4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Cologne to Lübeck
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Lübeck among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €42 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 €42, while a flight costs an average of €566.
Distance: 256 miles (413 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
€99 Average price | €42 Average price Cheapest | €566 Average price | €73 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 22m Average total duration 4h 52m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 11h 6m Average total duration 10h 36m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 21m Average total duration Fastest 2h 21m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 5h 25m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.4 - 1.0kg CO2 emissions | 1.2 - 2.5kg 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 Lübeck
Compare the available ways to get from Cologne to Lübeck, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Lübeck:
A bus is €57 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Lübeck costing on average €99.
A bus is €524 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Lübeck costing on average €566.
Other travel options to Lübeck take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 22m.
Bus takes on average 11h 6m.
You'll arrive about 33m sooner (4h 52m by train vs 5h 25m by car). Tickets start at around €99 compared to roughly €73 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 Lübeck
How to get from Cologne to Lübeck by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cologne to Lübeck is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- FlixBus · FlixBus
9:30 PM 11h20 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 8:50 AM Lübeck, Bussteig Beim Retteich €29 1 One-way 1 transfer
Cheapest
- FlixBus · FlixBus
9:30 PM 11h20 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 8:50 AM Lübeck, Bussteig Beim Retteich €29 1 One-way 1 transfer
Fastest
LH4051+LH20701:10 PM 3h10 Cologne Bonn Airport 4:20 PM Hamburg Airport €208 1 One-way 1 transfer
Other options
- ICE 204 · 11468
9:11 AM 5h13 Cologne Hbf 2:24 PM Lübeck Hbf €33 1 One-way 1 transfer - ICE 557 · ICE 682 · 11422
10:38 AM 5h14 Cologne Hbf 3:52 PM Lübeck Hbf €34 1 One-way 2 transfers - ICE 616 · 11466
8:11 AM 5h13 Cologne Hbf 1:24 PM Lübeck Hbf €39 1 One-way 1 transfer
- FlixBus · FlixBus
5:45 PM 14h15 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 8:00 AM Lübeck, Bussteig Beim Retteich €30 1 One-way 1 transfer - FlixBus · FlixBus
3:40 AM 14h45 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 6:25 PM Lübeck, Bussteig Beim Retteich €38 1 One-way 1 transfer
- LH4058+LH2086
5:40 PM 3h25 Cologne Bonn Airport 9:05 PM Hamburg Airport €208 1 One-way 1 transfer 
LH5350 · LH53806:55 PM 3h30 Cologne Bonn Airport 10:25 PM Hamburg Airport €302 1 One-way 1 transfer- LH5348 · LH5376
7:05 AM 3h30 Cologne Bonn Airport 10:35 AM Hamburg Airport €302 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 Lübeck
Travel to Lübeck 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 Lübeck.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Lübeck:
A bus is €57 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Lübeck costing on average €99.
A bus is €524 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Lübeck costing on average €566.
Other travel options to Lübeck take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 22m.
Bus takes on average 11h 6m.
- Around 6 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 Lübeck 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 Lübeck Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) and arrive in Lübeck, Bussteig Beim Retteich.
- Travel with Lufthansa, Eurowings, Lufthansa City Airlines, Lufthansa Cityline to go to Lübeck by flight.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn to go to Lübeck by train.
- Travel with FlixBus to go to Lübeck by bus.
Travelling from Cologne to Lübeck: related information
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