There are 7 ways to get from Jena to Cologne by train, bus, night train, car, rideshare, 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 Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
best- Take the train from Jena West to Erfurt HbfRe1 / ...
- Take the train from Erfurt Hbf to Frankfurt13 / ...
- Take the train from Frankfurt to Köln Hbf78 / ...
5h 2m€64–200Rideshare
cheapest- Take the rideshare from Jena to Cologne399.6 km
4h 22m€14–24Bus
- Take the bus from Jena bus station to Leverkusen020
7h 13m€19–35Train, night train
- Take the train from Jena West to GöttingenRe1
- Take the night train from Goettingen to Koeln HbfNj
12h 35m€73–309Drive 400.3 km
- Drive from Jena to Cologne400.3 km
3h 33m€57–82Train
- Take the train from Jena West to Köln Hbf51
5h 55m€65–170Train, fly
- Take the train from Jena Paradies to Halle(Saale)Hbf
- Fly from Leipzig-Halle Airport (LEJ) to Frankfurt (FRA)LEJ - FRA
- Take the train from Frankfurt to Köln Hbf
5h 5m€128–306
Jena to Cologne by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Jena to Cologne is to rideshare which costs €14 - €24 and takes 4h 22m.
The fastest way to get from Jena to Cologne is to drive which takes 3h 33m and costs €55 - €85.
No, there is no direct bus from Jena station to Cologne. However, there are services departing from Jena bus station and arriving at Köln Heumarkt via Wiesdorf Leverkusen Mitte Bf. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 7h 13m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Jena West and arriving at Köln Hbf. Services depart once daily, and operate Monday to Saturday. The journey takes approximately 5h 55m.
The distance between Jena and Cologne is 475 km. The road distance is 400.3 km.
The best way to get from Jena to Cologne without a car is to train via Frankfurt Airport (FRA) which takes 5h 2m and costs €60 - €200.
It takes approximately 5h 2m to get from Jena to Cologne, including transfers.
Jena to Cologne bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from Jena bus station.
Jena to Cologne train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), depart from Jena West station.
The best way to get from Jena to Cologne is to train via Frankfurt Airport (FRA) which takes 5h 2m and costs €60 - €200. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €19 - €35 and takes 7h 13m.
What companies run services between Jena, Germany and Cologne, Germany?
You can take a train from Jena West to Köln Hbf via Erfurt Hbf and Frankfurt in around 5h 2m. Alternatively, FlixBus operates a bus from Jena bus station to Leverkusen 5 times a week. Tickets cost €19–35 and the journey takes 6h 10m.
- Website
- lufthansa.com
Flights from Leipzig-Halle Airport to Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 1m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €80–160
- Phone
- +49 30 2970
- Website
- bahn.de
Train from Jena West to Erfurt Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 29 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €10–15
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
Train from Jena West to Göttingen
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 13m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €28–40
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
- Phone
- +49 37343 808037
- verein@pressnitztalbahn.de
- Website
- pressnitztalbahn.de
Train from Jena West to Erfurt Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 36 min
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Schedules at
- pressnitztalbahn.de
- Phone
- +49 30 311 682904
- Website
- bahn.de
Train from Jena West to Erfurt Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 31 min
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- €23–26
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
Train from Erfurt Hbf to Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 21m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- €28–85
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
Train from Frankfurt to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €25–75
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
Train from Jena West to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €65–170
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
Train from Jena Paradies to Halle(Saale)Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 3m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- €26–27
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
- Phone
- +31 30 751 5155
- Website
- ns.nl
Train from Frankfurt to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €27–90
- Website
- https://www.ns.nl/en
- 2nd Class
- €27–40
- 1st Class
- €50–90
- Phone
- +43 51717
- Website
- nightjet.com
Night train from Goettingen to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 22m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- €45–262
- Website
- https://www.nightjet.com/en/#/home
- Sleeper Carriage
- €259–262
- Couchette Carriage
- €130–160
- Seating Carriage
- €45–60
- Phone
- +49 30 21300130
- info@abellio-mitteldeutschland.de
- Website
- abellio.de
Train from Jena Paradies to Halle(Saale)Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 19m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €16–22
- Schedules at
- abellio.de
- Phone
- 0800 2235546
- Website
- abellio.de
Train from Jena Paradies to Halle(Saale)Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 19m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €17–27
- Website
- ABELLIO Rail Mitteldeutschland GmbH
- Phone
- +43 5 1717
- Website
- oebb.at
Train from Jena Paradies to Halle(Saale)Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 3m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €18–28
- Website
- https://www.oebb.at/en/reiseplanung-services/im-zug/unsere-zuege/eurocity-intercity
- Website
- https://shop.oebbtickets.at/en/ticket?cref=oebb-header
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- flixbus.fr
Bus from Jena bus station to Leverkusen
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- €19–35
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- +3 318 576 2228
- Website
- blablacar.com
Rideshare from Jena to Cologne
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 22m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €14–24
- Schedules at
- blablacar.com
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.
Related travel guides
Heading to Europe? Read this before you buy a Eurail Pass
Read the travel guide
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
More Questions & Answers
Jena to Cologne bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at Leverkusen station.
Jena to Cologne train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), arrive at Köln Hbf station.
Yes, the driving distance between Jena to Cologne is 400 km. It takes approximately 3h 33m to drive from Jena to Cologne.
Book your Jena to Cologne train tickets online with Omio.
There are 1737+ hotels available in Cologne.
Check out Blablacar's carpooling service for rideshare options between Jena and Cologne. A great option if you don't have a driver's licence or want to avoid public transport.


































