The cheapest and fastest trains from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne
Cheapest price
$19
Average price
$91
Fastest journey
48 m
Average duration
48 m
Trains per day
54
Distance
151 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne will cost around $91 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $19.
Of the 54 trains that leave Frankfurt am Main Airport for Cologne on Mon, May 25, 50 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Mon, May 25 the direct trains cover the 151 km distance in an average of 48 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 48 m .
On Mon, May 25 the slowest trains will take 49 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.
ICE 9109:41 PM2h30Frankfurt Airport long-distance station12:11 AMCologne Hbf$191One-way0 transfers
ICE 8265:56 AM1h18Frankfurt Airport long-distance station7:14 AMCologne Messe/Deutz$251One-way0 transfers
ICE 185:34 AM0h56Frankfurt Airport long-distance station6:30 AMCologne Hbf$251One-way0 transfers
IC 22416:58 AM2h08Frankfurt Airport long-distance station9:06 AMCologne Hbf$371One-way0 transfers
ICE 1554 · IC 23478:59 PM2h20Frankfurt Airport long-distance station11:19 PMCologne Hbf$421One-way1 transfer
ICE 9163:41 PM0h48Frankfurt Airport long-distance station4:29 PMCologne Messe/Deutz$1041One-way0 transfers
ICE 101011:41 AM0h48Frankfurt Airport long-distance station12:29 PMCologne Messe/Deutz$1041One-way0 transfers
ICE 9127:41 PM0h48Frankfurt Airport long-distance station8:29 PMCologne Messe/Deutz$1041One-way0 transfers
ICE 9181:41 PM0h48Frankfurt Airport long-distance station2:29 PMCologne Messe/Deutz$1041One-way0 transfers
ICE 6283:43 PM0h49Frankfurt Airport long-distance station4:32 PMCologne Messe/Deutz$1041One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare train and bus for Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $11. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 1h 45m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $11, and a train costs an average of $12.
Distance: 93 miles (151 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$39 Average price | $18 Average price Cheapest | $34 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
2h 15m Average total duration Fastest 1h 45m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 22m Average total duration 1h 52m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 52m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne:
A bus is $21 (€17) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne costing on average $39 (€32).
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Bus takes on average 1h 52m.
You'll arrive about 7m sooner (1h 45m by train vs 1h 52m by car). Tickets start at around $39 (€32) compared to roughly $34 (€27) in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Direct services run with Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS).
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
Live departures
Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne train times
The table below shows live departures for Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne trains for today, Sunday, May 24. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICE 522 | Delayed 10:15 PM 11:35 PMFrankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h06 | 11:15 PM 11:15 PMCologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 920 | Delayed 11:40 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h18 | 12:03 AM 12:03 AMCologne Messe/Deutz | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Monday, May 25 | |||||
S8 · IC 60402 | Delayed 2:30 AM Frankfurt am Main Flughafen | 3h14 | 3:44 AM 3:44 AMCologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 618 | 4:59 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h05 | 6:04 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 18 | On time 5:34 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h56 | 6:30 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 826 | On time 5:56 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h18 | 7:14 AM Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 transfersDirect | |
IC 2241 | On time 6:58 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h08 | 9:06 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 616 | On time 7:10 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h55 | 8:05 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 824 | On time 7:22 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h52 | 8:14 AM Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 316 | On time 7:34 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h56 | 8:30 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 220 | On time 7:46 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h57 | 8:43 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 204 | On time 8:11 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h54 | 9:05 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 1612 | On time 8:26 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h06 | 9:32 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 614 | 9:10 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h55 | 10:05 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 16 | On time 9:34 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h56 | 10:30 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 820 | On time 9:40 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h52 | 10:32 AM Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 128 | On time 9:46 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h57 | 10:43 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 1020 | On time 10:09 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h06 | 12:15 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 202 | On time 10:11 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h54 | 11:05 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 314 | On time 11:33 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h57 | 12:30 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 1010 | On time 11:41 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h48 | 12:29 PM Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 126 | On time 11:46 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h57 | 12:43 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 926 | On time 12:10 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h06 | 2:16 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 200 | On time 12:11 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h54 | 1:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 1518 | On time 12:26 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h07 | 1:33 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 724 | On time 12:41 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h52 | 1:33 PM Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 918 | On time 1:41 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h48 | 2:29 PM Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 124 | On time 1:48 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h55 | 2:43 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
S8 · ICE 1228 | On time 2:00 PM Frankfurt am Main Flughafen | 2h19 | 4:19 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 108 | On time 2:11 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h54 | 3:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 1228 | On time 2:12 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h07 | 4:19 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 1516 | On time 2:26 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h07 | 3:33 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 916 | On time 3:41 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h48 | 4:29 PM Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 628 | On time 3:43 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h49 | 4:32 PM Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 122 | On time 3:48 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h55 | 4:43 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
S8 · ICE 28 | 4:00 PM Frankfurt am Main Flughafen | 2h18 | 6:18 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 106 | On time 4:11 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h54 | 5:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 28 | 4:11 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h07 | 6:18 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 1514 | On time 4:26 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h07 | 5:33 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 624 | On time 5:41 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h52 | 6:33 PM Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 224 | On time 5:48 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h55 | 6:43 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 104 | On time 6:11 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h54 | 7:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 622 | On time 6:22 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h52 | 7:14 PM Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 1512 | On time 6:26 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h07 | 7:33 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 10 | On time 6:48 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h52 | 7:40 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 912 | On time 7:41 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h48 | 8:29 PM Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 120 | On time 7:48 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h55 | 8:43 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 24 | 8:05 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h06 | 10:11 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 102 | On time 8:11 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h54 | 9:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 528 | On time 8:35 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h52 | 9:27 PM Cologne Messe/Deutz | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 1554 · IC 2347 | On time 8:59 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h20 | 11:19 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 512 | On time 9:10 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h55 | 10:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 910 | On time 9:41 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h30 | 12:11 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 1220 | On time 10:17 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h51 | 1:08 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 524 | On time 11:01 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h17 | 12:18 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne by train or bus
Compare train and bus 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.
May 25
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Why should you book Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne trains with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs Deutsche Bahn?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for Deutsche Bahn, but also compare tickets for the likes of Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) or Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) to find the best option for your trip from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare Deutsche Bahn with all available travel options, which are train and bus to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne.
Why book with Omio over Trainline or Wanderu?
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train and bus to find the ideal travel option from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne.
ReviewsReviews for the rail journey from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne

Journey information
Overview: Train from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne
Trains from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne run on average 23 times per day, taking around 1h 45m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $12 (€10) but you can travel from only $11 (€9) by bus.
There are 22 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 02:59, the last at 22:40. The fastest train covers the 93 miles (151 km) distance in 48m.
Distance 93 miles (151 km) |
Average train duration 1h 45m |
Cheapest ticket price $12 (€10) |
Trains per day 23 |
Direct trains 22 |
Fastest train 48m |
First train 2:59 AM |
Last train 10:40 PM |
Cheapest Month Nov |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Train companies: Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne trainsDeutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) trains will get you between Frankfurt am Main Airport and Cologne from $11 (€9). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Deutsche Bahn
A Bordrestaurant (restaurant car) where you can sit and eat.
A Bordbistro (bistro bar) with snacks, hot meals, and drinks to-go.
At-seat service in 1st class: staff will take your order and serve food/drinks directly to your seat.
Regional trains (RE / RB / S-Bahn):
No onboard catering.
You’re welcome to bring your own food and drinks.
Not included by default.
You can add a seat reservation when booking (recommended for busy routes).
Costs around €4.90 per seat (or €5.90 if booked separately later).
First Class:
Yes, always included in the ticket price.
Allowed for free if they can fit in a transport box (max. size: hand luggage).
Must stay in the box for the entire journey.
Large dogs:
Require a separate (paid) ticket — typically half the price of a regular second-class ticket.
Must be leashed and wear a muzzle while on the train.
Cannot sit on seats.
Assistance dogs:
Travel free of charge.
Do not need a muzzle or leash if medically not required.
Allowed to accompany the passenger at all times.
Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
FAQs: Trains from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne by train. 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 train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Cologne, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Popular train stations from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne
- Mon - Fri: 06:00 - 21:00
- Sat - Sun: 07:00 - 21:00
- Free Wi-Fi for 30 minutes only.
- There are luggage lockers in the station.
- asiagourmet
- Coffee Fellows
- dean&david
- Dunkin' Donuts
- KFC
- McDonald's
- Pizza Hut
- Nordsee
- Starbucks
- Schweinske
- & more
- Wheelchair accessible & mobility assistance staff. Contact the Mobility Service Centre at +49 3065212888 or [email protected].
- Wyndham Koeln
- Hilton Cologne
- Excelsior Hotel Ernst
- One near the departure/arrival board and another near the escalators close to Platforms 4 and 5.
- Mon - Fri: 06:00 - 21:00
- Sat - Sun: 07:00 - 21:00
- Free Wi-Fi for 30 minutes only.
- There are luggage lockers in the station.
- asiagourmet
- Coffee Fellows
- dean&david
- Dunkin' Donuts
- KFC
- McDonald's
- Pizza Hut
- Nordsee
- Starbucks
- Schweinske
- & more
- Wheelchair accessible & mobility assistance staff. Contact the Mobility Service Centre at +49 3065212888 or [email protected].
- Wyndham Koeln
- Hilton Cologne
- Excelsior Hotel Ernst
- One near the departure/arrival board and another near the escalators close to Platforms 4 and 5.
- Monday: 06:00 - 19:00
- Tuesday: 07:00 - 19:00
- Wednesday: 07:00 - 19:00
- Thursday: 07:00 - 19:00
- Friday: 07:00 - 20:00
- Saturday: 08:00 - 17:00
- Sunday: 10:00 - 18:00
- Imbiss Athena
- Arena Grill
- Cafe Especial
- Joe Champs
- Pension Helenenwall
- Zur guten Quelle
- Zum Goldenen Hut
- Merlin
Most popular train connections from Frankfurt am Main Airport
More options for your journey from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne
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