How to travel from Potsdam to Cologne, Germany

The distance between Potsdam and Cologne is around 536km (333 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 25m.

8 routes found

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

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

🚀 Fastest
💰 Cheapest
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train
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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Flughafen BER - Terminal 1-2 then fly from Berlin Brandenburg Apt (BER) to Cologne Bonn (CGN).

  • Duration2h 25m
  • Flight time1h 15m
  • Typical cost
    €90($90)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

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

2
train
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Train

Take the train to Köln Hbf.

  • Duration4h 55m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    €135($135)

3 similiar routes

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

3
car
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Drive

Drive to Cologne.

  • Duration4h 50m
  • Distance543km (338 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Potsdam and Cologne

There are several options for getting from Potsdam to Cologne by train, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the train and then fly which costs around €90 ($90) and will take around 2h 25m.

The distance between Potsdam and Cologne is around 536km (333 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 451km (280 miles)

It takes around 4h 55m to get from Potsdam and Cologne by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 50m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Potsdam to Cologne is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 25m and will set you back approx €90 ($90).

The cheapest way to travel between Potsdam and Cologne, if you exclude driving, is to take the train and then fly which will typically cost around €90 ($90) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Potsdam and Cologne. It typically takes around 4h 55m and departs hourly.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Potsdam and Cologne with no changeovers required. The train runs once daily and takes 6h 10m.

Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bahn Regional, Deutsche Bahn Intercity, Abellio, ABELLIO Rail Mitteldeutschland GmbH, WestfalenBahn GmbH and National Express run train services between Potsdam and Cologne. Trains depart hourly and will take around 4h 55m, 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 Potsdam and Cologne. We recommend that you take the train to Flughafen BER - Terminal 1-2 then fly from Berlin Brandenburg Apt (BER) to Cologne Bonn (CGN). instead which will take 2h 25m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Potsdam to Cologne. We recommend that you take the train to Flughafen BER - Terminal 1-2 then fly from Berlin Brandenburg Apt (BER) to Cologne Bonn (CGN). instead which will take 2h 25m.

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 Potsdam and Cologne. The distance is around 543km (338 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 50m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Potsdam to Cologne is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 55m and will usually cost around €135 ($135).

How do I get from Potsdam to Cologne

Compare travel optionsbetween Potsdam and Cologne

Transport options from Potsdam to Cologne
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 2 similar
2h 25m
€90($90)
every 30 mins536km (333 miles)
Train to Flughafen BER - Terminal 1-2, plane2h 55m
€160($160)
hourly589km (366 miles)
Train to Flughafen BER - Terminal 1-2, plane3hrs
€180($180)
every 30 mins646km (402 miles)
Train + 3 similar
4h 55m
€135($135)
hourly576km (358 miles)
Train via Magdeburg, Hauptbahnhof5h 55m
€135($135)
every 4 hours560km (348 miles)
Train to Koeln Hbf6h 10m
€130($130)
every 20 mins553km (344 miles)
Train via Magdeburg, Hauptbahnhof6h 55m
€120($120)
every 2 hours588km (365 miles)
Drive
4h 50m
€72($72)
on demand543km (338 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Potsdam 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