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Travel Information
Compare bus and train for Cologne to Erfurt
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Erfurt among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $42 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 4h 52m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.3kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $42, while a train costs an average of $109.
Distance: 177 miles (286 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$109 Average price | $42 Average price Cheapest | $65 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
4h 52m Average total duration Fastest 4h 22m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 49m Average total duration 5h 19m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 15m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.3 - 0.7kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Compare ways to travel from Cologne to Erfurt
Compare the available ways to get from Cologne to Erfurt, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Erfurt:
A bus is $68 (€57) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Erfurt costing on average $109 (€91).
Other travel options to Erfurt take longer:
Bus takes on average 5h 49m.
Tickets start at around $109 (€91) compared to roughly $65 (€54) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about -$43 (-€36). The journey takes 4h 22m versus 4h 15m 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 Erfurt
How to get from Cologne to Erfurt by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cologne to Erfurt is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- FlixBus · FlixBus2:20 AM6h50Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)9:10 AMErfurt, Busbahnhof 2$471One-way1 transfer
Cheapest
- FlixBus · FlixBus2:20 AM6h50Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)9:10 AMErfurt, Busbahnhof 2$471One-way1 transfer
Fastest
- ICE 529 · ICE 6928:49 AM3h38Cologne Messe/Deutz12:27 PMErfurt Hbf$1561One-way1 transfer
Other options
- FlixBus+
FlixTrain1:35 PM6h32Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)8:07 PMErfurt Hbf$761One-way1 transfer - ICE 119 · ICE 25 · 4609 · ICE 5088:58 AM4h25Cologne Messe/Deutz1:23 PMErfurt Hbf$1601One-way3 transfers
- ICE 103 · ICE 25 · 4609 · ICE 5088:54 AM4h29Cologne Hbf1:23 PMErfurt Hbf$1601One-way3 transfers
- FlixBus · FlixBus10:20 PM6h25Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)4:45 AMErfurt, Busbahnhof 2$501One-way1 transfer
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
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FAQs: Travel from Cologne to Erfurt
Travel to Erfurt 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 Erfurt.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Erfurt:
A bus is $68 (€57) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Erfurt costing on average $109 (€91).
Other travel options to Erfurt take longer:
Bus takes on average 5h 49m.
- Around 7 trains per day.
- Around 2 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cologne and Erfurt as scheduled services by bus and train can vary by season or day of the week.
- Trains mostly depart from Cologne Hbf and arrive in Erfurt Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) and arrive in Erfurt, Busbahnhof 2.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain to go to Erfurt by train.
- Travel with FlixBus to go to Erfurt by bus.
Travelling from Cologne to Erfurt: related information
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