There are 12 ways to get from Leipzig to Cologne by train, bus, car, plane, 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.
Train
best- Take the train from Leipzig Hbf to Köln Hbftrain 51 / ...
5h 41m€110–490Rideshare
cheapest- Take the rideshare from Leipzig to Cologne472.5 km
5h 58m€22–26Bus
- Take the bus from Leipzig central train station to Leverkusenbus 264 / ...
8h 21m€35–65Drive 472 km
- Drive from Leipzig to Colognecar 472 km
4h 29m€67–97Fly Leipzig-Halle Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport
- Fly from Leipzig-Halle Airport (LEJ) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)plane LEJ - DUS
5h 27m€131–367Train via Frankfurt am Main
- Take the train from Leipzig Hbf to Frankfurttrain 50 / ...
- Take the train from Frankfurt to Köln Messe/Deutz Bftrain 41 / ...
5h 44m€110–501Train via Essen
- Take the train from Leipzig Central Station to Gelsenkirchen Central Stationtrain Flx30
- Take the train from Gelsenkirchen Hbf to Koeln Messe/Deutztrain Re
7h 31mFly Leipzig-Halle Airport to Frankfurt, train
- Fly from Leipzig-Halle Airport (LEJ) to Frankfurt (FRA)plane LEJ - FRA
- Take the train from Frankfurt to Köln Messe/Deutz Bftrain
3h 28m€130–318Train to Berlin Brandenburg Airport, fly to Cologne Bonn Airport
- Take the train from Leipzig Hbf to S Südkreuz Bhftrain
- Fly from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)plane BER - CGN
4h 9m€82–371Train to Dresden Airport, fly to Düsseldorf International Airport
- Take the train from Leipzig Hbf to Dresden Bahnhof Neustadttrain
- Fly from Dresden Airport (DRS) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)plane DRS - DUS
4h 46m€149–496Train to Berlin Brandenburg Airport, fly to Düsseldorf International Airport
- Take the train from Leipzig Hbf to S Südkreuz Bhftrain
- Fly from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)plane BER - DUS
4h 43m€101–407Train to Dresden Airport, fly to Frankfurt, train
- Take the train from Leipzig Hbf to Dresden Bahnhof Neustadttrain
- Fly from Dresden Airport (DRS) to Frankfurt (FRA)plane DRS - FRA
- Take the train from Frankfurt to Köln Messe/Deutz Bftrain
4h 52m€193–517
Leipzig to Cologne by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Leipzig to Cologne is to rideshare which costs €22 - €26 and takes 5h 58m.
The fastest way to get from Leipzig to Cologne is to fly and train which takes 3h 28m and costs €130 - €320.
No, there is no direct bus from Leipzig station to Cologne. However, there are services departing from Leipzig central train station and arriving at Köln Heumarkt via Wiesdorf Leverkusen Mitte Bf. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 8h 21m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Leipzig Hbf and arriving at Köln Hbf. Services depart every four hours, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 5h 41m.
The distance between Leipzig and Cologne is 600 km. The road distance is 472 km.
The best way to get from Leipzig to Cologne without a car is to train which takes 5h 41m and costs €110 - €490.
The train from Leipzig Hbf to Cologne Hbf takes 5h 41m including transfers and departs every four hours.
Leipzig to Cologne bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from Leipzig central train station.
Leipzig to Cologne train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), depart from Leipzig Hbf station.
The best way to get from Leipzig to Cologne is to train which takes 5h 41m and costs €110 - €490. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €35 - €65 and takes 8h 21m, you could also fly, which costs €130 - €370 and takes 5h 27m.
What companies run services between Leipzig, Germany and Cologne, Germany?
Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) operates a train from Leipzig Hbf to Köln Hbf every 4 hours. Tickets cost €110–490 and the journey takes 5h 41m. Alternatively, FlixBus operates a bus from Leipzig central train station to Leverkusen twice daily. Tickets cost €35–65 and the journey takes 7h 20m.
- Website
- eurowings.com
Flights from Leipzig-Halle Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Palma Mallorca
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- When
- Tuesday and Friday
- Estimated price
- €140–230
Flights from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to Cologne Bonn Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €65–200
Flights from Dresden Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- €100–300
Flights from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €75–210
- Website
- lufthansa.com
Flights from Leipzig-Halle Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €110–410
Flights from Leipzig-Halle Airport to Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €95–160
Flights from Dresden Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Munich
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €70–460
Flights from Dresden Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €140–460
Flights from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €40–310
Flights from Dresden Airport to Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €130–280
Flights from Dresden Airport to Frankfurt via Munich
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 51m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €130–280
- Website
- condor.com
Flights from Leipzig-Halle Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Palma Mallorca
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- €160–700
Flights from Leipzig-Halle Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Corfu
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- €110–220
- Website
- klm.com
Flights from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Amsterdam Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €50–290
- Website
- austrian.com
Flights from Leipzig-Halle Airport to Düsseldorf International Airport via Vienna
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- €120–460
- Phone
- +49 30 2970
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Leipzig Hbf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 41m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €110–490
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Leipzig Hbf to Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €80–360
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Frankfurt to Köln Messe/Deutz Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 6m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €30–150
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Frankfurt to Köln Messe/Deutz Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €30–140
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Leipzig Hbf to S Südkreuz Bhf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €29–130
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Leipzig Hbf to Dresden Bahnhof Neustadt
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €21–95
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Leipzig Hbf to S Südkreuz Bhf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €29–130
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Leipzig Hbf to Dresden Bahnhof Neustadt
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €21–95
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Frankfurt to Köln Messe/Deutz Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €30–140
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- info@flixbus.de
- Website
- FlixTrain GmbH
Train from Leipzig Central Station to Gelsenkirchen Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- €45–75
- Website
- FlixTrain GmbH
Train from Leipzig Hbf to S Südkreuz Bhf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- €12–18
- Website
- FlixTrain GmbH
Train from Leipzig Hbf to S Südkreuz Bhf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- €12–18
- Website
- FlixTrain GmbH
- Phone
- +49 221 13 999 444
- Website
- National Express
Train from Gelsenkirchen Hbf to Koeln Messe/Deutz
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Schedules at
- National Express
- Phone
- +49 9126 301 90 70
- fahrgaeste@train-rental.com
- Website
- TRI Train Rental GmbH
Train from Gelsenkirchen Hbf to Koeln Messe/Deutz
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 7m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Schedules at
- TRI Train Rental GmbH
- Phone
- +49 30 2970
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Regio (DB Regional)
Train from Leipzig Hbf to Dresden Bahnhof Neustadt
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €28–50
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Regio (DB Regional)
Train from Leipzig Hbf to Dresden Bahnhof Neustadt
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €28–50
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Regio (DB Regional)
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Leipzig central train station to Leverkusen
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €35–65
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +3 318 576 2228
- Website
- BlaBlaCar
Rideshare from Leipzig to Cologne
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 58m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- €22–26
- Schedules at
- BlaBlaCar
Want to know more about travelling around Germany
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More Questions & Answers
Leipzig to Cologne bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at Leverkusen station.
Leipzig to Cologne train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), arrive at Köln Hbf station.
Yes, the driving distance between Leipzig to Cologne is 472 km. It takes approximately 4h 29m to drive from Leipzig to Cologne.
Book your Leipzig to Cologne train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Leipzig to Cologne bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 1812+ hotels available in Cologne.
Check out Blablacar's carpooling service for rideshare options between Leipzig and Cologne. A great option if you don't have a driver's licence or want to avoid public transport.

















