How to travel from Amsterdam to Cologne
Travel optionsfrom Amsterdam to Cologne
You can get from Amsterdam to Cologne by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
To get from Amsterdam to Cologne on Dec 01 we recommend taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
Cheapest
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Travel Information from Amsterdam to Cologne
 | Distance | 133 miles (214 km) |
 | Available travel modes | Bus, ferry, flight or train |
 | Ticket price range | $54 - $77 |
 | Cheapest mode | Bus • $54 (€49) • 3 h 30 min |
 | Fastest mode | Train • $77 (€70) • 2 h 35 min |
 | Popular travel companies | Flixbus or Deutsche Bahn |
Travel 133 miles (214 km) by bus, ferry, flight or train to Cologne from Amsterdam. If speed is a priority, then a train is the best option with an average duration of 2 h 35 min; whereas, if saving money is more important, then a bus is the best option with prices starting as low as $54 (€49). The most popular travel companies which serve this route are Flixbus or Deutsche Bahn among others. Travelers can even take a direct bus or train from Amsterdam to Cologne.
Travel from Amsterdam to Cologne: Journey Details
People traveling from Amsterdam to Cologne can take a bus, catch a Deutsche Bahn train or take a quick flight straight to Cologne. The fastest way to travel is probably flying, although taking a train can get you there in just 4 hours, and buses aren't that much slower, while car pooling services from Bla Bla Car can be quicker still.
Return trips from Cologne to Amsterdam are also available.
How to get from Amsterdam to Cologne
The Best Way According to our Users
Buses from Amsterdam to Cologne
Eurolines, Megabus, Semitimes and Regiojet all provide daily direct buses from Amsterdam to Cologne. Every day, there are 4 direct buses, and all of them leave in early afternoon between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The fastest buses take 5 hours 15 minutes, while some services take 7 hours, so there is quite a lot of variation. There are also indirect Flixbus buses that take 4 hours to reach Cologne with a stop in Leverkusen.
Trains from Amsterdam to Cologne
Deutsche Bahn operates frequent trains from Amsterdam to Cologne. Trains start departing as early as 5:20 a.m. and continue to leave almost every hour until a final departure at 8:30 p.m. There are no direct services to Cologne from Amsterdam and a change in Arnhem is usually required. Even then, the journey time is only around 3 hours with the change included.
Flights from Amsterdam to Cologne
KLM operates direct flights from Amsterdam to Cologne. The earliest flight leaves Amsterdam at 6:50 a.m. and there are four other departures throughout the day, concluding with a 4:50 p.m. take off time. All flights take 50 minutes to reach their destination, but when transit times are factored in, this can rise to around 4 hours, door to door.
Travel Tips: Travel from Amsterdam to Cologne
Travel between Amsterdam, Netherlands and Cologne, Germany is: Unrestricted.
Can travelers from Netherlands enter Germany?
International entry is allowed at this time for: Entry is unrestricted for citizens and permanent residents of Netherlands.
Are there rules for self-quarantine when arriving to Cologne from Amsterdam?
Conditions of entry into Germany:
- There are no current restrictions
Are there COVID-19 safety rules for social distancing and wearing face masks in Cologne, Germany?
To reduce the spread of COVID-19, the government of Germany has imposed the following measures:
- Physical distance requirement: 1.5 metre (s) (5 feet)
- Face mask requirement: Mandatory
This information was last checked on 11/6/22. As this information can change due to the nature of the pandemic, make sure to review the latest COVID-19 travel safety regulations for your journey from Amsterdam to Cologne.
The restriction level for your return to Amsterdam, Netherlands from Germany is: Unrestricted.
Is my journey back to Amsterdam from Cologne restricted?
Entry into Netherlands is currently allowed for: Entry is unrestricted for citizens and permanent residents of Germany.
Do I need to self-quarantine upon arrival in Amsterdam from Cologne?
Conditions of reentry into Netherlands:
- There are no current restrictions
What are the coronavirus safety measures I need to follow in Amsterdam, Netherlands?
You should observe these safety measures in Netherlands as imposed by the government to reduce the spread of COVID-19:
- Physical distance requirement: 1.5 metre (s) (5 feet)
- Face mask requirement: Recommended
This information about your return travel to Netherlands was last checked on 11/17/22. We advise you to check the latest COVID-19 travel safety regulations for your trip back to Amsterdam from Cologne closer to your date of departure here.
There are 4 ways to travel from Amsterdam to Cologne including taking a bus, ferry, flight or train.
The cheapest way to go to Cologne from Amsterdam is by taking a bus, which costs on average $54 (€49).
This is compared to other ways of getting to Cologne:
Taking a bus is usually $10 (€9) less than taking a flight to Cologne, which costs on average $64 (€58) for the same trip.
Taking a bus is usually $23 (€21) less than taking a train to Cologne, which costs on average $77 (€70) for the same trip.
The quickest way to travel to Cologne from Amsterdam is by train, which takes on average 2 h 35 min compared to other travel options that may take you longer to get to your destination:
In comparison, traveling by bus can take you on average 3 h 30 min.
In comparison, traveling by flight can take you on average 5 h 20 min.
The Amsterdam to Cologne distance is around 133 miles (214 km).
The average frequency per day from Amsterdam to Cologne is:
- 5 trains a day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your journey to Cologne from Amsterdam as scheduled services by bus, ferry, flight or train can vary by season or day of the week.
These are the most popular departure and arrival points when traveling from Amsterdam to Cologne:
- Most travelers board their bus from Amsterdam, Radarweg (Sloterdijk) and arrive in Köln, Köln Bonn Airport (Fernbusbahnhof).
- Most travelers board their plane from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and arrive in Cologne/Bonn Airport.
- Most travelers catch their train from Amsterdam Centraal and arrive in Köln Hbf.
Omio works with many trusted partners that can help you travel the best way from Amsterdam to Cologne:
- You can travel by bus to Cologne from Amsterdam with Flixbus, and you can find Flixbus Amsterdam to Cologne tickets for $54 (€49) on Omio.
- You can travel by train from Amsterdam to Cologne with Deutsche Bahn, and you can find Deutsche Bahn Amsterdam to Cologne tickets for $77 (€70) on Omio.
Yes, there are direct routes from Amsterdam to Cologne with the following travel companies:
- You can find 3 direct trains per day to Cologne with Deutsche Bahn.
Direct services to Cologne tend to save you time and add more convenience as you won't need to transfer at another stop in between, so it's worth paying attention to before booking tickets for your route.
Before traveling from Amsterdam to Cologne, it’s good to know what ticket you can purchase and how much it will cost in the next 7 days:
- A bus ticket for this route is costing $54 (€49) one way on average.
- A plane ticket for this journey costs on average $64 (€58) one way.
- A train ticket for this trip costs on average $77 (€70) one way.
But we recommend booking Amsterdam to Cologne tickets online a few months before your planned travel date to score the best deals and save money on your trip.
Travelling from Amsterdam to Cologne: related information
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