4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train and bus for Cologne to Frankfurt am Main
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $19 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 1h 44m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.0 - 0.1kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $19, while a flight costs an average of $695.
Distance: 95 miles (153 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$49 Average price | $19 Average price Cheapest | $695 Average price | $33 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 44m Average total duration Fastest 1h 14m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 13m Average total duration 2h 43m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 5m Average total duration 2h 5m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 2h 9m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.2 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions | - 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 Frankfurt am Main:
A bus is $31 (€26) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main costing on average $49 (€41).
A bus is $677 (€571) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main costing on average $695 (€586).
Other travel options to Frankfurt am Main take longer:
Bus takes on average 3h 13m.
Flight takes on average 4h 5m.
You'll arrive about 55m sooner (1h 14m by train vs 2h 9m by car). Tickets start at around $49 (€41) compared to roughly $33 (€28) in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
Travel optionsfrom Cologne to Frankfurt am Main
How to get from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
(Amsterdam -> Prague)7:40 PM2h50Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)10:30 PMFrankfurt, Stuttgarter Straße (Fermomnibusbahnhof)$121One-way0 transfers
Cheapest
- (Amsterdam -> Prague)7:40 PM2h50Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)10:30 PMFrankfurt, Stuttgarter Straße (Fermomnibusbahnhof)$121One-way0 transfers
Fastest
- ICE 9159:34 AM0h45Cologne Messe/Deutz10:19 AMFrankfurt Airport long-distance station$951One-way0 transfers
Other options
- ICE 10217:53 PM2h06Cologne Hbf9:59 PMFrankfurt Airport long-distance station$481One-way0 transfers
- ICE 10217:53 PM2h20Cologne Hbf10:13 PMFrankfurt (Main) Hbf$481One-way0 transfers
- ICE 235:53 AM2h06Cologne Hbf7:59 AMFrankfurt Airport long-distance station$531One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus9:00 PM2h25Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)11:25 PMFrankfurt am Main, Flughafen Frankfurt (Terminal 1 - Busparkplatz P36)$211One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus10:45 AM2h50Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)1:35 PMFrankfurt am Main, Flughafen Frankfurt (Terminal 1 - Busparkplatz P36)$211One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus8:35 AM2h00Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)10:35 AMFrankfurt am Main, Flughafen Frankfurt (Terminal 1 - Busparkplatz P36)$211One-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 and bus 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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How to Travel from Cologne to Frankfurt?
Trains and buses are the most popular means of transportation between Cologne and Frankfurt. A number of service providers operate daily connections between the two cities, and it takes an average of 1 hour 30 minutes to cover the journey by train, or 3 hours by a direct bus.
What is the Cheapest Way To Get from Cologne to Frankfurt?
The cheapest way to travel from Cologne to Frankfurt is by bus. Several operators such as Karat-S, FlixBus and Blablacar offer coach services along this route, with most running direct connections between the two destinations. Out of the 20 connections made daily, 16 are provided by FlixBus, 3 by Blablacar and 1 by Karat-S. It takes about three hours to cover the journey. The three main departure points for buses leaving Cologne for Frankfurt are Cologne Central Bus Station, Cologne Bonn Airport and Breslauer Platz. Most bus connections arriving in Frankfurt arrive into the Frankfurt Central Station.
What is the Fastest Way to Travel from Cologne to Frankfurt?
A train ride provides the quickest option to travel from Cologne to Frankfurt, with the journey lasting an average of 1 hour 30 minutes, although some trips take less time, about one hour. Deutsche Bahn (DB) is the main train operator along this route. Cologne Central Station is the main departure point for trains leaving Cologne, and Frankfurt Central Station is the main arrival station. On average, 33 trains leave Cologne for Frankfurt every day, with a departure scheduled once every 35 minutes.
Find and Book with Omio the Best Tickets from Cologne to Frankfurt
Whether you want to travel from Cologne to Frankfurt via train or bus, the Omio website and app help you to compare and choose the best routes, departure times, and ticket prices for your travel preferences.
Travel from Cologne to Frankfurt by Train
It will take you approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to travel from Cologne to Frankfurt by train. Deutsche Bahn offers all the services on this route, most of which are direct trips. On average, there are 33 trains that travel the Cologne to Frankfurt route daily, with at least one transfer connection per day, mostly via Mainz or Frankfurt Airport. The main departure point for trains leaving Cologne for Frankfurt is Cologne Central Station, while Frankfurt Central Station is the arrival Station. From there, you can easily access the city center via taxi.
Travel from Cologne to Frankfurt by Bus
Coach providers like FlixBus, Blablacar and Karat-S offer reliable transport services between Cologne and Frankfurt, a journey that lasts three hours. There is an average of 20 direct connections per day between the two cities. FlixBus is the most popular service provider, making at least 16 trips daily. Blablacar makes three trips per day, while Karat-S offers at least one trip per day. The main departure point in Cologne is the Cologne Central Bus Station, with Frankfurt Central Station as the arrival point. Passengers can access the city center via taxi or a 20 minute walk on foot.
How to get from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main
The Best Way According to our Users
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FAQs: Travel from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main
Travel to Frankfurt am Main 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 Frankfurt am Main.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main:
A bus is $31 (€26) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main costing on average $49 (€41).
A bus is $677 (€571) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main costing on average $695 (€586).
Other travel options to Frankfurt am Main take longer:
Bus takes on average 3h 13m.
Flight takes on average 4h 5m.
- Around 58 trains per day.
- Around 26 buses per day.
- Around 1 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cologne and Frankfurt am Main as scheduled services by train and bus can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Cologne Bonn Airport and arrive in Frankfurt am Main Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Cologne Hbf and arrive in Frankfurt (Main) Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) and arrive in Frankfurt, Stuttgarter Straße (Fermomnibusbahnhof).
- Travel with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, Infobus to go to Frankfurt am Main by bus.
- Travel with Lufthansa, Air Baltic, Eurowings to go to Frankfurt am Main by flight.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, Hessische Landesbahn, VIAS Rail GmbH to go to Frankfurt am Main by train.
- 25 direct buses per day with FlixBus, Infobus.
- 48 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn.
Travelling from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main: related information
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