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4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Cologne to Potsdam
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Potsdam among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €65 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 3h 56m. 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 €65, while a flight costs an average of €364.
Distance: 280 miles (452 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Flight | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
€105 Average price | €364 Average price | €65 Average price Cheapest | €81 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 53m Average total duration 5h 23m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 56m Average total duration Fastest 1h 56m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 13h 54m Average total duration 13h 24m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 54m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.4 - 2.7kg CO2 emissions | 0.5 - 1.1kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular airline |  Most popular bus company | 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 Potsdam
Compare the available ways to get from Cologne to Potsdam, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Potsdam:
A bus is €41 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Potsdam costing on average €105.
A bus is €300 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Potsdam costing on average €364.
Other travel options to Potsdam take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 53m.
Bus takes on average 13h 54m.
You'll arrive about 31m sooner (5h 23m by train vs 5h 54m by car). Tickets start at around €105 compared to roughly €81 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 Potsdam
How to get from Cologne to Potsdam by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cologne to Potsdam is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
FlixTrain8:14 AM 6h08 Cologne Hbf 2:22 PM Potsdam Hbf €32 1 One-way 0 transfers
Cheapest
- FlixTrain
8:14 AM 6h08 Cologne Hbf 2:22 PM Potsdam Hbf €32 1 One-way 0 transfers
Fastest
- EW2
7:00 AM 1h05 Cologne Bonn Airport 8:05 AM Berlin Brandenburg Airport €244 1 One-way 0 transfers
Other options
- EW8057
8:30 PM 1h05 Cologne Bonn Airport 9:35 PM Berlin Brandenburg Airport €295 1 One-way 0 transfers - EW8055
6:00 PM 1h05 Cologne Bonn Airport 7:05 PM Berlin Brandenburg Airport €347 1 One-way 0 transfers - EW6
3:25 PM 1h05 Cologne Bonn Airport 4:30 PM Berlin Brandenburg Airport €347 1 One-way 0 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
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FAQs: Travel from Cologne to Potsdam
Travel to Potsdam 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 Potsdam.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Potsdam:
A bus is €41 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Potsdam costing on average €105.
A bus is €300 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Potsdam costing on average €364.
Other travel options to Potsdam take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 53m.
Bus takes on average 13h 54m.
- Around 8 flights per day.
- Around 7 trains per day.
- Around 1 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cologne and Potsdam 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 Berlin Brandenburg Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Cologne Hbf and arrive in Potsdam Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) and arrive in Potsdam, ZOB am Hauptbahnhof.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain to go to Potsdam by train.
- Travel with Eurowings, Lufthansa, Lufthansa City Airlines, Air Baltic, Smartwings, Lufthansa Cityline, British Airways to go to Potsdam by flight.
- Travel with FlixBus to go to Potsdam by bus.
- 1 direct trains per day with FlixTrain.
- 3 direct flights per day with Eurowings, Smartwings.
Travelling from Cologne to Potsdam: related information
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