4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Heilbronn to Cologne
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Heilbronn to Cologne among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $36 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 3h 45m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.2kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $36, while a flight costs an average of $496.
Distance: 159 miles (257 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$119 Average price | $36 Average price Cheapest | $496 Average price | $57 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 45m Average total duration Fastest 3h 15m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 19m Average total duration 4h 49m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 54m Average total duration 1h 54m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 3h 29m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.3 - 0.6kg CO2 emissions | 0.8 - 1.5kg 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 Heilbronn to Cologne
Compare the available ways to get from Heilbronn to Cologne, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Heilbronn to Cologne:
A bus is $83 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Heilbronn to Cologne costing on average $119.
A bus is $460 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Heilbronn to Cologne costing on average $496.
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Flight takes on average 3h 54m.
Bus takes on average 5h 19m.
You'll arrive about 14m sooner (3h 15m by train vs 3h 29m by car). Tickets start at around $119 compared to roughly $57 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 Heilbronn to Cologne
How to get from Heilbronn to Cologne by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Heilbronn to Cologne is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- FlixBus · FlixBus
7:30 PM 8h05 Heilbronn, Hbf (Central station) 3:35 AM Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) $46 1 One-way 1 transfer
Cheapest
- FlixBus · FlixBus
7:30 PM 8h05 Heilbronn, Hbf (Central station) 3:35 AM Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) $46 1 One-way 1 transfer
Fastest
- 19059 · Bus RE8 · ICE 1010
9:12 AM 3h17 Heilbronn Hbf 12:29 PM Cologne Messe/Deutz $157 1 One-way 2 transfers
Other options
- 19262 · IC 1947
9:06 AM 3h59 Heilbronn Hbf 1:05 PM Cologne Hbf $68 1 One-way 1 transfer - 15838 · ICE 374 · ICE 612
8:34 AM 3h31 Heilbronn Hbf 12:05 PM Cologne Hbf $103 1 One-way 2 transfers - 15840 · ICE 200
9:34 AM 3h38 Heilbronn Hbf 1:12 PM Cologne Messe/Deutz $103 1 One-way 1 transfer
- FlixBus · FlixBus
11:10 AM 7h30 Heilbronn, Hbf (Central station) 6:40 PM Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) $47 1 One-way 1 transfer - FlixBus · FlixBus
11:05 AM 5h40 Heilbronn, Hbf (Central station) 4:45 PM Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) $50 1 One-way 1 transfer - FlixBus · FlixBus
2:15 PM 7h15 Heilbronn, Hbf (Central station) 9:30 PM Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) $57 1 One-way 1 transfer
LH4089+LH19841:25 PM 3h30 Stuttgart Airport 4:55 PM Cologne Bonn Airport $498 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 Heilbronn 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 Heilbronn to Cologne.
This is compared to other travel options from Heilbronn to Cologne:
A bus is $83 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Heilbronn to Cologne costing on average $119.
A bus is $460 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Heilbronn to Cologne costing on average $496.
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Flight takes on average 3h 54m.
Bus takes on average 5h 19m.
- 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 Heilbronn and Cologne as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Stuttgart Airport and arrive in Cologne Bonn Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Heilbronn Hbf and arrive in Cologne Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Heilbronn, Hbf (Central station) and arrive in Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen).
- Travel with Lufthansa, Eurowings, Air Baltic, Lufthansa City Airlines, Lufthansa Cityline to go to Cologne by flight.
- Travel with FlixBus to go to Cologne by bus.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, Intercity, Regional-Express to go to Cologne by train.
- 1 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
Travelling from Heilbronn to Cologne: related information
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