How to travel from Amsterdam to Cologne, Germany

The distance between Amsterdam and Cologne is around 244km (152 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 1h 40m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Amsterdam 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 CologneAmsterdam if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+
train
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Plane and Train

Fly from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Dusseldorf (DUS) then take the train to Köln Hbf.

  • Duration1h 40m
  • Flight time45min
  • Typical cost
    €400($400)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2
train
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Train

Take the train to Koeln Hbf.

  • Duration2h 40m
  • Departsevery 2 hours
  • Typical cost
    €26($26)
Operated byNightjet+ 3 others

1 similiar route

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

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Leverkusen Wiesdorf Mitte Bf.

  • Duration4h 15m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    €17($17)
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Cologne.

  • Duration2h 40m
  • Distance262km (163 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Amsterdam and Cologne

There are several options for getting from Amsterdam to Cologne by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €17 ($17) and will take around 4h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 1h 40m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €400 ($400).

The distance between Amsterdam and Cologne is around 244km (152 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 214km (133 miles)

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

The quickest way to get from Amsterdam to Cologne is to fly and then take the train which takes around 1h 40m and will set you back approx €400 ($400).

The cheapest way to travel between Amsterdam and Cologne, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €17 ($17) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Amsterdam and Cologne. It typically takes around 2h 40m and departs once daily.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Amsterdam and Cologne with no changeovers required. The train runs once daily and takes 2h 40m.

Nightjet, Dutch Railways, VIAS Rail GmbH and National Express run train services between Amsterdam and Cologne. Trains depart once daily and will take around 2h 40m, 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 Amsterdam and Cologne. It typically takes around 4h 15m and departs twice daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Amsterdam to Cologne. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Leverkusen Wiesdorf Mitte Bf. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 4h 15m.

FlixBus run regular bus services between Amsterdam and Cologne. Buses run twice daily and take around 4h 15m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Amsterdam to Cologne. We recommend that you fly from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Dusseldorf (DUS) then take the train to Köln Hbf. instead which will take 1h 40m.

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 Amsterdam and Cologne. The distance is around 262km (163 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 40m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Amsterdam to Cologne is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 40m and will usually cost around €26 ($26).

How do I get from Amsterdam to Cologne

Compare travel optionsbetween Amsterdam and Cologne

Transport options from Amsterdam to Cologne
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane and Train
1h 40m
€400($400)
every 30 mins244km (152 miles)
Train + 1 similar
2h 40m
€26($26)
every 2 hours258km (160 miles)
Train via Arnhem Centraal3h 30m
€31($31)
hourly260km (162 miles)
Bus
4h 15m
€17($17)
twice daily282km (175 miles)
Drive
2h 40m
€54($54)
on demand262km (163 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Amsterdam and Cologne

Train operators

Bus companies

Airlines

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