Frankfurt am Main to Cologne bus
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Journey Information
There are 9 intercity buses per day from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne. Traveling by bus from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne usually takes around 2 hours and 52 minutes, but the fastest RegioJet bus can make the trip in 2 hours and 10 minutes.
| Distance | 95 mi (153 km) |
| Shortest duration | 2h 10m |
| Cheapest price | $13.81 |
| Trips per day | 8 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus |
| Bus lines | 2 |
What bus companies travel from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, FlixBus usually offers more choice, with 7 scheduled trips per day.
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 7 trips from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne, and usually makes the trip in about 2 hours and 58 minutes. On your trip, you'll enjoy Wi-Fi and live GPS, as well as restrooms, air conditioning, and power outlets.
Book RegioJet from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne from $14. There are 2 RegioJet schedules from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne and you can expect on average to pay for a RegioJet ticket to Cologne. In Frankfurt am Main, RegioJet departs to Cologne from Central Bus Station and 1 other station. In Cologne, RegioJet arrives at Bonn Airport Bus Terminal and no other station.
An average trip on RegioJet from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne takes 2 hours and 25 minutes , while the fastest available RegioJet trip will get you to Cologne in 2 hours and 10 minutes .
On weekends, RegioJet offers 2 trips per day and you could expect to pay for a weekend getaway trip to Cologne.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 2 hours and 52 minutes to cover the 153 kilometers from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne. However, the fastest bus only takes 2 hours and 10 minutes. It's the perfect amount of time to take a nap, get some work done, or watch a movie. 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.
Saturday is usually the day when buses are busiest, as many travelers take the bus to enjoy the weekend in Cologne. If you are planning to travel on a Saturday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Wednesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you're looking for some extra space on the bus, traveling mid-week is your best bet.
The first bus leaves at 5:00am and the last bus leaves at 10:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 9 scheduled buses that travel from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 8 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne; ticket prices start at $21.40.
City Information
Frankfurt am Main
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Frankfurt is Germany's financial hub, home to the European Central Bank. This riverside city offers a variety of cultural and historical attractions scattered between its financial institutions and shops.
Your first stop should be Old Town, along the river Main. Once the center of the city, the Old Town district is now the site of the Römer, or city hall, along a row of picturesque timber houses. Stop in Kleinmarkthalle, a bustling indoor market, to grab a sausage for a snack before wandering through some of Old Town's museums: Saalgasse, Dommuseum, and Museum für Moderne Kunst (Museum MMK) will get you started. Two of Frankfurt's most prominent churches, St. Bartholomew Cathedral and St. Nicholas Church, are also in the area.
Food is always delightful in Frankfurt. Several Michelin-star restaurants will entice you, including Restaurant Lafleur, Restaurant Gustav, Restaurant Villa Merton, and Carmelo Greco. If you prefer more affordable dining and lively nightlife, head to the Bahnhofsviertel neighborhood near the city's train station.
The train station in Bahnhofsviertel serves national and international rail lines for Deutsche Bahn, DB Intercity, FlixTrain, vlexx, and Railjet. You can also reach Frankfurt easily on bus carriers like FlixBus and Sindbad. Plus, flying in and out of Frankfurt is a breeze, as the airport is one of the largest in Germany and the main hub for the Lufthansa airline.
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 Frankfurt am Main?
Image credit: Guilhem Vellut
Link to image attributionMain departure station: Central Bus Station
Frankfurt Central Bus Station, locally known as Busterminal Frankfurt, is the city's main bus terminal and is located directly next to Frankfurt HBF (the central train station). The terminal is a hub for bus services throughout Europe, like Flixbus, Sindbad, BlaBlaCar Bus, and Arda Tur. Nearby you will find a coffee shop, ATMs, toilets, and luggage storage. In the immediate vicinity, there is a Tokyo Inn and Ibis hotel, numerous restaurants, and a five-minute walk from the city center.
All bus stations in Frankfurt am Main:
Central Bus Station
Frankfurt Main Airport P36
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
Bonn Airport Bus Terminal
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main?
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