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4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Munich to Cologne
Omio recommends booking the flight as it is the most popular option from Munich to Cologne among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $50 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 3h 8m. 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 $50, while a flight costs an average of $240.
Distance: 283 miles (456 km)
Compare flight with
Most popular Flight | Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$240 Average price | $91 Average price | $50 Average price Cheapest | $53 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 8m Average total duration Fastest 1h 8m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 5h 21m Average total duration 4h 51m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 10h 28m Average total duration 9h 58m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 14m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
1.4 - 2.7kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.5 - 1.1kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular airline |  Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company | 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.
This is compared to other travel options from Munich to Cologne:
A bus is $41 (€34) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Munich to Cologne costing on average $91 (€76).
A bus is $190 (€159) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Munich to Cologne costing on average $240 (€201).
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 21m.
Bus takes on average 10h 28m.
You'll arrive about 5h 6m sooner (1h 8m by flight vs 6h 14m by car). Tickets start at around $240 (€201) compared to roughly $53 (€45) in fuel and tolls — a bit more, but you get time back and avoid a long drive.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group, want flexibility on timing, or plan to stop en route.
Travel optionsfrom Munich to Cologne
How to get from Munich to Cologne by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Munich to Cologne is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- ICE 698 · IC 6040210:46 PM6h58Munich Hbf5:44 AMCologne Hbf$361One-way1 transfer
Cheapest
- ICE 698 · IC 6040210:46 PM6h58Munich Hbf5:44 AMCologne Hbf$361One-way1 transfer
Fastest
- EW818:45 AM1h10Munich Airport9:55 AMCologne Bonn Airport$3831One-way0 transfers
Other options
- ICE 5107:28 PM4h42Munich Hbf12:10 AMCologne Hbf$791One-way0 transfers
- ICE 512 · IC 23475:28 PM5h38Munich Hbf11:06 PMCologne Hbf$951One-way1 transfer
- ICE 590 · ICE 1006:45 PM4h25Munich Hbf11:10 PMCologne Hbf$1071One-way1 transfer
- FlixBus2:00 AM8h00Munich, Central Bus Station (ZOB)10:00 AMKöln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)$411One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus9:20 PM8h40Munich, Central Bus Station (ZOB)6:00 AMKöln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)$421One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus7:30 PM9h10Munich, Central Bus Station (ZOB)4:40 AMKöln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)$421One-way0 transfers
LH19824:10 PM1h10Munich Airport5:20 PMCologne Bonn Airport$4291One-way0 transfers
LH197611:15 AM1h10Munich Airport12:25 PMCologne Bonn Airport$5121One-way0 transfers- EW858:40 PM1h10Munich Airport9:50 PMCologne Bonn Airport$5681One-way0 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, 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 Munich to Cologne
The Best Way According to our Users
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FAQs: Travel from Munich 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 Munich to Cologne.
This is compared to other travel options from Munich to Cologne:
A bus is $41 (€34) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Munich to Cologne costing on average $91 (€76).
A bus is $190 (€159) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Munich to Cologne costing on average $240 (€201).
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 21m.
Bus takes on average 10h 28m.
- Around 26 trains per day.
- Around 11 buses per day.
- Around 6 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Munich and Cologne as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Munich Airport and arrive in Cologne Bonn Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Munich Hbf and arrive in Cologne Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Munich, Central Bus Station (ZOB) and arrive in Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen).
- Travel with TGV, Deutsche Bahn to go to Cologne by train.
- Travel with Lufthansa Cityline, Lufthansa, CitizenPlane, Smartwings, Air Baltic, Eurowings, Lufthansa City Airlines, Air Dolomiti to go to Cologne by flight.
- Travel with Infobus, BlaBlaCar Bus, FlixBus to go to Cologne by bus.
- 16 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn.
- 6 direct flights per day with Lufthansa Cityline, Lufthansa, CitizenPlane, Smartwings, Air Baltic, Eurowings, Lufthansa City Airlines, Air Dolomiti.
- 8 direct buses per day with Infobus, FlixBus.
Travelling from Munich to Cologne: related information
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