4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Cologne to Hamburg
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Hamburg among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $31 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 4h 22m. 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 $31, while a flight costs an average of $559.
Distance: 223 miles (360 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$65 Average price | $31 Average price Cheapest | $559 Average price | $76 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
4h 44m Average total duration 4h 14m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 44m Average total duration 7h 14m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 22m Average total duration Fastest 2h 22m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 4h 52m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.4 - 0.9kg CO2 emissions | 1.1 - 2.2kg 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 Hamburg:
A bus is $35 (€29) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Hamburg costing on average $65 (€54).
A bus is $529 (€442) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Hamburg costing on average $559 (€467).
Other travel options to Hamburg take longer:
Train takes on average 4h 44m.
Bus takes on average 7h 44m.
The journey is about 38m faster (4h 14m by train vs 4h 52m by car) and roughly $11 (€10) cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls ($65 (€54) vs $76 (€64)). You'll also arrive in the city centre rather than hunting for parking, and you can work, read, or watch the landscape go by instead of concentrating on the road.
Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way or need a car once you arrive.
Travel optionsfrom Cologne to Hamburg
How to get from Cologne to Hamburg by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cologne to Hamburg is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
FlixTrain+FlixBus12:14 PM8h26Cologne Hbf8:40 PMHamburg, S Hamburg Airport$501One-way1 transfer
Cheapest
- FlixTrain+FlixBus12:14 PM8h26Cologne Hbf8:40 PMHamburg, S Hamburg Airport$501One-way1 transfer
Fastest
- LH1983 · LH20766:05 PM3h25Cologne Bonn Airport9:30 PMHamburg Airport$5471One-way1 transfer
Other options
- FlixTrain+FlixBus8:14 AM7h21Cologne Hbf3:35 PMHamburg, S Hamburg Airport$511One-way1 transfer
- ICE 2085:11 AM4h04Cologne Hbf9:15 AMHamburg Hbf$691One-way0 transfers
- ICE 10284:00 AM4h18Cologne Hbf8:18 AMHamburg Hbf$691One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus4:05 AM6h40Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)10:45 AMHamburg, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof$591One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus4:05 PM7h30Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)11:35 PMHamburg, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof$601One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus11:35 PM7h05Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)6:40 AMHamburg, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof$1151One-way0 transfers
LH1977+LH20621:05 PM3h25Cologne Bonn Airport4:30 PMHamburg Airport$7901One-way1 transfer- LH1977+
LH53781:05 PM4h15Cologne Bonn Airport5:20 PMHamburg Airport$8881One-way1 transfer - LH1973 · LH20588:30 AM4h00Cologne Bonn Airport12:30 PMHamburg Airport$9451One-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
Compare train, bus, and flight 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 get from Cologne to Hamburg
The Best Way According to our Users
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FAQs: Travel from Cologne to Hamburg
Travel to Hamburg 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 Hamburg.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Hamburg:
A bus is $35 (€29) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Hamburg costing on average $65 (€54).
A bus is $529 (€442) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Hamburg costing on average $559 (€467).
Other travel options to Hamburg take longer:
Train takes on average 4h 44m.
Bus takes on average 7h 44m.
- Around 18 trains per day.
- Around 3 flights per day.
- Around 2 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cologne and Hamburg 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 Hamburg Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Cologne Hbf and arrive in Hamburg Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) and arrive in Hamburg, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof.
- Travel with Eurowings, Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cityline, Smartwings, Lufthansa City Airlines, Avion Express Malta to go to Hamburg by flight.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain, metronom to go to Hamburg by train.
- Travel with FlixBus to go to Hamburg by bus.
- 15 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain.
- 2 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
Travelling from Cologne to Hamburg: related information
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