4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for Cologne to Salzburg
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Salzburg among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $60 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 5h 3m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.2 - 0.5kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $60, while a flight costs an average of $449.
Distance: 349 miles (562 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$93 Average price | $60 Average price Cheapest | $449 Average price | $44 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
7h 12m Average total duration 6h 42m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 11h 22m Average total duration 10h 52m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 3m Average total duration Fastest 3h 3m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 7h 25m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.2 - 0.5kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.6 - 1.4kg CO2 emissions | 1.7 - 3.4kg 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 Salzburg
Compare the available ways to get from Cologne to Salzburg, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Salzburg:
A bus is $34 (€29) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Salzburg costing on average $93 (€79).
A bus is $390 (€329) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Salzburg costing on average $449 (€379).
Other travel options to Salzburg take longer:
Train takes on average 7h 12m.
Bus takes on average 11h 22m.
You'll arrive about 43m sooner (6h 42m by train vs 7h 25m by car). Tickets start at around $93 (€79) compared to roughly $44 (€37) 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 Salzburg
How to get from Cologne to Salzburg by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cologne to Salzburg is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- IC 1648 · ICE 513+
790216:53 AM 7h53 Cologne Hbf 2:46 PM Salzburg Hbf $48 1 One-way 2 transfers
Cheapest
- IC 1648 · ICE 513+79021
6:53 AM 7h53 Cologne Hbf 2:46 PM Salzburg Hbf $48 1 One-way 2 transfers
Fastest
LH1973 · LH99 · LH12629:20 AM 4h35 Cologne Bonn Airport 1:55 PM Salzburg Airport $942 1 One-way 2 transfers
Other options
- ICE 629 · IC 406
1:45 PM 6h41 Cologne Messe/Deutz 8:26 PM Salzburg Hbf $57 1 One-way 1 transfer - ICE 1511 · ICE 117
6:27 AM 7h32 Cologne Hbf 1:59 PM Salzburg Hbf $60 1 One-way 1 transfer - ICE 919 · EC 213
1:30 PM 6h29 Cologne Messe/Deutz 7:59 PM Salzburg Hbf $79 1 One-way 1 transfer
- FlixBus
10:40 AM 10h35 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 9:15 PM Salzburg, P+R Süd $73 1 One-way 0 transfers - FlixBus · FlixBus
6:35 PM 11h35 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 6:10 AM Salzburg, P+R Süd $76 1 One-way 1 transfer - FlixBus · FlixBus
10:20 PM 12h40 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 11:00 AM Salzburg, P+R Süd $76 1 One-way 1 transfer
RJX 768+
EW7566:10 PM 6h49 Cologne Bonn Airport 12:59 AM Salzburg Hbf $274 1 One-way 1 transfer- RJX 768+EW754
1:30 PM 11h29 Cologne Bonn Airport 12:59 AM Salzburg Hbf $274 1 One-way 1 transfer 
IC 744+EW7541:30 PM 7h19 Cologne Bonn Airport 8:49 PM Salzburg Hbf $303 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 Salzburg
Travel to Salzburg 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 Salzburg.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Salzburg:
A bus is $34 (€29) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Salzburg costing on average $93 (€79).
A bus is $390 (€329) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Salzburg costing on average $449 (€379).
Other travel options to Salzburg take longer:
Train takes on average 7h 12m.
Bus takes on average 11h 22m.
- Around 8 trains per day.
- Around 6 buses per day.
- Around 2 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cologne and Salzburg as scheduled services by bus, train, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Cologne Bonn Airport and arrive in Salzburg Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Cologne Hbf and arrive in Salzburg Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) and arrive in Salzburg, P+R Süd.
- Travel with FlixBus, Union Ivkoni International, BlaBlaCar Bus to go to Salzburg by bus.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB | ICE, VIAS Rail GmbH, ÖBB | Nightjet to go to Salzburg by train.
- Travel with Eurowings, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Air Baltic, Lufthansa Cityline, Lufthansa City Airlines, CitizenPlane, Smartwings to go to Salzburg by flight.
- 1 direct buses per day with FlixBus, Union Ivkoni International.
Travelling from Cologne to Salzburg: related information
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