How to travel from Lyon to Cologne, Germany

The distance between Lyon and Cologne is around 701km (435 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 2h 35m.

8 routes found

We've found 8 different ways to get from Lyon to Cologne by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out CologneLyon if you're planning a return trip.

1
plane
+

Fly

Fly from Lyon (LYS) to Cologne Bonn (CGN).

  • Duration3h 5m
  • Flight time2h 25m
  • Typical cost
    €240($240)
Operated byLufthansa+ 3 others

2 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

2
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi and then to Koeln Hbf.

  • Duration5h 35m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    €185($185)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+
train
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Bus and Train

Take the bus to Liège Guillemins then take the train to Koeln Hbf.

  • Duration10h 25m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    €75($75)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Cologne.

  • Duration6h 55m
  • Distance724km (450 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Lyon and Cologne

There are several options for getting from Lyon to Cologne by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take the train which costs around €75 ($75) and will take around 10h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €430 ($430).

The distance between Lyon and Cologne is around 701km (435 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 597km (371 miles)

It takes around 5h 35m to get from Lyon and Cologne by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 6h 55m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Lyon to Cologne is to fly and then take the train which takes around 2h 35m and will set you back approx €430 ($430).

The cheapest way to travel between Lyon and Cologne, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus and then take the train which will typically cost around €75 ($75) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Lyon and Cologne. It typically takes around 5h 35m and departs every 4 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Lyon to Cologne. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi. These services run every 4 hours and will take a minimum of 5h 35m.

TGV inOui, Deutsche Bahn, Thalys, Luxembourg Railways (CFL), SNCF and Swiss Railways run train services between Lyon and Cologne. Trains depart every 4 hours and will take around 5h 35m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Lyon and Cologne. We recommend that you fly from Lyon (LYS) to Dusseldorf (DUS) then take the train to Köln Hbf. instead which will take 2h 35m.

Flights and Airlines

Yes you can fly from Lyon and Cologne. Flights depart from Lyon (LYS) and arrive at Cologne Bonn (CGN) - via Munich (MUC). The flight takes around 2h 25m.

There is no direct flight from Lyon to Cologne. There is however a flight that goes via Munich (MUC). This services will take at least 3h 5m (not including layover time).

The flight from Lyon to Cologne typically takes around 2h 25m. Flights depart from Lyon (LYS) and and arrive into Cologne Bonn (CGN).

The closest major airport to Cologne is Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) (CGN) which is approximately 13km (8 miles) from Cologne. Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) (DUS) and Dortmund Airport (DTM) (DTM) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Lyon and Cologne. The distance is around 724km (450 miles) by road and it will take around 6h 55m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Lyon to Cologne is to take the train which takes, on average, 5h 35m and will usually cost around €185 ($185).

How do I get from Lyon to Cologne

Compare travel optionsbetween Lyon and Cologne

Transport options from Lyon to Cologne
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Fly + 2 similar
3h 5m
€240($240)
every 20 mins1,060km (659 miles)
Plane and Train2h 35m
€430($430)
every 30 mins701km (435 miles)
Fly to Frankfurt (FRA), Train2h 45m
€340($340)
hourly736km (457 miles)
Train + 2 similar
5h 35m
€185($185)
every 4 hours970km (603 miles)
Train via Luxembourg9hrs
€125($125)
twice a week959km (596 miles)
Train via Geneve9h 40m
€440($440)
twice daily922km (573 miles)
Bus and Train
10h 25m
€75($75)
once daily820km (509 miles)
Drive
6h 55m
€130($130)
on demand724km (450 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Lyon and Cologne

Train operators

Airports near Cologne

The following major airports near Cologne offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Germany and internationally.

CGN
Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)
International Airport
Distance
13km (8 miles) from Cologne
DUS
Düsseldorf Airport (DUS)
International Airport
Distance
40km (25 miles) from Cologne
DTM
Dortmund Airport (DTM)
International Airport
Distance
79km (49 miles) from Cologne