There are 7 ways to get from Cologne to Leiden by train, bus, 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.
Train via Arnhem
best- Take the train from Köln Hbf to Arnhem Centraaltrain 78
- Take the train from Arnhem Centraal to Leiden Centraaltrain Intercity
3h 23m€32–88Train #2
cheapest- Take the train from Köln Hbf to Utrecht Centraaltrain Ice / ...
- Take the train from Utrecht Centraal to Leiden Centraaltrain Intercity
3h 36m€31–97Bus
- Take the bus from Düsseldorf central bus station to The Haguebus FlixBus 007 / ...
6h 2m€32–49Drive 261.5 km
- Drive from Cologne to Leidencar 261.5 km
2h 56m€48–70Train to Düsseldorf International Airport, fly
- Take the train from Köln Messe/Deutz Bf to Düsseldorf Hbftrain
- Fly from Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)plane DUS - AMS
2h 59m€141–337Train
- Take the train from Köln Hbf to Amsterdam Centraaltrain Ice / ...
- Take the train from Amsterdam Centraal to Leiden Centraaltrain Intercity
3h 26m€33–67Train to Brussels Airport, fly
- Take the train from Köln Hbf to Brussels-Nordtrain
- Fly from Brussels Airport (BRU) to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)plane BRU - AMS
4h 12m€164–390
Cologne to Leiden by train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Cologne to Leiden is to train which costs €30 - €70 and takes 3h 26m.
The fastest way to get from Cologne to Leiden is to drive which takes 2h 56m and costs €45 - €70.
No, there is no direct bus from Cologne to Leiden. However, there are services departing from Köln and arriving at Leiden, Hogewoerd via Düsseldorf central bus station and Den Haag, Den Haag Centraal. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 6h 2m.
No, there is no direct train from Cologne to Leiden. However, there are services departing from Köln Hbf and arriving at Leiden Centraal via Arnhem Centraal. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 3h 23m.
The distance between Cologne and Leiden is 290 km. The road distance is 261.5 km.
The best way to get from Cologne to Leiden without a car is to train via Arnhem which takes 3h 23m and costs €30 - €90.
It takes approximately 3h 23m to get from Cologne to Leiden, including transfers.
Cologne to Leiden bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from Düsseldorf central bus station.
Cologne to Leiden train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), depart from Köln Hbf station.
The best way to get from Cologne to Leiden is to train via Arnhem which takes 3h 23m and costs €30 - €90. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €30 - €50 and takes 6h 2m.
What companies run services between Cologne, Germany and Leiden, Netherlands?
You can take a train from Köln Hbf to Leiden Centraal via Arnhem Centraal in around 3h 23m. Alternatively, FlixBus operates a bus from Düsseldorf central bus station to The Hague 5 times a day. Tickets cost €20–30 and the journey takes 3h 40m. RegioJet also services this route once daily.
- Website
- klm.com
Flights from Düsseldorf International Airport to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–270
Flights from Brussels Airport to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €30–240
- Phone
- +49 30 2970
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Köln Hbf to Arnhem Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 37m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- €30–60
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Köln Messe/Deutz Bf to Düsseldorf Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 19 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- €7–15
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Köln Hbf to Utrecht Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 34m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €40–85
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Köln Hbf to Brussels-Nord
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 43m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €40–80
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
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- Phone
- +31 30 751 5155
- Website
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Train from Köln Hbf to Arnhem Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 37m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €17–40
- Website
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Train from Arnhem Centraal to Leiden Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 28m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- €14–28
- Website
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Train from Köln Hbf to Amsterdam Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €28–60
- Website
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Train from Amsterdam Centraal to Leiden Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 36 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- €5–11
- Website
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Train from Köln Hbf to Utrecht Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 34m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €24–50
- Website
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Train from Utrecht Centraal to Leiden Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 54 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- €7–16
- Website
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
- Phone
- +49 221 13 999 444
- Website
- National Express
Train from Köln Messe/Deutz Bf to Düsseldorf Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 27 min
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Schedules at
- National Express
- Phone
- +32 70 79 79 79
- Website
- Belgian Railways
Train from Köln Hbf to Brussels-Nord
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €35–60
- Website
- Belgian Railways
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Düsseldorf central bus station to The Hague
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- €20–30
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +420 222 222 221
- info@regiojet.com
- Website
- RegioJet
Bus from Düsseldorf central bus station to The Hague
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €14–24
- Website
- RegioJet
Want to know more about travelling around Netherlands
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Booking & Getting There
Cologne to Leiden bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at The Hague station.
Cologne to Leiden train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), arrive at Arnhem Centraal station.
Yes, the driving distance between Cologne to Leiden is 262 km. It takes approximately 2h 56m to drive from Cologne to Leiden.
Book your Cologne to Leiden train tickets online with Omio.
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