There are 6 ways to get from Cologne to Amsterdam by train, bus, rideshare, car or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner.
Recommended option
Train • 2h 52m
50€ - 70€
Cheapest option
Rideshare • 3h 1m
12€ - 25€
4 alternative options
Bus • 3h 40m
35€ - 55€
Train via Wesel • 4h 2m
Drive • 2h 34m
30€ - 50€
Train, fly • 2h 55m
86€ - 286€
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Advice
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Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cologne to Amsterdam is to rideshare which costs 12€ - 25€ and takes 3h 1m.
The quickest way to get from Cologne to Amsterdam is to drive which costs 30€ - 50€ and takes 2h 34m.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Cologne Hbf and arriving at Amsterdam Amstel. Services depart four times a week, and operate Friday and Saturday. The journey takes approximately 3h 40m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Koeln Messe/Deutz Gl.11-12 and arriving at Amsterdam Centraal. Services depart every four hours, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 2h 52m.
The distance between Cologne and Amsterdam is 214 km. The road distance is 264.6 km.
The best way to get from Cologne to Amsterdam without a car is to train which takes 2h 52m and costs 50€ - 70€.
The train from Koeln Messe/Deutz Gl.11-12 to Amsterdam Centraal takes 2h 52m including transfers and departs every four hours.
Cologne to Amsterdam bus services, operated by Eurolines DE, depart from Cologne Hbf station.
Cologne to Amsterdam train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity-Express, depart from Koeln Messe/Deutz Gl.11-12 station.
The best way to get from Cologne to Amsterdam is to train which takes 2h 52m and costs 50€ - 70€. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs 35€ - 55€ and takes 3h 40m.
- Distance: 214.1 km
- Duration: 2h 52m
What companies run services between Cologne, Germany and Amsterdam, Netherlands?
Deutsche Bahn Intercity-Express operates a train from Koeln Messe/Deutz Gl.11-12 to Amsterdam Centraal every 4 hours. Tickets cost 50€ - 70€ and the journey takes 2h 52m. Alternatively, Eurolines DE operates a bus from Cologne Hbf to Amsterdam Amstel 4 times a week. Tickets cost 35€ - 55€ and the journey takes 3h 40m.
- Website
- klm.com
Flights from Dusseldorf to Amsterdam Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- 170€ - 600€
German rail company Deutsche Bahn is known for its efficient and comfortable service. It offers many different types of rail transportation, including ICE or Intercity-Express for high-speed services between major cities and regions, IC (InterCity) for long-distance trains, RE (Regional Express) trains that connect regions and cities, and the S-Bahn rapid transit service. There are two main tickets on offer: the Flexpreis that has full flexibility, and the Sparpreis which is the cheaper, advanced fare (bookings usually open 6 months in advance for domestic tickets).
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 0180 6 99 66 33
- Website
- bahn.com
Train from Koeln Messe/Deutz Gl.11-12 to Amsterdam Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 52m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- 50€ - 70€
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn
Train from Koeln Hbf to Duesseldorf Flughafen
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- 17€ - 24€
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn
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- Phone
- 0221 13 999 444
- Website
- nationalexpress.de
Train from Köln Hbf to Wesel Bahnhof
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 22m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- 21€ - 27€
- Website
- National Express Rail
Train from Köln Hbf to D-Flughafen Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 37 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- 11€ - 14€
- Website
- National Express Rail
- Website
- abellio.de
Train from Wesel to Arnhem Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Schedules at
- abellio.de
Train from Koeln Hbf to Duesseldorf Flughafen
- Ave. Duration
- 38 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Schedules at
- abellio.de
- Phone
- 0800 223 5546
- Website
- abellio.de
Train from Wesel Bahnhof to Arnhem Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Website
- Abellio NRW
Train from Köln Hbf to D-Flughafen Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Website
- Abellio NRW
Dutch Railways (NS) is the main passenger railway operator in the Netherlands. Founded in 1938, NS connects all major cities in the Netherlands, and offers night trains, international trains, Intercity direct, and trains to and from the airport. NS International is the international subsidiary of NS; their services include high-speed trains such as Thalys, ICE International, Eurostar and TGV, to major European hubs including Paris, London, Brussels, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt and Lille.
Contact Details
- Phone
- +31 30 751 5155
- Website
- ns.nl
Train from Arnhem Centraal to Amsterdam Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 3m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- 13€ - 35€
- Website
- NS
- Book at
- Netherlands Rail Pass
- 2nd Class
- 13€ - 19€
- 1st Class
- 22€ - 35€
Deutsche Bahn’s regional network is made up of IRE (Interregio-Express), RE (Regional-Express), RB (Regionalbahn) and S-Bahn trains. Ticket prices are fixed and there’s no seat reservations – just turn up, buy a ticket and jump on the next train. All regional trains depart regularly and connect to local and long-distance services.
Contact Details
- Website
- bahn.com
Train from Koeln Hbf to Duesseldorf Flughafen
- Ave. Duration
- 38 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- 8€ - 12€
- Website
- reiseauskunft.bahn.de
- Phone
- +49 209 1584-0
- info@vrr.de
- Website
- vrr.de
Train from Köln Hbf to D-Flughafen Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 38 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- 2€
- Website
- VRR
Deutsche Bahn’s high-speed InterCity (IC) trains connect cities within Germany. They’re a popular way to travel as they’re faster than Deutsche Bahn’s regional trains and offer a frequent, fast service. All IC trains have first and second class carriages, power sockets and toilets, and most have a bistro cafe or restaurant. Tickets can be booked up to 180 days in advance of travel.
Contact Details
- Website
- bahn.com
Train from Koeln Hbf to Duesseldorf Flughafen
- Ave. Duration
- 41 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- 35€ - 50€
- Website
- reiseauskunft.bahn.de
- Phone
- +49 6196 2078-501
- service@eurolines.de
- Website
- eurolines.de
Bus from Cologne Hbf to Amsterdam Amstel
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- 35€ - 55€
- Website
- eurolines.de
Blablacar is a popular ridesharing platform with 70 million users over 22 (mostly European) countries. The basic idea is that you carpool with locals who are already planning to drive your route and have space in their car. With some flexibility, you’ll get to your destination often faster and cheaper than other means. On the website or app, enter your departure and arrival points and your date of travel, sift through the profiles of drivers who’ve posted pre-planned drives and find one whose timing and preferences match yours. Request to join the ride, wait to be accepted, and pay your share of the set price.
Rome2rio's guide to BlaBlaCar
Contact Details
- Website
- blablacar.com
Rideshare from Cologne to Amsterdam
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 1m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- 12€ - 25€
- Book at
- blablacar.co.uk
Want to know more about travelling around Netherlands
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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Read the travel guideMore Questions & Answers
The quickest flight from Dusseldorf Airport to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is the direct flight which takes 55 min.
Cologne to Amsterdam bus services, operated by Eurolines DE, arrive at Amsterdam Amstel station.
Cologne to Amsterdam train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity-Express, arrive at Amsterdam Centraal station.
Yes, the driving distance between Cologne to Amsterdam is 265 km. It takes approximately 2h 34m to drive from Cologne to Amsterdam.
KLM offers flights from Dusseldorf Airport to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Book your Cologne to Amsterdam train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Cologne to Amsterdam bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 2528+ hotels available in Amsterdam. Prices start at 87€ per night.