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Journey Information
There are 6 intercity buses per day from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main. Traveling by bus from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main usually takes around 2 hours and 49 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus bus can make the trip in 2 hours and 15 minutes.
| Distance | 95 mi (153 km) |
| Shortest duration | 2h 15m |
| Cheapest price | $13.18 |
| Trips per day | 6 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus |
| Bus lines | 2 |
How much is a bus ticket from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main?
$15.61 is the average price of a bus ticket from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main. This is currently one of the best deals in bus travel. It’s easy to find a bus ticket at this price or lower when you use Wanderu to book your trip online in advance of your travel date.
Monthly average prices
The lowest bus ticket prices on this route can usually be found in November. That’s when the average price of a bus ticket is expected to be just $19 – the lowest of the year.
Alternatively, if you plan to travel from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main in April, expect to spend more on your bus trip, as the average ticket price may surge to $30 at that time of year. However, if you book your trip ahead of time, you can still score a ticket at a lower price.
What bus companies travel from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, FlixBus usually offers more choice, with 4 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 4 trips from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main, and usually makes the trip in about 2 hours and 53 minutes. On your trip, you'll enjoy Wi-Fi and live GPS, as well as restrooms, air conditioning, and power outlets.
Book RegioJet from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main from $13. There are 2 RegioJet schedules from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main and you can expect on average to pay for a RegioJet ticket to Frankfurt am Main. In Cologne, RegioJet departs to Frankfurt am Main from Bonn Airport Bus Terminal and no other station. In Frankfurt am Main, RegioJet arrives at Central Bus Station and 1 other station.
An average trip on RegioJet from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main takes 2 hours and 36 minutes , while the fastest available RegioJet trip will get you to Frankfurt am Main in 2 hours and 15 minutes .
On weekends, RegioJet offers 2 trips per day and you could expect to pay for a weekend getaway trip to Frankfurt am Main.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 2 hours and 49 minutes to cover the 153 kilometers from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main. However, the fastest bus only takes 2 hours and 15 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.
"Tuesday is usually the day of the week when buses are busiest. If you are planning to travel on a Tuesday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Thursday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go."
The first bus leaves at 9:00am and the last bus leaves at 7:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 6 scheduled buses that travel from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. Furthermore, all of these are direct buses which you can take the entire route from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main without transferring.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main; ticket prices start at $21.78.
City Information
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.
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.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in Cologne?
Image credit: philipweaver
Link to image attributionMain departure 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.
All bus stations in Cologne:
Leverkusen
Bonn Airport Bus Terminal
Where does the bus arrive in Frankfurt am Main?
Image credit: Guilhem Vellut
Link to image attributionMain arrival 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.
Bus stations in Frankfurt am Main:
Central Bus Station
Frankfurt Main Airport P36
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne?
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