How to get from Hamburg to Cologne
On Routavio you can compare the ways from Hamburg to Cologne by price and travel time.
- 357 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: flight, 3h 40m
- 47 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 40m
1 transfer
Flight
€355
Cheapest
6h 40m
direct
Bus
€27
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 18 Oct 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Hamburg to Cologne. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | €355Checked Oct 18 | 3h 40m1 transfer | See Flight details |
| Train | €7Omio catalogue, Oct 20 | 4h 21mdirect | See Train details |
| Bus | €13Omio catalogue, Oct 20 | 6h 40mdirect | See Bus details |
- Flight€355Checked Oct 183h 40m · 1 transferSee Flight details
- Train€7Omio catalogue, Oct 204h 21m · directSee Train details
- Bus€13Omio 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.
Hamburg to Cologne: cheapest or fastest?
Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Hamburg → Colognebus
FlixBus·6h 40m
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
Departures from Hamburg to Cologne
Deutsche Bahn runs 47 scheduled departures a day, the first at 04:26 and the last at 22:45.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deutsche Bahntrain | 47 | 04:26 | 22:45 |
| FlixBusbus | 30 | 00:10 | 23:10 |
All departuresDeutsche Bahn
- 04:26
- 04:41
- 05:26
- 05:45
- 06:26
- 06:45
- 07:26
- 07:45
- 08:11
- 08:19
- 08:25
- 08:42
- 09:26
- 09:45
- 10:26
- 10:45
- 11:10
- 11:23
- 11:26
- 11:45
- 11:54
- 12:09
- 12:26
- 12:45
- 13:12
- 13:26
- 13:45
- 14:26
- 14:45
- 15:10
- 15:23
- 15:26
- 15:45
- 15:54
- 16:09
- 16:26
- 16:45
- 17:26
- 17:45
- 18:26
- 18:45
- 19:26
- 19:45
- 20:26
- 20:45
- 22:25
- 22:45
All departuresFlixBus
- 00:10
- 04:00
- 05:00
- 06:00
- 06:50
- 07:01
- 07:50
- 08:01
- 08:50
- 09:01
- 09:50
- 10:01
- 12:50
- 13:01
- 13:50
- 14:01
- 14:50
- 15:01
- 15:50
- 16:01
- 16:45
- 17:45
- 22:10
- 23:10
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
FlixBusHamburg-CologneBook →
LufthansaHamburg-Munich, Munich-CologneSee live options and dates →
Deutsche BahnHamburg-CologneBook →On this route you travel with FlixBus, Lufthansa, Deutsche Bahn; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Hamburg to Cologne works
Start with a FlixBus bus from Hamburg to Cologne, about 6h 40m. In total it's roughly €27 over 6h 40m, direct, no transfers.
Hamburg to Cologne: common questions
How long does it take to get from Hamburg to Cologne?
The most useful route takes about 6h 40m by bus, with no transfer.
When is the first train from Hamburg to Cologne?
The first train with Deutsche Bahn leaves at 04:26 and the last at 22:45, according to the published timetable.
How many train departures a day are there from Hamburg to Cologne?
47 a day with Deutsche Bahn, between 04:26 and 22:45.
When is the first bus from Hamburg to Cologne?
The first bus with FlixBus leaves at 00:10 and the last at 23:10, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Hamburg to Cologne?
30 a day with FlixBus, between 00:10 and 23:10.
How far is Cologne from Hamburg?
About 357 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Hamburg to Cologne cost?
Our latest search put the route we recommend at €27. Other options on this page can cost less, and the exact fare depends on your travel date.
Which operators run Hamburg to Cologne?
On this route you travel with FlixBus, Lufthansa, Deutsche Bahn.
Can you get from Hamburg to Cologne without flying?
Yes. A ground route by train takes about 3h 41m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Hamburg to Cologne?
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 Hamburg to Cologne
- how to get from Hamburg to Cologne
- Hamburg to Cologne travel time
- Hamburg to Cologne distance
- cheapest way from Hamburg to Cologne
- Hamburg to Cologne 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: 18 Oct 2026
Prices checked: 12 May 2026