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4.6
Travel Information
Compare train and bus for Cologne to Friedrichshafen
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Friedrichshafen among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €45 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 5h 15m. 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 €45, while a train costs an average of €99.
Distance: 253 miles (408 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
€99 Average price | €45 Average price Cheapest | €76 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 15m Average total duration Fastest 4h 45m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 11h 7m Average total duration 10h 37m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 4m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.4 - 1.0kg 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 Friedrichshafen
Compare the available ways to get from Cologne to Friedrichshafen, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Friedrichshafen:
A bus is €54 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Friedrichshafen costing on average €99.
Other travel options to Friedrichshafen take longer:
Bus takes on average 11h 7m.
You'll arrive about 1h 19m sooner (4h 45m by train vs 6h 4m by car). Tickets start at around €99 compared to roughly €76 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 Friedrichshafen
How to get from Cologne to Friedrichshafen by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cologne to Friedrichshafen is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
5:35 PM 15h25 Cologne 9:00 AM Friedrichshafen €31 1 One-way 0 transfers
Cheapest
5:35 PM 15h25 Cologne 9:00 AM Friedrichshafen €31 1 One-way 0 transfers
Fastest
10:35 PM 13h10 Cologne 11:45 AM Friedrichshafen €38 1 One-way 0 transfers
Other options
9:35 PM 13h10 Cologne 10:45 AM Friedrichshafen €40 1 One-way 0 transfers
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
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FAQs: Travel from Cologne to Friedrichshafen
Travel to Friedrichshafen 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 Friedrichshafen.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Friedrichshafen:
A bus is €54 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Friedrichshafen costing on average €99.
Other travel options to Friedrichshafen take longer:
Bus takes on average 11h 7m.
- Around 7 trains per day.
- Around 5 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cologne and Friedrichshafen as scheduled services by train and bus can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Dusseldorf Airport and arrive in Zurich Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Cologne Hbf and arrive in Friedrichshafen Stadt.
- Buses mostly depart from Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) and arrive in Friedrichshafen, Stadtbahnhof.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn to go to Friedrichshafen by train.
- Travel with FlixBus to go to Friedrichshafen by bus.
Travelling from Cologne to Friedrichshafen: related information
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