4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for Cologne to Dresden
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Dresden among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $46 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 4h 10m. 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 $46, while a flight costs an average of $528.
Distance: 295 miles (475 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$110 Average price | $46 Average price Cheapest | $528 Average price | $102 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 49m Average total duration 6h 19m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 9h 58m Average total duration 9h 28m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 10m Average total duration Fastest 2h 10m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 6h 12m 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 Dresden:
A bus is $64 (€54) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Dresden costing on average $110 (€92).
A bus is $483 (€405) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Dresden costing on average $528 (€444).
Other travel options to Dresden take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 49m.
Bus takes on average 9h 58m.
Tickets start at around $110 (€92) compared to roughly $102 (€86) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $-7.61 (€-6.39). The journey takes 6h 19m versus 6h 12m 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 Dresden
How to get from Cologne to Dresden by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cologne to Dresden is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- ICE 1541 · RJX 25111:27 PM8h40Cologne Hbf8:07 AMDresden Hbf$81One-way1 transfer
Cheapest
- ICE 1541 · RJX 25111:27 PM8h40Cologne Hbf8:07 AMDresden Hbf$81One-way1 transfer
Fastest
EW90226:25 PM1h05Dusseldorf Airport7:30 PMDresden Airport$3801One-way0 transfers
Other options
- ICE 619 · ICE 698 · IC 244911:55 PM8h43Cologne Hbf8:38 AMDresden Hbf$211One-way2 transfers
- IC 60403 · ICE 698 · IC 244911:53 PM8h45Cologne Hbf8:38 AMDresden Hbf$291One-way2 transfers
- ICE 823 · ICE 590 · 165018:34 PM9h00Cologne Messe/Deutz5:34 AMDresden Hbf$331One-way2 transfers
- FlixBus9:20 AM9h45Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)7:05 PMDresden, Bayrische Straße (Hauptbahnhof)$561One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus10:10 PM10h00Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)8:10 AMDresden, Bayrische Straße (Hauptbahnhof)$571One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus · FlixBus2:20 AM10h00Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)12:20 PMDresden, Bayrische Straße (Hauptbahnhof)$791One-way1 transfer
- LH2128+LH53563:20 PM3h55Cologne Bonn Airport7:15 PMDresden Airport$5811One-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 Dresden
Travel to Dresden 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 Dresden.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Dresden:
A bus is $64 (€54) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Dresden costing on average $110 (€92).
A bus is $483 (€405) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Dresden costing on average $528 (€444).
Other travel options to Dresden take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 49m.
Bus takes on average 9h 58m.
- Around 9 trains per day.
- Around 3 buses per day.
- Around 2 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cologne and Dresden as scheduled services by bus, train, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Cologne Bonn Airport and arrive in Dresden Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Cologne Hbf and arrive in Dresden Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) and arrive in Dresden, Bayrische Straße (Hauptbahnhof).
- Travel with FlixBus to go to Dresden by bus.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain to go to Dresden by train.
- Travel with Lufthansa Cityline, Lufthansa, Air Baltic, Eurowings, Lufthansa City Airlines to go to Dresden by flight.
- 1 direct trains per day with FlixTrain.
- 2 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
Travelling from Cologne to Dresden: related information
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