4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Cologne to Kiel
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Kiel among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of zł 207 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 4h 21m. 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 zł 207, while a flight costs an average of zł 2,650.
Distance: 269 miles (434 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
zł 432 Average price | zł 207 Average price Cheapest | zł 2,650 Average price | zł 361 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 53m Average total duration 5h 23m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 9h 54m Average total duration 9h 24m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 21m Average total duration Fastest 2h 21m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 5h 48m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.4 - 1.1kg CO2 emissions | 1.3 - 2.6kg 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 Kiel
Compare the available ways to get from Cologne to Kiel, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Kiel:
A bus is zł 225 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Kiel costing on average zł 432.
A bus is zł 2,443 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Kiel costing on average zł 2,650.
Other travel options to Kiel take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 53m.
Bus takes on average 9h 54m.
You'll arrive about 25m sooner (5h 23m by train vs 5h 48m by car). Tickets start at around zł 432 compared to roughly zł 361 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 Kiel
How to get from Cologne to Kiel by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cologne to Kiel is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- FlixBus · FlixBus
9:20 AM 12h35 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 9:55 PM Kiel, ZOB zł 198 1 One-way 1 transfer
Cheapest
- FlixBus · FlixBus
9:20 AM 12h35 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 9:55 PM Kiel, ZOB zł 198 1 One-way 1 transfer
Fastest
- LH1985 · LH2086
5:40 PM 3h25 Cologne Bonn Airport 9:05 PM Hamburg Airport zł 2,167 1 One-way 1 transfer
Other options
- ICE 1020 · 11224
12:09 PM 5h12 Cologne Hbf 5:21 PM Kiel Hbf zł 311 1 One-way 1 transfer - ICE 926 · ICE 610 · 11278
2:11 PM 5h41 Cologne Hbf 7:52 PM Kiel Hbf zł 311 1 One-way 2 transfers - ICE 951 · ICE 578
1:25 PM 6h17 Cologne Hbf 7:42 PM Kiel Hbf zł 330 1 One-way 1 transfer
LH5350 · LH53806:55 PM 3h30 Cologne Bonn Airport 10:25 PM Hamburg Airport zł 2,722 1 One-way 1 transfer- LH5350+LH2088
6:55 PM 3h50 Cologne Bonn Airport 10:45 PM Hamburg Airport zł 2,934 1 One-way 1 transfer - LH5348 · LH5376
7:05 AM 3h30 Cologne Bonn Airport 10:35 AM Hamburg Airport zł 3,508 1 One-way 1 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 Kiel
Travel to Kiel 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 Kiel.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Kiel:
A bus is zł 225 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Kiel costing on average zł 432.
A bus is zł 2,443 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Kiel costing on average zł 2,650.
Other travel options to Kiel take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 53m.
Bus takes on average 9h 54m.
- Around 5 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 Kiel 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 Kiel Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) and arrive in Kiel, ZOB.
- Travel with FlixBus to go to Kiel by bus.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, metronom, erixx to go to Kiel by train.
- Travel with Lufthansa, Eurowings, Lufthansa City Airlines, Lufthansa Cityline to go to Kiel by flight.
- 1 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
Travelling from Cologne to Kiel: related information
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