How to travel from Hamburg to Cologne

Fri, Jun 05
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Travel Information

Compare train, bus, and flight for Hamburg to Cologne

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Hamburg to Cologne among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $26. For those with little time consider booking a flight 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 0.1 - 0.3kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $26, and a flight costs an average of $378.

Distance: 223 miles (360 km)

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Bus
Flight
Driving

$45

Average price

$42

Average price

Cheapest

$828

Average price

$77

Average price

(fuel + tolls)

5h 56m

Average total duration

5h 26m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

5h 51m

Average total duration

5h 21m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

5h 7m

Average total duration

Fastest

2h 7m

Onboard

+

3h 0m

Additional time*

4h 59m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

0.1 - 0.3kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

0.4 - 0.9kg

CO2 emissions

1.1 - 2.2kg

CO2 emissions

-

CO2 emissions

Deutsche Bahn

Most popular train company

FlixBus

Most popular bus company

Eurowings

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.

The cheapest way to travel from Hamburg to Cologne is a bus with an average price of $42 (€34).

This is compared to other travel options from Hamburg to Cologne:

A bus is $2 (€2) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Hamburg to Cologne costing on average $45 (€36).

A bus is $786 (€636) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Hamburg to Cologne costing on average $828 (€670).

The fastest way to travel from Hamburg to Cologne is by flight with an average journey time of 2h 7m.

Other travel options to Cologne take longer:

Bus takes on average 5h 21m.

Train takes on average 5h 26m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 3 ways to travel between Hamburg and Cologne including taking a train, bus, and flight.
We recommend using the train as it is the most popular way to get from Hamburg to Cologne among Omio's users.

Travel options
from Hamburg to Cologne

How to get from Hamburg to Cologne by train, bus or flight.

Our recommendation

bus

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

  • FlixBusFlixBus
    12:10 AM7h30
    Hamburg, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof
    7:40 AMKöln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)
    $351One-way
    0 transfers

Cheapest

  • FlixBusFlixBus
    12:10 AM7h30
    Hamburg, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof
    7:40 AMKöln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)
    $351One-way
    0 transfers

Fastest

  • LufthansaLH2051 · LH1976
    8:45 AM3h40
    Hamburg Airport
    12:25 PMCologne Bonn Airport
    $6051One-way
    1 transfer

Other options

  • Deutsche BahnICE 209
    8:23 PM4h25
    Hamburg Hbf
    12:48 AMCologne Hbf
    $441One-way
    0 transfers
  • Deutsche BahnICE 921
    10:23 PM4h39
    Hamburg Hbf
    3:02 AMCologne Hbf
    $441One-way
    0 transfers
  • Deutsche BahnICE 619
    7:23 PM4h26
    Hamburg Hbf
    11:49 PMCologne Hbf
    $571One-way
    0 transfers
  • FlixBusFlixBus
    6:45 PM6h40
    Hamburg, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof
    1:25 AMKöln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)
    $381One-way
    0 transfers
  • FlixBusFlixBus
    6:00 AM7h20
    Hamburg, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof
    1:20 PMKöln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)
    $381One-way
    0 transfers
  • LufthansaLH2059 · LH1982
    1:15 PM4h25
    Hamburg Airport
    5:40 PMCologne Bonn Airport
    $10181One-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

Compare train, bus, and flight 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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How to get from Hamburg to Cologne

The Best Way According to our Users

Whether it is for business or leisure, in order to travel from Hamburg to Cologne, 77,25% 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 Hamburg 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 Hamburg 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 Hamburg 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 Hamburg to Cologne.

FAQs
There are 3 options to travel between Hamburg and Cologne including taking a train, bus, and flight.
The cheapest way to travel from Hamburg to Cologne is a bus with an average price of $42 (€34).

This is compared to other travel options from Hamburg to Cologne:

A bus is $2 (€2) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Hamburg to Cologne costing on average $45 (€36).

A bus is $786 (€636) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Hamburg to Cologne costing on average $828 (€670).

The fastest way to travel from Hamburg to Cologne is by flight with an average journey time of 2h 7m.

Other travel options to Cologne take longer:

Bus takes on average 5h 21m.

Train takes on average 5h 26m.

The distance from Hamburg to Cologne is approximately 223 miles (360 km).
The average frequency per day from Hamburg to Cologne is:
  • Around 17 trains per day.
  • Around 5 buses per day.
  • Around 3 flights per day.

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

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Hamburg to Cologne:
  • Flights mostly depart from Hamburg Airport and arrive in Cologne Bonn Airport.
  • Trains mostly depart from Hamburg Hbf and arrive in Cologne Hbf.
  • Buses mostly depart from Hamburg, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof and arrive in Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen).
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Hamburg to Cologne, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar to go to Cologne by bus.
  • Travel with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain, metronom, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) to go to Cologne by train.
  • Travel with Eurowings, Lufthansa, Avion Express Malta to go to Cologne by flight.
Yes, there are direct services available from Hamburg to Cologne with the following travel companies:
  • 4 direct buses per day with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar.
  • 11 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC).
  • 0 direct flights per day with Eurowings.
Omio customers who travel from Hamburg 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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