There are 7 ways to get from Thuringia 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.
Train via Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
best- Take the train from Erfurt Hbf to Frankfurt13 / ...
- Take the train from Frankfurt to Köln Hbf78 / ...
3h 34m€55–172Rideshare
cheapest- Take the rideshare from Erfurt to Cologne358.1 km
4h 1m€14–23Bus
- Take the bus from Erfurt central train station to Leverkusen020
6h 18m€17–35Train, night train
- Take the train from Erfurt Hbf to GöttingenRe1
- Take the night train from Goettingen to Koeln HbfNj
12h 4m€68–302Train
- Take the train from Erfurt Hbf to Köln Hbf51
5h 24m€45–150Drive 358.4 km
- Drive from Erfurt to Cologne358.4 km
3h 26m€52–74Train, fly
- Take the train from Erfurt Hbf to Frankfurt
- Fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)FRA - DUS
- Take the train from Duesseldorf Flughafen to Koeln Hbf
5h 2m€122–285
Thuringia to Cologne by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Thuringia to Cologne is to rideshare which costs €14 - €23 and takes 4h 1m.
The fastest way to get from Thuringia to Cologne is to drive which takes 3h 26m and costs €50 - €75.
No, there is no direct bus from Thuringia station to Cologne. However, there are services departing from Erfurt central train station and arriving at Köln Heumarkt via Wiesdorf Leverkusen Mitte Bf. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 6h 18m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Erfurt Hbf and arriving at Köln Hbf. Services depart once a week, and operate Friday and Sunday. The journey takes approximately 5h 24m.
The distance between Thuringia and Cologne is 431 km. The road distance is 358.4 km.
The best way to get from Thuringia to Cologne without a car is to train via Frankfurt Airport (FRA) which takes 3h 34m and costs €55 - €180.
It takes approximately 3h 34m to get from Thuringia to Cologne, including transfers.
Thuringia to Cologne bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from Erfurt central train station.
Thuringia to Cologne train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), depart from Erfurt Hbf station.
The best way to get from Thuringia to Cologne is to train via Frankfurt Airport (FRA) which takes 3h 34m and costs €55 - €180. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €17 - €35 and takes 6h 18m.
What companies run services between Thuringia, Germany and Cologne, Germany?
You can take a train from Erfurt Hbf to Köln Hbf via Frankfurt in around 3h 34m. Alternatively, FlixBus operates a bus from Erfurt central train station to Leverkusen 5 times a week. Tickets cost €17–35 and the journey takes 5h 15m.
Transport is disrupted due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Read more
- Website
- lufthansa.com
Flights from Frankfurt to Düsseldorf International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €29–220
- Website
- lufthansa-city.com
Flights from Frankfurt to Düsseldorf International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- When
- Tuesday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €29–220
- Website
- condor.com
Flights from Frankfurt to Düsseldorf International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- €65–220
- Phone
- +49 30 311 682904
- Website
- bahn.de
Train from Erfurt Hbf to Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 21m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- €30–85
- 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 Erfurt Hbf to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 24m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €45–150
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
Train from Duesseldorf Flughafen to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 34 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €15–26
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
- Phone
- +31 30 751 5155
- Website
- ns.nl
Train from Frankfurt to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €27–90
- Website
- https://www.ns.nl/en
- 2nd Class
- €27–40
- 1st Class
- €50–90
- Phone
- +49 30 2970
- Website
- bahn.de
Train from Erfurt Hbf to Göttingen
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 42m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- €22–35
- Website
- https://int.bahn.de/en
- 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
- 0221 13 999 444
- Website
- nationalexpress.de
Train from Duesseldorf Flughafen to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- €10–15
- Schedules at
- nationalexpress.de
- Phone
- +44 343 218 6186
- Website
- eurostar.com
Train from Duesseldorf Flughafen to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 38 min
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- €25–60
- Website
- https://www.eurostar.com/rw-en
- Standard
- €25–35
- Comfort
- €27–40
- Premium
- €40–60
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- flixbus.fr
Bus from Erfurt central train station to Leverkusen
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- €17–35
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- +3 318 576 2228
- Website
- blablacar.com
Rideshare from Erfurt to Cologne
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 1m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €14–23
- Schedules at
- blablacar.com
Want to know more about travelling around Germany
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More Questions & Answers
Thuringia to Cologne bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at Leverkusen station.
Thuringia to Cologne train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), arrive at Frankfurt station.
Yes, the driving distance between Thuringia to Cologne is 358 km. It takes approximately 3h 26m to drive from Thuringia to Cologne.
Book your Thuringia to Cologne train tickets online with Omio.
There are 1444+ hotels available in Cologne.
Check out Blablacar's carpooling service for rideshare options between Thuringia and Cologne. A great option if you don't have a driver's licence or want to avoid public transport.

































