Lowest Prices
We partner with the top bus & train carriers to bring you the best deals.
Best Travel Options
We help you find & compare the best buses & trains in one place.
Quick & Easy Booking
Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.
Fast Customer Support
We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.
Journey Information
There is one daily bus from Salzburg to Cologne. Traveling by bus from Salzburg to Cologne usually takes around 16 hours and 20 minutes, but some buses might arrive slightly earlier or later than scheduled depending on traffic conditions.
| Distance | 349 mi (562 km) |
| Shortest duration | 16h 20m |
| Cheapest price | $73.14 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus |
| Bus lines | 1 |
What bus companies travel from Salzburg to Cologne?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Salzburg to Cologne. FlixBus is the only company that has bus schedules available to search and book at the moment. It only makes the trip once a day on most days.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus | 1 | 16h 20m | $73.14 |
First launched in Germany in 2013, FlixBus has become one of the largest intercity bus companies in Europe. Its fleet travels through nearly every country in Europe, including the U.K. FlixBus operates an average of 1 trips from Salzburg to Cologne, and usually makes the trip in about 16 hours and 20 minutes. On your trip, you'll enjoy Wi-Fi and live GPS, as well as restrooms, air conditioning, and power outlets.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 16 hours and 20 minutes to cover the 562 kilometers from Salzburg to Cologne. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.
There is usually only one bus per day from Salzburg to Cologne. It leaves the station in Salzburg at 4:00am each day. The time might vary for specific dates, so be sure to search on Wanderu for the most up-to-date information.
There is usually only one bus per day from Salzburg to Cologne. However, it is not a direct bus, so you will have to get off your original vehicle to change buses during the trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Salzburg to Cologne; ticket prices start at $66.46.
City Information
Salzburg
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Salzburg is located in the north of Austria and might be best known for its stunning landscapes and locations featured in The Sound of Music. Don't worry, there are plenty of organized tours to see the Von Trapps' house, the hills where Maria sings, and more of the film's iconic settings. This cultural and historic city offers many more activities set against the stunning backdrop of churches and castles.
Salzburg Old Town, or Altstadt, is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, and it is easy to see why. The beautiful Baroque-style architecture and churches are straight out of a fairytale, while the looming Hohensalzburg Castle and attached museum serve as a reminder of Salzburg's decadent past.
Salzburg was a musically famous city even before The Sound of Music, as it’s known for being the birthplace of Mozart. Music lovers can visit his residence and the locations associated with Mozart's life in Salzburg. In winter, be sure to stay for one of Salzburg's famous Christmas markets. The Christkindlmarkt tradition dates back to the 15-century, with hundreds of stalls offering the finest mulled wine, handmade crafts, and delicious Christmas treats.
Salzburg is well-connected to much of Europe by ground and air travel. Popular train routes to Salzburg travel from Vienna, Berlin, and Cologne. FlixBus provides the most bus routes to Salzburg, with several smaller carriers also serving several routes to cities in Switzerland and beyond. Salzburg Airport provides an alternative way to reach Salzburg, located just 4 kilometers from the city center.
Cologne
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Pixabay
There's no shortage of sights, culture, history, and adventure in Cologne, an alluring city on the Rhine. One of the most famous landmarks of the city is the Cologne Cathedral. This Gothic building and UNESCO World Heritage site remains the most iconic structure in the city. In fact, the Cologne Cathedral is the most visited landmark in Germany. Next door, the Museum Ludwig contrasts the cathedral's sense of history with an impressive collection of modern art, including works by Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol.
Cologne's breadth of museums also caters to a younger crowd. Families with children should head to the Cologne Chocolate Museum along the river or the Cologne Zoological Garden for memorable, kid-friendly experiences.
Foodies, rejoice! Cologne is home to mouthwatering German delicacies and upscale restaurants. Start your day with breakfast at Café Sehnsucht. For lunch, visit Herings Im Martinswinkel, and for dinner, head over to Bei Oma Kleinmann to feel like you're visiting your long-lost German grandmother.
Trains like Deutsche Bahn, DB Intercity, and FlixTrain connect Cologne to other major European cities, including Munich, Paris, and Vienna. You can also catch a bus from Cologne on FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, Sindbad, Union Ivkoni, or Columbuzz. Plus, the Cologne Bonn Airport is a large, well-outfitted airport with daily international flights for travelers coming from afar.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in Salzburg?
Main departure station: Hellbrunner Landesstraße
Salzburg South (Salzburg Sud) is a small bus stop located in the south of the city where Flixbus buses stop. Flixbus services run regularly, with up to thirty departures a day to Vienna and two to Graz. Although the stop is really just a bus stop (aka a stop on the side of the road) so there aren't any amenities. Salzburg South train station is nearby with waiting rooms, plus plenty of local trains going to and from the city center. If you want to stretch your legs before your trips, take a short walk down the main road to find lots of shops, the Amadeo Hotel, a Mcdonald's, and a few other restaurants and places to stay.
All bus stations in Salzburg:
Hellbrunner Landesstraße
Where does the bus arrive in Cologne?
Image credit: philipweaver
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: Leverkusen
Leverkusen Mitte is a railway station with regional services, to cities across Germany. The station also receives buses, which service the local area. Leverkusen Mitte is in the center of Leverkusen, so you can easily find cafes, shops, restaurants, and supermarkets to stock up before your trip. There's also plenty of space for parking cars and a bike locker area. Leverkusen is on the outskirts of Cologne, so after catching a train to the city, you can get connections to cities across Germany and the Netherlands.
Bus stations in Cologne:
Leverkusen
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Cologne to Salzburg?
Search Bus Tickets
Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.
With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free and with no additional fees. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.
Book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more