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $17 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:00AM | Arrival Time 01:20PM | Duration 2h20 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $22 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:50AM | Arrival Time 02:10PM | Duration 2h20 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $26 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:00PM | Arrival Time 02:10PM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $23 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 01:20PM | Arrival Time 03:50PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 01:30PM | Arrival Time 04:10PM | Duration 2h40 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 01:35PM | Arrival Time 05:10PM | Duration 3h35 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $16 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:00PM | Arrival Time 04:30PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:40PM | Arrival Time 06:45PM | Duration 4h05 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $16 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:30PM | Arrival Time 06:10PM | Duration 2h40 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:35PM | Arrival Time 07:15PM | Duration 3h40 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $17 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:40PM | Arrival Time 06:10PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:50PM | Arrival Time 07:20PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:00PM | Arrival Time 08:10PM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Mon, Sun | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:30PM | Arrival Time 09:00PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:35PM | Arrival Time 10:05PM | Duration 3h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $15 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:40PM | Arrival Time 08:50PM | Duration 2h10 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 07:00PM | Arrival Time 09:30PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Wed, Fri | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:10PM | Arrival Time 10:40PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $19 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:15PM | Arrival Time 02:20AM | Duration 5h05 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $41 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:35PM | Arrival Time 04:20AM | Duration 4h45 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $20 |
The table below shows live departures for Cologne to Heidelberg 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 | 8:15 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 4h45 | 1:00 PM Heidelberg, Hauptbahnhof | 0 transfersDirect | |
50457 · 30512 | 9:25 AM Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 17h25 | 2:50 AM Heidelberg, Alte Eppelheimer Straße (Hbf) | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus | 10:45 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 4h25 | 3:10 PM Heidelberg, Hauptbahnhof | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 1:35 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 3h35 | 5:10 PM Heidelberg, Hauptbahnhof | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 2:40 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 4h05 | 6:45 PM Heidelberg, Hauptbahnhof | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 3:35 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 3h40 | 7:15 PM Heidelberg, Hauptbahnhof | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 9:15 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 5h05 | 2:20 AM Heidelberg, Hauptbahnhof | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 11:35 PM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 4h45 | 4:20 AM Heidelberg, Hauptbahnhof | 1 transfer | |
| Saturday, June 20 | |||||
FlixBus · FlixBus | 2:20 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 4h55 | 7:15 AM Heidelberg, Hauptbahnhof | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus · FlixBus | 4:50 AM Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) | 5h00 | 9:50 AM Heidelberg, Hauptbahnhof | 1 transfer | |
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 Cologne to Heidelberg run on average 9 times per day, taking around 3h 17m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $16 (€13) if you book in advance.
There are 8 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:15, the last at 23:35. The fastest bus covers the 130 miles (210 km) distance in 3h 30m.
Distance 130 miles (210 km) |
Average bus duration 3h 17m |
Cheapest ticket price $16 (€13) |
Buses per day 9 |
Direct buses 8 |
Fastest bus 3h 30m |
First bus 12:15 AM |
Last bus 11:35 PM |
Cheapest Month Jul |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Sat |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Best time to book 84 days |
Discover the best of Heidelberg — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Heidelberg trip today.
Heidelberg’s main city museum with archaeology, paintings, decorative arts, and regional history in a historic palace on Hauptstraße.
Specialized museum inside Heidelberg Castle presenting the history of pharmacy, medicine jars, laboratories, and historic remedies.
Modern anatomy museum with plastinated human specimens, focused on health, the body, and medical education.
Heidelberg’s old town is the city’s essential walking area, packed with historic streets, churches, shops, and classic views.
Famous hillside path with sweeping views over Heidelberg, the river, and the castle; especially popular for photos.
One of Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping streets, ideal for strolling through the heart of the old town.
A regional Palatinate specialty near Heidelberg made from pork, potatoes and spices stuffed into a stomach casing, then sliced and pan-fried. It is one of the best-known traditional dishes of the area
Large Swabian stuffed pasta pockets often filled with minced meat, spinach, onions and herbs, commonly served in broth or fried. They are widely eaten in Baden-Württemberg, including Heidelberg
Soft egg noodles typical of southern Germany, often served as a side with gravies or prepared as Käsespätzle with cheese and fried onions. A staple comfort food in the region
Long-established fine dining restaurant in nearby Heidelberg-Handschuhsheim, respected for refined cuisine and formal service in an elegant historic setting
Historic, well-known Old Town restaurant serving hearty regional German dishes in a lively, rustic setting. Popular for schnitzel, sausages and traditional atmosphere
One of Heidelberg’s most famous traditional inns, known for classic German cooking, historic interiors and a long-standing student and visitor following
Moderate by German standards. Student spots are affordable, but central hotels and tourist-area dining cost more.
Service is usually included. Round up for cafés and taxis; in restaurants, 5-10% is customary for good service. Tip in cash or tell the server the total amount when paying.
Official public transport app
Heidelberg, Alte Eppelheimer Straße (Hbf) -> Bismarckplatz, Heidelberg
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Cologne to Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

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