4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Cologne to Budapest
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Budapest among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $93 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 4h 40m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.3 - 0.9kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $93, while a flight costs an average of $476.
Distance: 594 miles (956 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Flight | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$178 Average price | $476 Average price | $93 Average price Cheapest | $38 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
12h 15m Average total duration 11h 45m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 40m Average total duration Fastest 2h 40m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 17h 41m Average total duration 17h 11m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 11h 43m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.3 - 0.9kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 2.9 - 5.7kg CO2 emissions | 1.0 - 2.4kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular airline |  Most popular bus company | 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 Budapest:
A bus is $86 (€72) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Budapest costing on average $178 (€149).
A bus is $384 (€322) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Budapest costing on average $476 (€399).
Other travel options to Budapest take longer:
Train takes on average 12h 15m.
Bus takes on average 17h 41m.
Tickets start at around $178 (€149) compared to roughly $38 (€32) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about -$140 (-€117). The journey takes 11h 45m versus 11h 43m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.
Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.
Travel optionsfrom Cologne to Budapest
How to get from Cologne to Budapest by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cologne to Budapest is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- IC 60403 · ICE 699 · ICE 1211 · RJX 1997512:06 AM15h18Cologne Hbf3:24 PMBudapest-Deli$461One-way5 transfers
Cheapest
- IC 60403 · ICE 699 · ICE 1211 · RJX 1997512:06 AM15h18Cologne Hbf3:24 PMBudapest-Deli$461One-way5 transfers
Fastest
OS8914+
OS6317:00 AM3h35Cologne Bonn Airport10:35 AMBudapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport$9311One-way1 transfer
Other options
- IC 60403 · ICE 699 · ICE 1211 · RJX 1997512:06 AM15h29Cologne Hbf3:35 PMBudapest Keleti$461One-way4 transfers
- ICE 511 · RJX 65 · IC 8435:48 AM12h36Cologne Hbf6:24 PMBudapest-Deli$671One-way2 transfers
- ICE 511 · RJX 655:48 AM12h41Cologne Hbf6:29 PMBudapest Keleti$671One-way1 transfer
- FlixBus1:50 PM15h20Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)5:10 AMBudapest, Népliget Autóbusz-Pályaudvar$941One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus1:50 PM18h50Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)8:40 AMBudapest, Keleti Vasútállomás (Kerepesi út)$961One-way2 transfers
FlixTrain+FlixBus · FlixBus12:14 PM22h36Cologne Hbf10:50 AMBudapest, Liszt Ferenc Nemzetközi Repülőtér$971One-way2 transfers
- LH1985 · LH16827:35 PM3h55Cologne Bonn Airport11:30 PMBudapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport$4841One-way1 transfer
- LH1983 · LH16826:25 PM5h05Cologne Bonn Airport11:30 PMBudapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport$4841One-way1 transfer
- LH1977 · LH16781:05 PM3h45Cologne Bonn Airport4:50 PMBudapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport$5671One-way1 transfer
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
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FAQs: Travel from Cologne to Budapest
Travel to Budapest 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 Budapest.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Budapest:
A bus is $86 (€72) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Budapest costing on average $178 (€149).
A bus is $384 (€322) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Budapest costing on average $476 (€399).
Other travel options to Budapest take longer:
Train takes on average 12h 15m.
Bus takes on average 17h 41m.
- Around 19 buses per day.
- Around 11 trains per day.
- Around 8 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cologne and Budapest 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 Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Cologne Hbf and arrive in Budapest Keleti.
- Buses mostly depart from Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) and arrive in Budapest, Népliget Autóbusz-Pályaudvar.
- Travel with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus to go to Budapest by bus.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB | ICE, ÖBB | Nightjet, ÖBB, ÖBB | Euro City (EC), EuroNight, ÖBB | InterCity, ÖBB | Railjet to go to Budapest by train.
- Travel with Eurowings, Lufthansa, Smartwings, Lufthansa Cityline, Swiss, Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines, Air Baltic, Turkish Airlines, Helvetic Airways, British Airways, Egypt Air, Ryanair, Edelweiss Air to go to Budapest by flight.
- 2 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
- 0 direct flights per day with Smartwings.
Travelling from Cologne to Budapest: related information
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