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Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Cologne to Berlin
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Berlin among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $39 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 3h 45m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.4kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $39, while a flight costs an average of $353.
Distance: 297 miles (479 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$81 Average price | $39 Average price Cheapest | $353 Average price | $103 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 38m Average total duration 5h 8m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 10h 3m Average total duration 9h 33m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 45m Average total duration Fastest 1h 45m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 6h 38m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.5 - 1.2kg CO2 emissions | 1.4 - 2.9kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus 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 Cologne to Berlin:
A bus is $42 (€35) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Berlin costing on average $81 (€68).
A bus is $314 (€264) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Berlin costing on average $353 (€296).
Other travel options to Berlin take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 38m.
Bus takes on average 10h 3m.
The journey is about 1h 30m faster (5h 8m by train vs 6h 38m by car) and roughly $23 (€19) cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls ($81 (€68) vs $103 (€87)). You'll also arrive in the city centre rather than hunting for parking, and you can work, read, or watch the landscape go by instead of concentrating on the road.
Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way or need a car once you arrive.
Travel optionsfrom Cologne to Berlin
How to get from Cologne to Berlin by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cologne to Berlin is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
FlixTrain4:14 PM6h04Cologne Hbf10:18 PMBerlin-Wannsee station$351One-way0 transfers
Cheapest
- FlixTrain4:14 PM6h04Cologne Hbf10:18 PMBerlin-Wannsee station$351One-way0 transfers
Fastest
- EW80554:15 PM1h10Cologne Bonn Airport5:25 PMBerlin Brandenburg Airport$2531One-way0 transfers
Other options
- FlixTrain4:14 PM6h26Cologne Hbf10:40 PMBerlin Hbf$351One-way0 transfers
- FlixTrain4:14 PM6h35Cologne Hbf10:49 PMBerlin Südkreuz station$351One-way0 transfers
- FlixTrain12:14 PM6h05Cologne Hbf6:19 PMBerlin-Wannsee station$361One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus8:50 AM8h10Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)5:00 PMBerlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB)$431One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus8:50 AM8h45Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)5:35 PMBerlin, Bahnhof Südkreuz$431One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus4:05 PM10h50Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)2:55 AMBerlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB)$501One-way0 transfers
- EW80531:15 PM1h10Cologne Bonn Airport2:25 PMBerlin Brandenburg Airport$2531One-way0 transfers
- EW80578:15 PM1h10Cologne Bonn Airport9:25 PMBerlin Brandenburg Airport$2901One-way0 transfers
- EW85:35 PM1h10Cologne Bonn Airport6:45 PMBerlin Brandenburg Airport$3521One-way0 transfers
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
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.
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The Journey from Cologne to Berlin
Traveling from Cologne to Berlin across Germany can all be conveniently done by train, plane, or bus, depending on budget and available time. A direct route between the two cities measures 480 kilometers, and takes around an hour by plane. Journeys by rail and road will take around four and eight hours respectively. The quickest routes of both go north-west via Dortmund and Hanover on the way to Berlin.
Buses from Cologne to Berlin
Buses leave Leverkusen-Mitte bus station in Cologne more than a dozen times per day for the capital, and with several providers offering services, prices are competitive and usually lower than going by plane or train. Journey times traveling from Cologne direct to Berlin are around eight hours, with the final stop in Berlin city center dependent on the provider.
Trains from Cologne to Berlin
Traveling from Cologne to Berlin on Germany’s regional train service or Intercity Express (ICE) usually takes around four hours and 20 minutes from Cologne's central station to Berlin Hauptbanhof, and there are trains departing at least every hour until mid-evening.
Flights from Cologne to Berlin
Traveling from Cologne to Berlin offers the shortest journey time and most direct route, with several providers offering flights several times per day. Flights take just over an hour from Cologne Bonn Airport to both Berlin Tegel and Berlin Schönefeld airports and just a short onward journey to the city's center. Flight prices are commonly higher when booking at short notice, but flights can be found with budget airlines such as Ryanair and Eurowings going to both Berlin airports that compete with or even beat the cost of many rail and bus tickets.
How to get from Cologne to Berlin
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FAQs: Travel from Cologne to Berlin
Travel to Berlin easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Cologne to Berlin.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Berlin:
A bus is $42 (€35) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Berlin costing on average $81 (€68).
A bus is $314 (€264) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Berlin costing on average $353 (€296).
Other travel options to Berlin take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 38m.
Bus takes on average 10h 3m.
- Around 27 trains per day.
- Around 7 buses per day.
- Around 6 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cologne and Berlin as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Cologne Bonn Airport and arrive in Berlin Brandenburg Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Cologne Hbf and arrive in Berlin Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) and arrive in Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB).
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain to go to Berlin by train.
- Travel with Eurowings, Smartwings, Avion Express Malta, Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cityline, CitizenPlane, Air Baltic, British Airways, Lufthansa City Airlines, Air Dolomiti to go to Berlin by flight.
- Travel with FlixBus to go to Berlin by bus.
- 18 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain.
- 3 direct flights per day with Eurowings, Smartwings, Avion Express Malta, CitizenPlane.
- 7 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
Travelling from Cologne to Berlin: related information
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