The distance between Erfurt and Cologne is around 367km (228 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 40m.
We've found 6 different ways to get from Erfurt 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 Cologne → Erfurt if you're planning a return trip.
Take the train to Halle(Saale)Hbf then fly from Leipzig (LEJ) to Frankfurt (FRA) then take the train to Koeln Messe/Deutz Gl.11-12.
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Take the train to Frankfurt(Main)Hbf and then to Koeln Messe/Deutz Gl.11-12.
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Take the bus to Leverkusen Wiesdorf Mitte Bf.
There are several options for getting from Erfurt to Cologne by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around and will take around 5h 40m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 2h 40m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €220 ($220).
The distance between Erfurt and Cologne is around 367km (228 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 285km (177 miles)
It takes around 3h 25m to get from Erfurt and Cologne by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 15m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Erfurt to Cologne is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 40m and will set you back approx €220 ($220).
The cheapest way to travel between Erfurt and Cologne, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around for a standard one-way ticket.
Yes there is a train service that runs between Erfurt and Cologne. It typically takes around 3h 25m and departs hourly.
Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Erfurt and Cologne with no changeovers required. The train runs once daily and takes 5h 20m.
Deutsche Bahn and Deutsche Bahn Intercity run train services between Erfurt and Cologne. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 25m, 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 Erfurt and Cologne. It typically takes around 5h 40m and departs 5 times a week.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Erfurt to Cologne. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Leverkusen Wiesdorf Mitte Bf. These services run 5 times a week and will take a minimum of 5h 40m.
FlixBus-de run regular bus services between Erfurt and Cologne. Buses run 5 times a week and take around 5h 40m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Erfurt to Cologne. We recommend that you take the train to Frankfurt(Main)Hbf then fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Dusseldorf (DUS) then take the train to Koeln Hbf. instead which will take 4h 5m.
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.
Yes it is possible to drive from Erfurt and Cologne. The distance is around 367km (228 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 15m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Erfurt to Cologne is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 25m and will usually cost around €115 ($115).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Train to Halle(Saale)Hbf, plane + 1 similar | 2h 40m | €220($220) | every 30 mins | 576km (358 miles) |
Train and Plane | 4h 5m | €260($260) | hourly | 514km (319 miles) |
Train + 1 similar | 3h 25m | €115($115) | hourly | 434km (269 miles) |
Train to Koeln Hbf | 5h 20m | €120($120) | once daily | 484km (301 miles) |
Bus | 5h 40m | 5 times a week | 396km (246 miles) | |
Drive | 3h 15m | €49($49) | on demand | 367km (228 miles) |
ABELLIO Rail NRW GmbH
Abellio
TRI Train Rental GmbH
Radina VIP
The following major airports near Cologne offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Germany and internationally.