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Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Cologne to Berlin
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Berlin among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $27. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 58m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $27, and a flight costs an average of $87.
Distance: 297 miles (479 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$69 Average price | $48 Average price Cheapest | $312 Average price | $107 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 58m Average total duration 5h 28m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 23m Average total duration 6h 53m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 58m Average total duration Fastest 1h 58m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 6h 38m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.5 - 1.2kg CO2 emissions | 1.4 - 2.9kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company |  Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Berlin:
A bus is $21 (€17) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Berlin costing on average $69 (€55).
A bus is $264 (€212) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Berlin costing on average $312 (€250).
Other travel options to Berlin take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 28m.
Bus takes on average 6h 53m.
Travel optionsfrom Cologne to Berlin
How to get from Cologne to Berlin by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cologne to Berlin is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- FlixBus9:30 PM8h55Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)6:25 AMBerlin, Kronprinzessinnenweg (Wannsee)$471One-way0 transfers
Cheapest
- FlixBus9:30 PM8h55Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)6:25 AMBerlin, Kronprinzessinnenweg (Wannsee)$471One-way0 transfers
Fastest
- EW805312:55 PM1h10Cologne Bonn Airport2:05 PMBerlin Brandenburg Airport$2131One-way0 transfers
Other options
- ICE 154111:27 PM6h08Cologne Hbf5:35 AMBerlin Hbf$601One-way0 transfers
FlixTrain4:14 PM4h56Cologne Hbf9:10 PMBerlin Spandau$621One-way0 transfers- FlixTrain4:14 PM5h08Cologne Hbf9:22 PMBerlin Hbf$621One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus9:30 PM9h15Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)6:45 AMBerlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB)$471One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus7:50 AM9h10Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)5:00 PMBerlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB)$511One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus5:45 PM9h25Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)3:10 AMBerlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB)$511One-way0 transfers
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
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The Journey from Cologne to Berlin
Traveling from Cologne to Berlin across Germany can all be conveniently done by train, plane, or bus, depending on budget and available time. A direct route between the two cities measures 480 kilometers, and takes around an hour by plane. Journeys by rail and road will take around four and eight hours respectively. The quickest routes of both go north-west via Dortmund and Hanover on the way to Berlin.
Buses from Cologne to Berlin
Buses leave Leverkusen-Mitte bus station in Cologne more than a dozen times per day for the capital, and with several providers offering services, prices are competitive and usually lower than going by plane or train. Journey times traveling from Cologne direct to Berlin are around eight hours, with the final stop in Berlin city center dependent on the provider.
Trains from Cologne to Berlin
Traveling from Cologne to Berlin on Germany’s regional train service or Intercity Express (ICE) usually takes around four hours and 20 minutes from Cologne's central station to Berlin Hauptbanhof, and there are trains departing at least every hour until mid-evening.
Flights from Cologne to Berlin
Traveling from Cologne to Berlin offers the shortest journey time and most direct route, with several providers offering flights several times per day. Flights take just over an hour from Cologne Bonn Airport to both Berlin Tegel and Berlin Schönefeld airports and just a short onward journey to the city's center. Flight prices are commonly higher when booking at short notice, but flights can be found with budget airlines such as Ryanair and Eurowings going to both Berlin airports that compete with or even beat the cost of many rail and bus tickets.
How to get from Cologne to Berlin
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FAQs: Travel from Cologne to Berlin
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This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Berlin:
A bus is $21 (€17) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Berlin costing on average $69 (€55).
A bus is $264 (€212) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Berlin costing on average $312 (€250).
Other travel options to Berlin take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 28m.
Bus takes on average 6h 53m.
- Around 20 trains per day.
- Around 9 buses per day.
- Around 6 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cologne and Berlin as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Cologne Bonn Airport and arrive in Berlin Brandenburg Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Cologne Hbf and arrive in Berlin Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) and arrive in Berlin, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB).
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) to go to Berlin by train.
- Travel with Eurowings, Smartwings, Avion Express Malta, Tuifly, Lufthansa Cityline, Lufthansa, Cityjet to go to Berlin by flight.
- Travel with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar to go to Berlin by bus.
- 12 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn, FlixTrain, Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC).
- 3 direct flights per day with Eurowings, Smartwings, Avion Express Malta.
- 8 direct buses per day with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar.
Travelling from Cologne to Berlin: related information
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