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4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Kiel to Cologne
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Kiel to Cologne among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €40 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 4h 28m. 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 €40, while a flight costs an average of €514.
Distance: 269 miles (434 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
€93 Average price | €40 Average price Cheapest | €514 Average price | €77 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 56m Average total duration 5h 26m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 9h 53m Average total duration 9h 23m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 28m Average total duration Fastest 2h 28m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 5h 53m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.4 - 1.1kg CO2 emissions | 1.3 - 2.6kg 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 Kiel to Cologne
Compare the available ways to get from Kiel to Cologne, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Kiel to Cologne:
A bus is €54 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Kiel to Cologne costing on average €93.
A bus is €474 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Kiel to Cologne costing on average €514.
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 56m.
Bus takes on average 9h 53m.
You'll arrive about 27m sooner (5h 26m by train vs 5h 53m by car). Tickets start at around €93 compared to roughly €77 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 Kiel to Cologne
How to get from Kiel to Cologne by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Kiel to Cologne is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- RJ 173 · ICE 517
6:16 AM 5h27 Kiel Hbf 11:43 AM Cologne Messe/Deutz €66 1 One-way 1 transfer
Cheapest
- RJ 173 · ICE 517
6:16 AM 5h27 Kiel Hbf 11:43 AM Cologne Messe/Deutz €66 1 One-way 1 transfer
Fastest
- RJ 173 · ICE 517
6:16 AM 5h27 Kiel Hbf 11:43 AM Cologne Messe/Deutz €66 1 One-way 1 transfer
Other options
- ICE 507 · ICE 107 · IC 2044
7:16 AM 5h29 Kiel Hbf 12:45 PM Cologne Hbf €80 1 One-way 2 transfers - ICE 507 · ICE 107
7:16 AM 5h34 Kiel Hbf 12:50 PM Cologne Hbf €80 1 One-way 1 transfer - ICE 577 · ICE 952
8:16 AM 6h23 Kiel Hbf 2:39 PM Cologne Hbf €80 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 Kiel 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 Kiel to Cologne.
This is compared to other travel options from Kiel to Cologne:
A bus is €54 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Kiel to Cologne costing on average €93.
A bus is €474 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Kiel to Cologne costing on average €514.
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 56m.
Bus takes on average 9h 53m.
- Around 5 trains per day.
- Around 3 buses per day.
- Around 2 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Kiel and Cologne as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Hamburg Airport and arrive in Cologne Bonn Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Kiel Hbf and arrive in Cologne Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Kiel, ZOB and arrive in Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen).
- Travel with Lufthansa, Eurowings, Lufthansa Cityline, Danish Air Transport to go to Cologne by flight.
- Travel with FlixBus to go to Cologne by bus.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, erixx to go to Cologne by train.
- 1 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
Travelling from Kiel to Cologne: related information
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