There are 7 ways to get from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne by train, bus, night train, 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 • 1h 5m
Cheapest option
Rideshare • 2h 12m
5 alternative options
Bus • 2h 35m
Train via Koblenz • 3h 37m
Night train • 2h 40m
Drive • 1h 44m
Fly, train • 3h 12m
Frankfurt am Main to Cologne by train
The train journey time between Frankfurt am Main and Cologne is around 1h 5m and covers a distance of around 180 km. Operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity-Express, the Frankfurt am Main to Cologne train service departs from Frankfurt(Main)Hbf and arrives in Köln Hbf. Typically 89 trains run weekly, although weekend and holiday schedules can vary so check in advance.
Questions & Answers
The most affordable way to get from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne is to rideshare, which costs €6 - €17 and takes 2h 12m.
The quickest way to get from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne is to train which costs €30 - €45 and takes 1h 5m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Frankfurt(Main)Hbf and arriving at Köln Hbf. Services depart hourly, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 1h 5m.
The distance between Frankfurt am Main and Cologne is 153 km. The road distance is 190 km.
The best way to get from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne without a car is to train which takes 1h 5m and costs €30 - €45.
The train from Frankfurt(Main)Hbf to Köln Hbf takes 1h 5m including transfers and departs hourly.
Frankfurt am Main to Cologne train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity-Express, depart from Frankfurt(Main)Hbf station.
The best way to get from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne is to train which takes 1h 5m and costs €30 - €45. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €19 - €30 and takes 2h 35m.
The quickest flight from Frankfurt Airport to Dusseldorf Airport is the direct flight which takes 45 min.
Frankfurt am Main to Cologne train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity-Express, arrive at Köln Hbf station.

- Distance: 152.6 km
- Duration: 1h 5m
What companies run services between Frankfurt am Main, Germany and Cologne, Germany?
Deutsche Bahn Intercity-Express operates a train from Frankfurt(Main)Hbf to Köln Hbf hourly. Tickets cost €30 - €45 and the journey takes 1h 5m. Alternatively, FlixBus operates a bus from Frankfurt central train station to Cologne Airport CGN every 3 hours. Tickets cost €15 - €22 and the journey takes 2h 5m.

- Website
- lufthansa.com
Flights from Frankfurt to Dusseldorf
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €100 - €320

- Phone
- +49 0180 6 99 66 33
- Website
- bahn.com
Train from Frankfurt(Main)Hbf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €30 - €45
- Website
- https://www.bahn.com/en
Night train from Frankfurt(Main)Hbf to Köln Messe/Deutz Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- €35 - €50
- Website
- https://www.bahn.com/en
Train from D-Flughafen Bf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 32 min
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- €22 - €30
- Website
- https://www.bahn.com/en

- Phone
- 069 450099650
- Kundenservice-Linie10@vias-online.de
- Website
- vias-online.de
Train from Frankfurt(Main)Hbf to Koblenz Stadtmitte
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 17m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €21 - €30
- Website
- https://www.vias-online.de/

- Phone
- 0221 13 999 444
- Website
- nationalexpress.de
Train from Koblenz Stadtmitte to Koeln Sued
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 3m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €16 - €23
- Schedules at
- nationalexpress.de
Train from Duesseldorf Flughafen to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- €11 - €16
- Schedules at
- nationalexpress.de

- Phone
- +49-261-98887070
- service@trans-regio.de
- Website
- mittelrheinbahn.de
Train from Koblenz Bahnhof Stadtmitte/Löhr-Center to Köln Süd Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 22m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €16 - €23
- Website
- TRANS REGIO Deutsche Regionalbahn GmbH

- Phone
- +43 51717
- Website
- nightjet.com
Night train from Frankfurt(Main)Sued to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 4m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- €26 - €200
- Website
- https://www.nightjet.com/en/#/home
- Sleeper Carriage
- €140 - €200
- Couchette Carriage
- €75 - €110
- Seating Carriage
- €26 - €40

- Phone
- +32 70 66 77 88
- Website
- thalys.com
Train from Duesseldorf Flughafen to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 38 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €26 - €60
- Website
- https://www.thalys.com/fr/en
- Standard
- €26 - €40
- Comfort
- €28 - €40
- Premium
- €45 - €60

Rome2Rio's guide to SNCF
Contact Details
- Phone
- +33 1 84 94 36 35
- Website
- sncf.com
Train from D-Flughafen Bf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 58 min
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- €8 - €17
- Website
- https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/
- 2nd Class
- €8 - €13
- Rail 1st Class
- €13 - €17

Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- flixbus.de
Bus from Frankfurt central train station to Cologne Airport CGN
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €15 - €22
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Book at
- https://shop.global.flixbus.com/
Frequently asked questions

- Phone
- +3 318 576 2228
- Website
- blablacar.com
Rideshare from Frankfurt to Cologne
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 12m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- €6 - €17
- Book at
- blablacar.co.uk
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Read the travel guideMore Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between Frankfurt am Main to Cologne is 190 km. It takes approximately 1h 44m to drive from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne.
Lufthansa offers flights from Frankfurt Airport to Dusseldorf Airport.
Book your Frankfurt am Main to Cologne train tickets online with Omio.
There are 1147+ hotels available in Cologne. Prices start at €30 per night.
The best way to get from Frankfurt am Main to Frankfurt Airport is to train which takes 15 min and costs €4 - €6.