The distance between Cologne and Potsdam is around 536km (333 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 2h 30m.
We've found 9 different ways to get from Cologne to Potsdam 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 Potsdam → Cologne if you're planning a return trip.
Fly from Cologne Bonn (CGN) to Berlin Brandenburg Apt (BER) then take the train to S Potsdam Hauptbahnhof.
Multiple operators
2 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Take the train to S+U Berlin Hauptbahnhof.
3 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Take the bus to Hanover ZOB and then to Potsdam central train station.
Multiple bus operators
There are several options for getting from Cologne to Potsdam by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around €43 ($43) and will take around 5h 55m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 30m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €90 ($90).
The distance between Cologne and Potsdam is around 536km (333 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 451km (280 miles)
It takes around 4h 50m to get from Cologne and Potsdam by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 45m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Cologne to Potsdam is to fly and then take the train which takes around 2h 30m and will set you back approx €90 ($90).
The cheapest way to travel between Cologne and Potsdam, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around €43 ($43) for a standard one-way ticket.
Yes there is a train service that runs between Cologne and Potsdam. It typically takes around 4h 50m and departs hourly.
Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Cologne and Potsdam with no changeovers required. The train runs twice daily and takes 5h 50m.
Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bahn Intercity, FlixTrain, Deutsche Bahn Regional, Abellio and ABELLIO Rail Mitteldeutschland GmbH run train services between Cologne and Potsdam. Trains depart hourly and will take around 4h 50m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Cologne and Potsdam. It typically takes around 9h 20m and departs twice a week.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Cologne to Potsdam. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Hanover ZOB. These services run twice a week and will take a minimum of 9h 20m.
Autokar Polska, FlixBus and FlixBus-de run regular bus services between Cologne and Potsdam. Buses run twice a week and take around 9h 20m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Cologne to Potsdam. We recommend that you fly from Cologne Bonn (CGN) to Berlin Brandenburg Apt (BER) then take the train to S Potsdam Hauptbahnhof. instead which will take 2h 30m.
The closest major airport to Potsdam is Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) (BER) which is approximately 30km (19 miles) from Potsdam. Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) (LEJ) and Dresden Airport (DRS) (DRS) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Yes it is possible to drive from Cologne and Potsdam. The distance is around 543km (337 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 45m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Cologne to Potsdam is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 50m and will usually cost around €135 ($135).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Plane and Train + 2 similar | 2h 30m | €90($90) | every 30 mins | 536km (333 miles) |
Train and Plane | 2h 50m | €185($185) | hourly | 587km (365 miles) |
Train to Frankfurt(M) Flughafen Fernbf, plane | 3hrs | €180($180) | every 30 mins | 646km (402 miles) |
Train + 3 similar | 4h 50m | €135($135) | hourly | 576km (358 miles) |
Train to Potsdam Hbf | 5h 50m | €130($130) | 4 times a day | 580km (361 miles) |
Train via Magdeburg Hbf | 5h 55m | €135($135) | every 4 hours | 560km (348 miles) |
Train to S Ostbahnhof | 5h 55m | €43($43) | 5 times a week | 614km (381 miles) |
Bus | 9h 20m | €70($70) | twice a week | 624km (388 miles) |
Drive | 4h 45m | €72($72) | on demand | 543km (337 miles) |
Abellio
ABELLIO Rail Mitteldeutschland GmbH
ABELLIO Rail NRW GmbH
Autokar Polska
The following major airports near Potsdam offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Germany and internationally.