- Must visit
Museum Ludwig
Major modern and contemporary art museum beside the cathedral, known for Pop Art, Picasso works, and a strong international collection.
Cheapest price
$22
Average price
$67
Fastest journey
49 m
Average duration
53 m
Trains per day
50
Distance
151 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne Hbf 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 Hbf will cost around $67 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $22.
Of the 50 trains that leave Frankfurt am Main Airport for Cologne Hbf on Thu, Jun 18, 33 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Thu, Jun 18 the direct trains cover the 151 km distance in an average of 53 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 49 m .
On Thu, Jun 18 the slowest trains will take 54 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 920
IC 60402
ICE 1022
ICE 616
ICE 618
ICE 910
ICE 18
ICE 104
ICE 102
ICE 200Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne Hbf 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 38m. 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)
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$42 Average price | $19 Average price Cheapest | $29 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
2h 8m Average total duration Fastest 1h 38m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 34m Average total duration 2h 4m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 56m 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 Hbf:
A bus is $23 (€19) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne Hbf costing on average $42 (€34).
Other travel options to Cologne Hbf take longer:
Bus takes on average 2h 4m.
You'll arrive about 18m sooner (1h 38m by train vs 1h 56m by car). Tickets start at around $42 (€34) compared to roughly $29 (€24) 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).
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.
The table below shows live departures for Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne Hbf trains for today, Wednesday, June 17. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICE 614 | Delayed 7:30 AM 9:10 AMFrankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h55 | 8:23 AM 8:23 AMCologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 820 · S6 | Delayed 7:24 AM 9:22 AMFrankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h01 | 10:23 AM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 1012 · S19 | Delayed 7:45 AM 9:41 AMFrankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h58 | 10:39 AM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 128 | Delayed 7:48 AM 9:46 AMFrankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h57 | 10:43 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 1020 | On time 9:59 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h06 | 12:05 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 1010 · S19 | On time 11:41 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h58 | 12:39 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 126 | On time 11:46 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h57 | 12:43 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 926 | On time 11:59 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h06 | 2:05 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 724 · S6 | On time 12:22 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h01 | 1:23 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 918 · S19 | On time 1:41 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h58 | 2:39 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 124 | On time 1:48 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h55 | 2:43 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 228 | On time 1:59 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h07 | 4:06 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 108 | On time 2:11 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h54 | 3:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 720 · S6 | On time 2:22 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h01 | 3:23 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 916 · S19 | On time 3:41 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h58 | 4:39 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 122 | On time 3:48 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h55 | 4:43 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 28 | 3:59 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h07 | 6:06 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 106 | On time 4:11 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h54 | 5:05 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 626 · S6 | On time 4:22 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h01 | 5:23 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 224 | On time 5:48 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h55 | 6:43 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 118 · S6 | On time 5:53 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h10 | 7:03 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 26 | 5:59 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h07 | 8:06 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 · S6 | On time 6:22 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h01 | 7:23 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 912 · S19 | On time 7:41 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h58 | 8:39 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 120 | On time 7:48 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h55 | 8:43 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 24 | 7:59 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h06 | 10:05 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 · S6 | On time 8:22 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h01 | 9:23 PM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 318 | On time 8:29 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h10 | 9:39 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 910 | On time 9:41 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h49 | 10:30 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 22 | On time 9:59 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h07 | 12:06 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 100 | On time 10:11 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h59 | 11:10 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 524 | On time 10:22 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h17 | 11:39 PM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 510 | On time 11:11 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h59 | 12:10 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 522 | On time 11:25 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h06 | 12:31 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 920 | On time 11:40 PM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h25 | 2:05 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Thursday, June 18 | |||||
ICE 618 | 4:59 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h05 | 6:04 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 222 | On time 5:47 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h56 | 6:43 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 826 · 10604 | On time 5:56 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h26 | 7:22 AM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 18 | On time 6:48 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h52 | 7:40 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 · S6 | On time 7:22 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 1h01 | 8:23 AM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 1014 · S19 | On time 7:41 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h58 | 8:39 AM Cologne Hbf | 1 transfer | |
ICE 220 | On time 7:46 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h57 | 8:43 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
ICE 1022 | On time 7:59 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 2h07 | 10:06 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 614 | On time 9:10 AM Frankfurt Airport long-distance station | 0h55 | 10:05 AM Cologne Hbf | 0 transfersDirect | |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
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.
Trains from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne Hbf run on average 23 times per day, taking around 1h 38m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $12 (€10) but you can travel from only $11 (€9) by bus.
There are 14 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 49m.
Distance 93 miles (151 km) |
Average train duration 1h 38m |
Cheapest ticket price $12 (€10) |
Trains per day 23 |
Direct trains 14 |
Fastest train 49m |
First train 2:59 AM |
Last train 10:40 PM |
Cheapest Month Nov |
Cheapest Day Sun |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Mon |
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 Pop Art, Picasso works, and a strong international collection.
Cologne’s key archaeological museum for Roman heritage, famous for mosaics and finds from the city’s ancient past. Parts of the collection may be presented in temporary locations during building works
Leading fine arts museum with important medieval, Baroque, and 19th-century paintings, offering one of Cologne’s strongest classic art collections.
Revitalized waterfront district with striking modern architecture, promenades, and photogenic Rhine views, popular on social media.
Wide riverside steps and promenade on the right bank, famous for postcard views back toward the cathedral skyline.
Historic Old Town square lined with traditional facades and lively public life, ideal for absorbing the classic Cologne atmosphere.
The city’s signature top-fermented beer, traditionally served in small cylindrical glasses. It is central to Cologne’s brewing culture and best enjoyed in a classic brauhaus.
A classic Cologne snack of rye roll, Gouda cheese, mustard, onions, and pickles. Despite the name, it contains no chicken and is a staple in local beer halls.
A traditional Rhineland dish of mashed potatoes and apple sauce, often served with black pudding and fried onions. The name means 'Heaven and Earth.'
Established traditional brewery restaurant in the old town, popular for authentic Cologne specialties, Kölsch, and rustic historic atmosphere.
Well-known central brauhaus serving Sion Kölsch and dependable local dishes. A solid choice for visitors wanting a classic Cologne beer hall experience.
A long-established restaurant by the Rhine, especially known for pork knuckle and hearty German fare in a traditional, tourist-friendly setting.
Moderate by German standards. Budget eats are easy to find, but hotels and central dining cost more.
Service is usually included, but rounding up is standard. In restaurants, add about 5-10% for good service. Round up taxis. Small tips are optional in cafes and bars.
Official public transport app
Köln Hbf, Köln -> Köln Dom, Köln
The train connection between Frankfurt am Main Airport and Köln Hbf is efficient and convenient, making it easy for travelers to journey between these two cities. Operated by Deutsche Bahn, the trains offer a comfortable ride with frequent departures throughout the day. The travel time typically ranges from 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes, allowing you to enjoy scenic views of the German countryside along the way.
The train connection from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Köln Hbf takes approximately 57 minutes, with a travel time of around 45 minutes on the fastest services. There are up to 3 direct connections available each day, making it convenient for travelers looking to reach Cologne quickly and efficiently.
The first daily train journey from Frankfurt am Main Airport departs at 05:58, providing an early start for travelers heading to Köln. The last departure of the day is scheduled for 21:40, allowing late-night arrivals into the vibrant city of Köln.
The cheapest ticket price for the train connection from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Köln Hbf is €27. The average ticket price typically hovers around €58, making it a convenient option for travelers looking to explore these vibrant German cities.
Welcome to Cologne, where history and culture intertwine beautifully! Our first stop is the magnificent Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), a UNESCO World Heritage site that took over 600 years to complete. This stunning Gothic masterpiece not only serves as a symbol of faith but also showcases intricate architecture with its towering spires and breathtaking stained glass windows.
Next, we’ll stroll across the iconic Hohenzollern Bridge (Hohenzollernbrücke), renowned for its vibrant love locks that adorn the railings. Spanning the Rhine River, this bridge connects both sides of the city while offering spectacular views of the cathedral and surrounding landscape—making it an essential photo opportunity for every visitor. Its historical significance lies in being one of Germany's busiest railway bridges since it opened in 1859.
Finally, we'll visit Museum Ludwig, home to one of Europe’s most impressive collections of modern art. Featuring works by Picasso and Warhol among others, this museum stands out not just for its extensive contemporary collection but also for its innovative exhibitions that challenge traditional perspectives on art. As you explore these galleries filled with creativity and inspiration, you'll discover why Museum Ludwig is considered a cultural gem within Cologne's vibrant arts scene.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Frankfurt am Main Airport to Cologne Hbf 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 Hbf, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

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