How to travel from Cologne to Bratislava, Slovakia
The distance between Cologne and Bratislava is around 826km (513 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 2h 30m.
9 routes found
We've found 9 different ways to get from Cologne to Bratislava by plane, bus, train and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Bratislava → Cologne if you're planning a return trip.
Plane and Bus
Fly from Cologne Bonn (CGN) to Vienna (VIE) then take the bus to Bratislava Most SNP.
- Duration2h 30m
- Flight time1h 30m
- Typical cost€130($130)
Multiple operators
4 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Train
Take the train to München Hbf, Salzburg Hbf then Wien Hbf and then to Bratislava Hlavna Stanica.
- Duration10hrs
- Departsevery 3 hours
- Typical cost€355($355)
Multiple train operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Train and Bus
Take the train to Wien Hbf then take the bus to Bratislava Most SNP.
- Duration12h 15m
- Departs5 times a week
- Typical cost€100($100)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Cologne and Bratislava
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Cologne to Bratislava by plane, bus, train and car. The cheapest option is to take the train and then take the bus which costs around €100 ($100) and will take around 12h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 2h 30m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €130 ($130).
The distance between Cologne and Bratislava is around 826km (513 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 794km (494 miles)
It takes around 2h 30m to get from Cologne and Bratislava by plane and bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 8h 25m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Cologne to Bratislava is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 2h 30m and will set you back approx €130 ($130).
The cheapest way to travel between Cologne and Bratislava, if you exclude driving, is to take the train and then take the bus which will typically cost around €100 ($100) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
Yes there is a train service that runs between Cologne and Bratislava. It typically takes around 10hrs and departs every 3 hours.
There are no direct train services that runs from Cologne to Bratislava. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in München Hbf, Salzburg Hbf and Wien Hbf. These services run every 3 hours and will take a minimum of 10hrs.
Deutsche Bahn, Transdev, WESTbahn, Meridian, BOB & BRB, Austrian Railways (ÖBB), Swiss Railways, Railjet, RegioJet, ÖBB Intercity and Nightjet run train services between Cologne and Bratislava. Trains depart every 3 hours and will take around 10hrs, 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 Cologne and Bratislava. We recommend that you fly from Cologne Bonn (CGN) to Vienna (VIE) then take the bus to Bratislava Most SNP. instead which will take 2h 30m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Cologne to Bratislava. We recommend that you fly from Cologne Bonn (CGN) to Vienna (VIE) then take the bus to Bratislava Most SNP. instead which will take 2h 30m.
The closest major airport to Bratislava is M.R. Stefanik Airport (BTS) (BTS) which is approximately 8km (5 miles) from Bratislava.
Drive yourself
Yes it is possible to drive from Cologne and Bratislava. The distance is around 983km (611 miles) by road and it will take around 8h 25m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Cologne to Bratislava is to fly and then take the bus which takes, on average, 2h 30m and will usually cost around €130 ($130).
Compare travel optionsbetween Cologne and Bratislava
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Plane and Bus + 4 similar | 2h 30m | €130($130) | hourly | 826km (513 miles) |
| Train to Frankfurt, plane and bus | 2h 55m | €400($400) | hourly | 851km (529 miles) |
| Train, Plane and Bus | 2h 55m | €195($195) | every 3 hours | 910km (565 miles) |
| Train to Holzwickede, plane and bus | 3h 35m | €110($110) | hourly | 905km (563 miles) |
| Train to Bruxelles-Nord, plane and bus | 4h 20m | €320($320) | every 4 hours | 1,217km (756 miles) |
Train + 1 similar | 10hrs | €355($355) | every 3 hours | 1,093km (679 miles) |
| Train via Wien Hbf | 12h 10m | €110($110) | once daily | 1,010km (628 miles) |
Train and Bus | 12h 15m | €100($100) | 5 times a week | 1,027km (638 miles) |
Drive | 8h 25m | €170($170) | on demand | 983km (611 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Cologne and Bratislava
Train operators
Transdev
Bus companies
Slovak Lines
Union Ivkoni
Airports near Bratislava
The following major airports near Bratislava offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Slovakia and internationally.
M.R. Stefanik Airport (BTS)
- Distance
- 8km (5 miles) from Bratislava
Košice International Airport (KSC)
- Distance
- 311km (193 miles) from Bratislava