There are 5 ways to get from Brussels to Cologne by train, bus, night train, car, or rideshare
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Rideshare
cheapest- Take the rideshare from Brussels to Cologne208.6 km
2h 47m€15Bus
- Take the bus from Brussels-North train station to Cologne Airport CGNbus N870 / ...
4h€23–35Night train
- Take the nighttrain from Brussels-Nord to Koeln Hbfnighttrain Nj
2h 33m€21–95Drive 208.3 km
- Drive from Brussels to Colognecar 208.3 km
2h 7m€39–56
Brussels to Cologne by train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Brussels to Cologne is to rideshare which costs €15 and takes 2h 47m.
The fastest way to get from Brussels to Cologne is to train which takes 1h 41m and costs €30 - €70.
No, there is no direct bus from Brussels station to Cologne. However, there are services departing from Brussels-North train station and arriving at Cologne Airport CGN via . The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 4h.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Brussels-Nord and arriving at Koeln Hbf. Services depart hourly, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 1h 41m.
The distance between Brussels and Cologne is 216 km. The road distance is 208.3 km.
The best way to get from Brussels to Cologne without a car is to train which takes 1h 41m and costs €30 - €70.
The train from Brussels-North to Koeln Hbf takes 1h 41m including transfers and departs hourly.
Brussels to Cologne bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from Brussels-North train station.
Brussels to Cologne train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), depart from Brussels-Nord station.
The best way to get from Brussels to Cologne is to train which takes 1h 41m and costs €30 - €70. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €22 - €35 and takes 4h.
What companies run services between Brussels, Belgium and Cologne, Germany?
Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) operates a train from Brussels-Nord to Koeln Hbf hourly. Tickets cost €30–70 and the journey takes 1h 41m. Belgian Railways (NMBS/SNCB) also services this route 3 times a week. Alternatively, FlixBus operates a bus from Brussels-North train station to Cologne Airport CGN 5 times a day. Tickets cost €20–30 and the journey takes 3h 35m.
- Phone
- +49 30 2970
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Brussels-Nord to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 41m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €30–70
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
- Phone
- +32 70 79 79 79
- Website
- Belgian Railways
Train from Brussels-Nord to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- €40–65
- Website
- Belgian Railways
Night train from Brussels-Nord to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 42m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- €40–65
- Website
- Belgian Railways
- Phone
- +43 (0) 51717
- Website
- Nightjet
Night train from Brussels-Nord to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 33m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €21–95
- Website
- Nightjet
- Sleeper Carriage
- €80–95
- Couchette Carriage
- €50–65
- Seating Carriage
- €21–26
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Brussels-North train station to Cologne Airport CGN
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- €20–30
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +3 318 576 2228
- Website
- BlaBlaCar
Rideshare from Brussels to Cologne
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 47m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- €15
- Schedules at
- BlaBlaCar
Want to know more about travelling around Germany
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
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Booking & Getting There
Brussels to Cologne bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at Cologne Airport CGN station.
Brussels to Cologne train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), arrive at Koeln Hbf station.
Yes, the driving distance between Brussels to Cologne is 208 km. It takes approximately 2h 7m to drive from Brussels to Cologne.
Book your Brussels to Cologne train tickets online with Omio and 12go.asia.
Book your Brussels to Cologne bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 1819+ hotels available in Cologne.
Check out Blablacar's carpooling service for rideshare options between Brussels and Cologne. A great option if you don't have a driver's licence or want to avoid public transport.


















