How to get from Cologne to Dortmund
- 73 km as the crow flies
- 40 train departures a day with Deutsche Bahn
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
At a glance
Fastest
56m
direct
Train
€10
Cheapest
1h 45m
direct
Bus
€9
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 25 Sept 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Cologne to Dortmund. The most useful door-to-door route takes 1h 45m by bus with no transfer. The two cities are about 73 km apart in a straight line. The price and operators below come from a real route search.
73 km
Cologne to Dortmund: cheapest or fastest?
All from the same recent search. Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Cologne Airport CGN → Dortmund centralbus
FlixBus·1h 45m
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
The observed fares belong to earlier dates.
Search my dateWhich date should you go?
The amounts on each day are fares seen earlier, not live offers. A day with no figure is one we have not priced, not one without a service.
Flight prices by day, Cologne to Dortmund
The lowest fare we saw for each day over the next three months. Tap a day to search it live.
October 2026
€69Departures from Cologne to Dortmund
Deutsche Bahn runs 40 scheduled departures a day, the first at 04:00 and the last at 14:32.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deutsche Bahntrain | 40 | 04:00 | 14:32 |
| FlixBusbus | 33 | 03:10 | 23:35 |
| National Expresstrain | 12 | — | — |
Departure times come from operator timetables and are local time at the origin. Where a row shows no times, the frequency is the operator's own and the timetable is not published to us. Times can change on holidays and at short notice; confirm with the operator before you travel.
Departure and arrival
Ticket prices on this route
What each way of travelling costs, as the operator publishes it. These describe the route rather than a date you pick, and they refresh once a day. Booking opens at our partner Omio.
Omio last refreshed these on Fri, Sep 25
Operators seen on these journeys
On this route you travel with FlixBus, Deutsche Bahn; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Cologne to Dortmund works
Start with a FlixBus bus from Cologne Airport CGN to Dortmund central, about 1h 45m. In total it's roughly €9 over 1h 45m, direct, no transfers.
Cologne to Dortmund: common questions
How long does it take to get from Cologne to Dortmund?
The most useful route takes about 1h 45m by bus, with no transfer.
When is the first train from Cologne to Dortmund?
The first train with Deutsche Bahn leaves at 04:00 and the last at 14:32, according to the published timetable.
How many train departures a day are there from Cologne to Dortmund?
40 a day with Deutsche Bahn, between 04:00 and 14:32.
When is the first bus from Cologne to Dortmund?
The first bus with FlixBus leaves at 03:10 and the last at 23:35, from Cologne Airport CGN, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Cologne to Dortmund?
33 a day with FlixBus, between 03:10 and 23:35.
Which station does the bus from Cologne to Dortmund leave from?
Cologne Airport CGN with FlixBus, according to the published timetable.
How far is Dortmund from Cologne?
About 73 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Cologne to Dortmund cost?
Our latest search put the route we recommend at €9. Other options on this page can cost less, and the exact fare depends on your travel date.
Which operators run Cologne to Dortmund?
On this route you travel with FlixBus, Deutsche Bahn.
Can you get from Cologne to Dortmund without flying?
Yes. A ground route by bus takes about 20m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Cologne to Dortmund?
Usually a flexible date, or leaving from a nearby airport. A live search puts every option for your dates side by side.
Can I book directly?
Yes. Routavio sends you straight to the operator or an independent third-party provider. We never add a booking fee. The final fare and availability are confirmed by that provider.
Other ways people search Cologne to Dortmund
- how to get from Cologne to Dortmund
- Cologne to Dortmund travel time
- Cologne to Dortmund distance
- cheapest way from Cologne to Dortmund
- Cologne to Dortmund by bus
Sources and method
Routes are calculated by Routavio's multimodal engine from operator timetables and flight data. Durations come from timetables, and prices are the most recent observation, not a guarantee.
Operators: FlixBus
Route calculated: 25 Sep 2026