Cheap bus tickets from Cologne to Rotterdam
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Millions of travelers trust Wanderu every year to get:
Lowest Prices
We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.
Best Travel Options
We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.
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.
See what travelers are saying about Wanderu:
Cologne to Rotterdam Bus Schedule
Is it better to travel by bus or train from Cologne to Rotterdam?
There are usually 3 daily train trips available from Cologne to Rotterdam.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$32.05 | Avg. Price$36.22 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips6 | Daily Trips3 |
Duration | Duration5h 29m | Duration6h 6m |
Bus from Cologne to Rotterdam: Journey Information
There are 6 intercity buses per day from Cologne to Rotterdam. Traveling by bus from Cologne to Rotterdam usually takes around 5 hours and 29 minutes, but the fastest RegioJet bus can make the trip in 4 hours and 10 minutes.
| Distance | 127 mi (204 km) |
| Shortest duration | 4h 10m |
| Cheapest price | $14.78 |
| Trips per day | 4 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus |
| Bus lines | 3 |
Buses from Cologne to Rotterdam
See more detailsWhat bus companies travel from Cologne to Rotterdam?
There are 3 bus lines from Cologne to Rotterdam available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 5 daily trips, FlixBus usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus | 5 | 5h 31m | $29.01 |
| RegioJet | 1 | 4h 11m | $16.19 |
| Union Ivkoni | 1 | 6h 35m | $24.76 |
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 5 trips from Cologne to Rotterdam, and usually makes the trip in about 5 hours and 31 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 Rotterdam from $15. Typically there is one RegioJet schedule per day from Cologne to Rotterdam and you can expect on average to pay for a RegioJet ticket to Rotterdam. In Cologne, RegioJet departs to Rotterdam from Bonn Airport Bus Terminal . In Rotterdam, RegioJet arrives at Conradstraat .
An average trip on RegioJet from Cologne to Rotterdam takes 4 hours and 11 minutes , while the fastest available RegioJet trip will get you to Rotterdam in 4 hours and 10 minutes .
On weekends, RegioJet offers 1 trip per day and you could expect to pay for a one way ticket for your weekend getaway trip to Rotterdam.
Union Ivkoni was founded in Bulgaria in 1992 and quickly expanded its operations throughout Europe. Popular routes include both shorter travels within one country and long-haul international trips. Their reliable buses offer amenities to make your trip comfortable, including air conditioning, extra legroom, and power outlets. Union Ivkoni usually operates 1 trips per day on the route from Cologne to Rotterdam, and the trip usually takes 6 hours and 35 minutes to complete.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Cologne to Rotterdam
The bus takes an average of 5 hours and 29 minutes to cover the 127 miles from Cologne to Rotterdam. However, the fastest bus only takes 4 hours and 10 minutes. 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.
Because many passengers travel from Cologne to Rotterdam at the beginning of the work week, Monday is usually the busiest day for buses. If you are planning to travel on a Monday, 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 3:00am and the last bus leaves at 4:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Cologne to Rotterdam, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 6 scheduled buses that travel from Cologne to Rotterdam every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 4 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 Cologne to Rotterdam; ticket prices start at $20.01.
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.
Rotterdam
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
With origins as a small fishing village in the 13th century, Rotterdam is now the largest port in Europe. The city's unique architecture attracts visitors from all over the world, with its many angular and glass buildings standing out among much of Europe's old-world architectural style. Rotterdam is worth visiting on its own, or travel on an entire tour of 8 Dutch cities.
The exciting contemporary feel of Rotterdam extends into its art and design scene, home to many modern art galleries and Groos, a vast and eclectic concept store selling pieces by Rotterdam-based designers. For a more traditional art museum, visit the Museum van Boijmans Beuningen, one of Europe's finest art galleries displaying works by Van Gogh, Monet, and Magritte.
Rotterdam is also home to a growing food scene, and visitors can experience this in the impressive Markthal. With over 100 stalls and restaurants, the Markthal is the best place for visitors to sample authentic local cuisine.
Getting to Rotterdam is simple, whether by sea, air, rail, or road. Several airlines fly to Rotterdam The Hague Airport, and a convenient shuttle bus offers frequent transport to the city. Rotterdam's Centraal Station also provides international train services across Europe, and FlixBus offers convenient travel from various locations throughout the continent. In addition, you can take a ferry to Rotterdam from Hull in the UK and experience the city's famous port first-hand.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in Cologne?
Main departure station: Cologne / Bonn Airport Terminal 2
Cologne has two bus stations with service to Rotterdam.
All bus stations in Cologne:
Cologne / Bonn Airport Terminal 2
Bonn Airport Bus Terminal
Where does the bus arrive in Rotterdam?
Main arrival station: Conradstraat
Rotterdam Central Station is the main railway station and major transport hub for Rotterdam. The station is an iconic building, shaped like a triangle stretching into the sky, with a modern glass front and many amenities. It's one of the four main train stations in the Netherlands, and major destinations include Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris, plus stations across the country. There are also Eurostar services from Amsterdam to London that stop here. The station has lots of shops and cafes, including Starbucks, and is in the heart of the city close to major attractions, hotels, restaurants, and stops for onward travel.
All bus stations in Rotterdam:
Conradstraat
Gooilandsingel 1016
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Rotterdam to Cologne?
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. 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.