How to travel from Rotterdam to Cologne

Thu, Apr 16
+ Add return
Travel by train, bus, flight with
Deutsche Bahn
FlixBus
VIAS Rail GmbH
Union Ivkoni International
BlaBlaCar Bus
1,000+ more
Deutsche Bahn
FlixBus
VIAS Rail GmbH
Union Ivkoni International
BlaBlaCar Bus
1,000+ more
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Travel Information

Compare train, bus, and flight for Rotterdam to Cologne

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Rotterdam to Cologne among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from €10. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 3h 15m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.2kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €10, and a train costs an average of €21.

Distance: 204 km

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Bus

€61

Average price

€19

Average price

Cheapest

3h 45m

Average total duration

Fastest

3h 15m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

5h 36m

Average total duration

5h 6m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

0.1 - 0.2kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

0.2 - 0.5kg

CO2 emissions

Deutsche Bahn

Most popular train company

FlixBus

Most popular bus company

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

Travel options
from Rotterdam to Cologne

How to get from Rotterdam to Cologne by train, bus or flight.

Our recommendation

bus

The best way to travel from Rotterdam to Cologne is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

  • FlixBusFlixBus
    9:35 AM4h50
    Rotterdam, Conradstraat (Centraal Station)
    2:25 PMKöln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)
    261One-way
    0 transfers

Cheapest

  • RegioJet a.s.(Amsterdam -> Prague)
    3:15 PM4h25
    Rotterdam, Conradstraat (Centraal Station)
    7:40 PMKöln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)
    181One-way
    0 transfers

Fastest

  • Deutsche BahnIC 1131 · IC 3529 · 20077 · 10621
    9:15 AM3h20
    Rotterdam Centraal
    12:35 PMCologne Hbf
    671One-way
    3 transfers

Other options

  • Deutsche BahnIC 1127 · IC 3525 · 20075 · 10619
    8:15 AM3h20
    Rotterdam Centraal
    11:35 AMCologne Hbf
    671One-way
    3 transfers
  • Union Ivkoni
    9:30 AM7h00
    Rotterdam, Centraal Station
    4:30 PMKöln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)
    201One-way
    0 transfers
  • FlixBusFlixBus
    1:05 PM6h00
    Rotterdam, Conradstraat (Centraal Station)
    7:05 PMKöln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)
    221One-way
    0 transfers
  • FlixBusFlixBus
    6:30 PM4h50
    Rotterdam, Conradstraat (Centraal Station)
    11:20 PMKöln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)
    271One-way
    0 transfers

Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .

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FAQs: Travel from Rotterdam to Cologne

Travel to Cologne easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Rotterdam to Cologne.

FAQs
There are 3 options to travel between Rotterdam and Cologne including taking a train, bus, and flight.
The cheapest way to travel from Rotterdam to Cologne is a bus with an average price of €10.

This is compared to other travel options from Rotterdam to Cologne:

A bus is €11 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Rotterdam to Cologne costing on average €21.

A bus is €418 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Rotterdam to Cologne costing on average €429.

The fastest way to travel from Rotterdam to Cologne is by train with an average journey time of 2h 58m.

Other travel options to Cologne take longer:

Bus takes on average 4h 25m.

Flight takes on average 5h 35m.

The Rotterdam to Cologne distance is approximately 204 km.
The average frequency per day from Rotterdam to Cologne is:
  • Around 9 buses per day.
  • Around 6 trains per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Rotterdam and Cologne as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Rotterdam to Cologne:
  • Trains mostly depart from Rotterdam Centraal and arrive in Cologne Hbf.
  • Buses mostly depart from Rotterdam, Conradstraat (Centraal Station) and arrive in Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen).
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Rotterdam to Cologne, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with Deutsche Bahn, VIAS Rail GmbH to go to Cologne by train.
  • Travel with FlixBus, Union Ivkoni International, BlaBlaCar Bus, Union Ivkoni - Unibus to go to Cologne by bus.
Yes, there is a direct route available from Rotterdam to Cologne:
  • 5 direct buses per day with FlixBus, Union Ivkoni International.
Omio customers who travel from Rotterdam to Cologne often also extend their vacation to go to Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, London. Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Cologne and these popular destinations at a great price.

Travelling from Rotterdam to Cologne: related information

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

HomeTravelTravel to CologneHow to travel from Rotterdam to Cologne

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