How to get from Cologne to Hamburg
On Routavio you can compare the ways from Cologne to Hamburg by price and travel time.
- 357 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: train, 3h 51m
- 28 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
3h 51m
direct
Train
€31
Cheapest
6h 40m
direct
Bus
€27
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 20 Oct 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Cologne to Hamburg. The most useful door-to-door route takes 6h 40m by bus with no transfer. The two cities are about 357 km apart in a straight line. The price and operators below come from a real route search.
This fare comes from a search on May 12, 2026 and has not been refreshed since. Run a live search for today's price.
357 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | €13Omio catalogue, Oct 20 | 3h 51mdirect | See Train details |
| Bus | €14Omio catalogue, Oct 20 | 6h 40mdirect | See Bus details |
- Train€13Omio catalogue, Oct 203h 51m · directSee Train details
- Bus€14Omio catalogue, Oct 206h 40m · directSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Cologne to Hamburg: cheapest or fastest?
Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Cologne → Hamburgbus
FlixBus·6h 40m
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
Which 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.
Departures from Cologne to Hamburg
Deutsche Bahn runs 28 scheduled departures a day, the first at 01:37 and the last at 20:11.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deutsche Bahntrain | 28 | 01:37 | 20:11 |
| FlixBusbus | 27 | 02:05 | 23:35 |
All departuresDeutsche Bahn
- 01:37
- 02:09
- 03:40
- 04:00
- 05:11
- 05:44
- 07:11
- 07:40
- 08:11
- 08:45
- 09:11
- 09:44
- 10:11
- 10:14
- 11:11
- 11:44
- 12:09
- 12:11
- 12:45
- 13:11
- 14:11
- 15:11
- 16:07
- 16:11
- 17:11
- 18:11
- 19:11
- 20:11
All departuresFlixBus
- 02:05
- 03:05
- 04:05
- 06:38
- 07:01
- 08:01
- 08:36
- 09:01
- 10:01
- 12:39
- 13:01
- 14:01
- 14:05
- 14:12
- 15:01
- 15:05
- 16:01
- 16:05
- 21:35
- 22:35
- 23:35
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 Tue, Oct 20
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 Hamburg works
Start with a FlixBus bus from Cologne to Hamburg, about 6h 40m. In total it's roughly €27 over 6h 40m, direct, no transfers.
Cologne to Hamburg: common questions
How long does it take to get from Cologne to Hamburg?
The most useful route takes about 6h 40m by bus, with no transfer.
When is the first train from Cologne to Hamburg?
The first train with Deutsche Bahn leaves at 01:37 and the last at 20:11, according to the published timetable.
How many train departures a day are there from Cologne to Hamburg?
28 a day with Deutsche Bahn, between 01:37 and 20:11.
When is the first bus from Cologne to Hamburg?
The first bus with FlixBus leaves at 02:05 and the last at 23:35, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Cologne to Hamburg?
27 a day with FlixBus, between 02:05 and 23:35.
How far is Hamburg from Cologne?
About 357 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Cologne to Hamburg cost?
On the upcoming dates we checked, the cheapest fare ranged from €15 to €27. Run a live search for your own date to see today's price.
Which operators run Cologne to Hamburg?
On this route you travel with FlixBus, Deutsche Bahn.
Can you get from Cologne to Hamburg without flying?
Yes. A ground route by train takes about 3h 42m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Cologne to Hamburg?
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 Hamburg
- how to get from Cologne to Hamburg
- Cologne to Hamburg travel time
- Cologne to Hamburg distance
- cheapest way from Cologne to Hamburg
- Cologne to Hamburg 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: 20 Oct 2026
Prices checked: 12 May 2026