How to travel from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne

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Travel Information

Compare train and bus for Frankfurt am Main to Cologne

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $12. For those with little time consider booking a bus which can get you there in 2h 7m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.0 - 0.1kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $12, and a train costs an average of $12.

Distance: 95 miles (153 km)

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Bus
Driving

$39

Average price

$26

Average price

Cheapest

$34

Average price

(fuel + tolls)

2h 45m

Average total duration

2h 15m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

2h 37m

Average total duration

Fastest

2h 7m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

2h 10m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

0.0 - 0.1kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

0.2 - 0.4kg

CO2 emissions

-

CO2 emissions

Deutsche Bahn

Most popular train company

FlixBus

Most popular bus company

Your own car or car rental

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

The cheapest way to travel from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne is a bus with an average price of $26 (€21).

This is compared to other travel options from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne:

A bus is $13 (€10) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne costing on average $39 (€31).

The fastest way to travel from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne is by bus with an average journey time of 2h 7m.

Other travel options to Cologne take longer:

Train takes on average 2h 15m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 2 ways to travel between Frankfurt am Main and Cologne including taking a train and bus.
We recommend using the train as it is the most popular way to get from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne among Omio's users.

Travel options
from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne

How to get from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne by train, bus or flight.

Our recommendation

bus

The best way to travel from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

  • RegioJet a.s.(Prague -> Amsterdam)
    5:55 AM2h10
    Frankfurt am Main, Flughafen Frankfurt (Terminal 1 - Busparkplatz P36)
    8:05 AMKöln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)
    $121One-way
    0 transfers

Cheapest

  • RegioJet a.s.(Prague -> Amsterdam)
    5:55 AM2h10
    Frankfurt am Main, Flughafen Frankfurt (Terminal 1 - Busparkplatz P36)
    8:05 AMKöln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)
    $121One-way
    0 transfers

Fastest

  • Deutsche BahnICE 1012
    9:41 AM0h48
    Frankfurt Airport long-distance station
    10:29 AMCologne Messe/Deutz
    $741One-way
    0 transfers

Other options

  • Deutsche BahnICE 616
    7:10 AM0h55
    Frankfurt Airport long-distance station
    8:05 AMCologne Hbf
    $211One-way
    0 transfers
  • Deutsche BahnICE 222
    5:47 AM0h56
    Frankfurt Airport long-distance station
    6:43 AMCologne Hbf
    $211One-way
    0 transfers
  • Deutsche BahnICE 316
    7:34 AM0h56
    Frankfurt Airport long-distance station
    8:30 AMCologne Hbf
    $211One-way
    0 transfers
  • RegioJet a.s.(Prague -> Amsterdam)
    5:25 AM2h40
    Frankfurt, Stuttgarter Straße (Fermomnibusbahnhof)
    8:05 AMKöln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)
    $141One-way
    0 transfers
  • FlixBusFlixBus
    4:30 PM2h10
    Frankfurt, Stuttgarter Straße (Fermomnibusbahnhof)
    6:40 PMKöln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)
    $151One-way
    0 transfers
  • FlixBusFlixBus
    10:00 AM2h10
    Frankfurt, Stuttgarter Straße (Fermomnibusbahnhof)
    12:10 PMKöln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)
    $151One-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

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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Travel from Frankfurt to Cologne: Journey Details

There are no practical or economical methods of flying between the cities of Frankfurt am Main and Cologne; however, the journey can be made by either bus and train. Making the journey by train is slightly quicker than by bus for travelers in Germany, but both have direct routes leaving and arriving in the city centers of Frankfurt and Cologne.

Return trips from Cologne to Frankfurt are also available.

How to get from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne

The Best Way According to our Users

Whether it is for business or leisure, in order to travel from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne, 85,60% of our customers choose the train as their preferred mode of transportation. By traveling by train on this route, you can enjoy the comfort of spacious seats, spectacular views—and in some cases free Wi-Fi—in both second and first class. Our customers have decided that the train is the best way to get from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne and have chosen to enjoy this fast, safe and efficient way to arrive at their destination. Taking the train also avoids long lines or potential expenses for transfers to/from the station—especially since most main railway stations are located in the city center. Train companies in Europe vary from country to country, but most of them offer high-speed train routes, therefore when you add up at the end-to-end journey time, the train is often also the fastest way to get to your destination.

Search on Omio to find cheap tickets from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne. It’s easy to find the most attractive prices and choose your preferred route for your journey. Book on web or app, and travel with your mobile ticket —without the stress of printing your ticket.

More than 1,000 travel companies trust us to sell their tickets all in one place.

Trenitalia
Easyjet
Deutsche Bahn
SNCF

FAQs: Travel from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne

Travel to Cologne 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 Frankfurt am Main to Cologne.

FAQs
There are 2 options to travel between Frankfurt am Main and Cologne including taking a train and bus.
The cheapest way to travel from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne is a bus with an average price of $26 (€21).

This is compared to other travel options from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne:

A bus is $13 (€10) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne costing on average $39 (€31).

The fastest way to travel from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne is by bus with an average journey time of 2h 7m.

Other travel options to Cologne take longer:

Train takes on average 2h 15m.

The distance from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne is approximately 95 miles (153 km).
The average frequency per day from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne is:
  • Around 38 trains per day.
  • Around 29 buses per day.
  • Around 1 flights per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Frankfurt am Main and Cologne as scheduled services by train and bus can vary by season or day of the week.

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne:
  • Flights mostly depart from Frankfurt am Main Airport and arrive in Cologne Bonn Airport.
  • Trains mostly depart from Frankfurt Airport long-distance station and arrive in Cologne Hbf.
  • Buses mostly depart from Frankfurt, Stuttgarter Straße (Fermomnibusbahnhof) and arrive in Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen).
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with Deutsche Bahn, Hessische Landesbahn, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) to go to Cologne by train.
  • Travel with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar, BlaBlaCar Bus to go to Cologne by bus.
Yes, there are direct services available from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne with the following travel companies:
  • 32 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS).
  • 29 direct buses per day with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar, BlaBlaCar Bus.
Omio customers who travel from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne often also extend their vacation to go to Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, London. Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Cologne and these popular destinations at a great price.
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