There are 9 ways to get from Paris to Cologne 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 • 3h 20m
Cheapest option
Bus • 8h 32m
7 alternative options
Train via Brussels • 4h 12m
Bus, train • 6h 40m
Rideshare • 5h 47m
Drive • 4h 22m
Fly Paris CDG to Dusseldorf, train • 4h 52m
Fly Paris Orly to Cologne Bonn • 6h 31m
Fly Paris CDG to Frankfurt, train • 4h 52m
Paris to Cologne by train
Questions & Answers
The most affordable way to get from Paris to Cologne is to bus, which costs €27 - €35 and takes 8h 32m.
The quickest way to get from Paris to Cologne is to train which costs €110 - €230 and takes 3h 20m.
No, there is no direct bus from Paris to Cologne. However, there are services departing from Paris and arriving at Köln Heumarkt via Leverkusen Leverkusen Mitte Bf. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 8h 32m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Paris Nord and arriving at Koeln Hbf. Services depart twice daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 3h 20m.
The distance between Paris and Cologne is 402 km. The road distance is 479.4 km.
The best way to get from Paris to Cologne without a car is to train which takes 3h 20m and costs €110 - €230.
The train from Paris Nord to Koeln Hbf takes 3h 20m including transfers and departs twice daily.
Paris to Cologne bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from Paris station.
Paris to Cologne train services, operated by Thalys, depart from Paris Nord station.
The best way to get from Paris to Cologne is to train which takes 3h 20m and costs €110 - €230. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €27 - €35 and takes 8h 32m, you could also fly, which costs €60 - €300 and takes 6h 31m.
- Distance: 402.1 km
- Duration: 3h 20m
What companies run services between Paris, France and Cologne, Germany?
Thalys operates a train from Paris Nord to Koeln Hbf twice daily. Tickets cost €110 - €230 and the journey takes 3h 20m. Alternatively, FlixBus operates a bus from Paris to Leverkusen Wiesdorf Mitte Bf twice daily. Tickets cost €27 - €35 and the journey takes 7h 35m.
- Website
- airfrance.com
Flights from Paris CDG to Dusseldorf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €90 - €390
Flights from Paris CDG to Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €75 - €410
- Website
- lufthansa.com
Flights from Paris CDG to Dusseldorf via Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €140 - €480
Flights from Paris Orly to Cologne Bonn via Munich
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 32m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €210 - €1100
Flights from Paris CDG to Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €75 - €490
- Website
- klm.com
Flights from Paris CDG to Dusseldorf via Amsterdam Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €130 - €440
Flights from Paris CDG to Frankfurt via Amsterdam Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 17m
- When
- Saturday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €150 - €460
- Website
- eurowings.com
Flights from Paris Orly to Cologne Bonn via Milan Malpensa
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- When
- Monday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- €90 - €310
Flights from Paris Orly to Cologne Bonn via Nice
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- €95 - €330
Flights from Paris Orly to Cologne Bonn via Berlin Brandenburg Apt
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- €50 - €370
Flights from Paris Orly to Cologne Bonn via Palma Mallorca
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- €120 - €390
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Paris Orly to Cologne Bonn via Biarritz
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 15m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- €25 - €160
- Phone
- +32 70 66 77 88
- Website
- thalys.com
Train from Paris Nord to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €110 - €230
- Website
- Thalys
- Standard
- €110 - €150
- Comfort
- €120 - €160
- Premium
- €160 - €230
Train from Paris Nord to Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 22m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €75 - €160
- Website
- Thalys
- Standard
- €75 - €110
- Comfort
- €90 - €120
- Premium
- €110 - €160
Train from Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €65 - €130
- Website
- Thalys
- Standard
- €65 - €90
- Comfort
- €75 - €100
- Premium
- €90 - €130
Train from Duesseldorf Flughafen to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 37 min
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- €40 - €75
- Website
- Thalys
- Standard
- €40 - €55
- Comfort
- €50 - €70
- Premium
- €55 - €75
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 Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €40 - €60
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn
Train from Bruxelles Midi to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €40 - €60
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn
Train from D-Flughafen Bf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 32 min
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- €18 - €26
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn
Train from Frankfurt to Köln Deutz Messe/Deutz Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- €35 - €50
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn
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- Phone
- 0221 13 999 444
- Website
- nationalexpress.de
Train from Duesseldorf Flughafen to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- €12 - €16
- Website
- National Express Rail
- Phone
- 0800 2235546
- Website
- abellio.de
Train from Düsseldorf Flughafen to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Website
- ABELLIO Rail
- Phone
- 0800 223 5546
- Website
- abellio.de
Train from D-Flughafen Bf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Website
- Abellio NRW
- Phone
- 0800 223 5546
- Website
- abellio.de
Train from Duesseldorf Flughafen to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Website
- Abellio
- Phone
- +49 9126 288825
- Website
- train-rental.com
Train from D-Flughafen Bf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 42 min
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Website
- TRI Train Rental GmbH
As the bus subsidiary of French railway SNCF, Ouibus offers eco-friendly coaches serving 35 French cities and 10 European cities at affordable fares. Ouibus journeys are safe and comfortable, with the four-star coaches offering power outlets, restrooms and WiFi. All Ouibus stations are located close to town centres for easy access to public transport. Getting on one of the 130 daily journeys is easy - electronic travel documents include your ticket and a personalised mini-guide with handy information.
Contact Details
- Phone
- +33 1 71 53 01 80
- Website
- blablacar.fr
Bus from Paris City Centre - Bercy Seine to Brussels City Center - Midi Train station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €12 - €15
- Website
- Blablabus
One of Europe’s leading bus companies, Flixbus serves 2000+ destinations in 29 countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands and Croatia and into Scandinavia and eastern Europe, as well as some US cities. Coaches have toilets, free WiFi and power outlets, plus snacks and drinks for purchase on board. Flixbus is a good choice for the budget-conscious traveller; purchase tickets in advance for the cheapest fares (note: there is no option to reserve a seat in advance).
Rome2rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- flixbus.de
Bus from Paris to Brussels South
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €16 - €20
- Website
- flixbus.co.uk
Bus from Paris to Leverkusen Wiesdorf Mitte Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 35m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €27 - €35
- Website
- flixbus.co.uk
Frequently asked questions
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 Paris to Cologne
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 47m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €34
- Book at
- blablacar.co.uk
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Read the travel guideMore Questions & Answers
The quickest flight from Paris CDG Airport to Dusseldorf Airport is the direct flight which takes 1h 10m.
Paris to Cologne bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at Leverkusen Wiesdorf Mitte Bf station.
Paris to Cologne train services, operated by Thalys, arrive at Koeln Hbf station.
Yes, the driving distance between Paris to Cologne is 479 km. It takes approximately 4h 22m to drive from Paris to Cologne.
Lufthansa, KLM and Air France offer flights from Paris CDG Airport to Dusseldorf Airport.
Book your Paris to Cologne train tickets online with Omio.
There are 513+ hotels available in Cologne. Prices start at €87 per night.
The best way to get from Paris to Paris CDG Airport is to train which takes 34 min and costs €5 - €8.