4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train and bus for Cologne to Heidelberg
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Heidelberg among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $25 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 2h 58m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.2kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $25, while a flight costs an average of $644.
Distance: 130 miles (210 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$69 Average price | $25 Average price Cheapest | $644 Average price | $46 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
2h 58m Average total duration Fastest 2h 28m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 23m Average total duration 3h 53m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 5m Average total duration 2h 5m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 2h 44m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.2 - 0.5kg 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.
Compare ways to travel from Cologne to Heidelberg
Compare the available ways to get from Cologne to Heidelberg, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Heidelberg:
A bus is $45 (€37) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Heidelberg costing on average $69 (€58).
A bus is $619 (€519) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Heidelberg costing on average $644 (€540).
Other travel options to Heidelberg take longer:
Flight takes on average 4h 5m.
Bus takes on average 4h 23m.
You'll arrive about 16m sooner (2h 28m by train vs 2h 44m by car). Tickets start at around $69 (€58) compared to roughly $46 (€39) 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 Heidelberg
How to get from Cologne to Heidelberg by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cologne to Heidelberg is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- ICE 921 · 4251 · 29697 · S63:49 AM3h55Cologne Hbf7:44 AMHeidelberg Hbf$221One-way4 transfers
Cheapest
- ICE 921 · 4251 · 29697 · S63:49 AM3h55Cologne Hbf7:44 AMHeidelberg Hbf$221One-way4 transfers
Fastest
- ICE 915 · S39:34 AM1h42Cologne Messe/Deutz11:16 AMHeidelberg Hbf$1261One-way1 transfer
Other options
- ICE 713 · IC 19485:00 PM2h34Cologne Hbf7:34 PMHeidelberg Hbf$281One-way1 transfer
- IC 19484:53 PM2h41Cologne Hbf7:34 PMHeidelberg Hbf$301One-way0 transfers
- 33611 · ICE 921 · 4751 · 41443:56 AM4h05Cologne Hbf8:01 AMHeidelberg Hbf$341One-way3 transfers
- FlixBus3:35 PM3h40Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)7:15 PMHeidelberg, Hauptbahnhof$241One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus10:45 AM4h25Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)3:10 PMHeidelberg, Hauptbahnhof$261One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus8:15 AM4h45Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)1:00 PMHeidelberg, Hauptbahnhof$261One-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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FAQs: Travel from Cologne to Heidelberg
Travel to Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Heidelberg:
A bus is $45 (€37) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Heidelberg costing on average $69 (€58).
A bus is $619 (€519) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Heidelberg costing on average $644 (€540).
Other travel options to Heidelberg take longer:
Flight takes on average 4h 5m.
Bus takes on average 4h 23m.
- Around 8 trains per day.
- Around 7 buses per day.
- Around 1 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cologne and Heidelberg as scheduled services by train and bus can vary by season or day of the week.
- Trains mostly depart from Cologne Hbf and arrive in Heidelberg Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) and arrive in Heidelberg, Hauptbahnhof.
- Flights mostly depart from Cologne Bonn Airport and arrive in Frankfurt am Main Airport.
- Travel with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus to go to Heidelberg by bus.
- Travel with Lufthansa, Eurowings to go to Heidelberg by flight.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain to go to Heidelberg by train.
- 5 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
- 1 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn.
Travelling from Cologne to Heidelberg: related information
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