How to travel from Milan to Cologne, Germany

The distance between Milan and Cologne is around 674km (419 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly which takes around 2h 35m.

7 routes found

We've found 7 different ways to get from Milan to Cologne by plane, train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+

Fly

Fly from Milan Bergamo (BGY) to Cologne Bonn (CGN).

  • Duration2h 35m
  • Flight time1h 30m
  • Typical cost
    €83($83)

1 similiar route

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

2
train
+
train
+

Train

Take the train to Basel Bad Bf and then to Köln Hbf.

  • Duration8h 5m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    €320($320)
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
+

Bus

Take the bus to Leverkusen Wiesdorf Mitte Bf.

  • Duration14h 45m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    €54($54)
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Cologne.

  • Duration7h 40m
  • Distance825km (512 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Milan and Cologne

There are several options for getting from Milan to Cologne by plane, train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €54 ($54) and will take around 14h 45m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and arrive in approximately 2h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €83 ($83).

The distance between Milan and Cologne is around 674km (419 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 631km (392 miles)

It takes around 2h 35m to get from Milan and Cologne by plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 7h 40m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Milan to Cologne is to fly which takes around 2h 35m and will set you back approx €83 ($83).

The cheapest way to travel between Milan and Cologne, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €54 ($54) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Milan and Cologne. It typically takes around 8h 5m and departs once daily.

There are no direct train services that runs from Milan to Cologne. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Basel Bad Bf. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 8h 5m.

Swiss Railways, Deutsche Bahn, Trenitalia EuroCity and Austrian Railways (ÖBB) run train services between Milan and Cologne. Trains depart once daily and will take around 8h 5m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Milan and Cologne. It typically takes around 14h 45m and departs twice daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Milan to Cologne. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Milan - Piazzale Laghi, Via del Ghisallo P.le ai Laghi, Milano Lampugnano and Leverkusen Wiesdorf Mitte Bf. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 14h 45m.

FlixBus run regular bus services between Milan and Cologne. Buses run twice daily and take around 14h 45m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

Yes you can fly from Milan and Cologne. Flights depart from Milan Bergamo (BGY) and arrive at Cologne Bonn (CGN). The flight takes around 1h 30m.

Yes there is a direct flight between Milan and Cologne with no stop-overs required. Flights typically take around 1h 30m.

Ryanair fly between Milan and Cologne. Flights depart from Milan Bergamo (BGY) and and arrive into Cologne Bonn (CGN). These flights usually take around 1h 30m.

The flight from Milan to Cologne typically takes around 1h 30m. Flights depart from Milan Bergamo (BGY) 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 Milan and Cologne. The distance is around 825km (512 miles) by road and it will take around 7h 40m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Milan to Cologne is to fly which takes, on average, 2h 35m and will usually cost around €83 ($83).

How do I get from Milan to Cologne

Compare travel optionsbetween Milan and Cologne

Transport options from Milan to Cologne
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Fly + 1 similar
2h 35m
€83($83)
every 30 mins674km (419 miles)
Plane and Train3hrs
€150($150)
every 30 mins759km (471 miles)
Train + 2 similar
8h 5m
€320($320)
once daily854km (531 miles)
Train via Zuerich Hb9h 25m
€400($400)
twice daily841km (523 miles)
Train via Basel Bad Bf10h 55m
€330($330)
once daily915km (568 miles)
Bus
14h 45m
€54($54)
twice daily949km (590 miles)
Drive
7h 40m
€150($150)
on demand825km (512 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Milan 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