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.
Trip Summary
26 trains operate daily from Cologne to Frankfurt. The train trip from Cologne to Frankfurt is usually about one hour and 57 minutes long. However, traveling on the fastest DB Intercity-Express train can get you there in as little as one hour and 3 minutes.
| Distance | 95 mi (153 km) |
| Fastest train | 1h 3m |
| Lowest price | $15.78 |
| Trains per day | 42 |
| Most frequent service | Deutsche Bahn |
| Train lines | 4 |
Price trends for trains from Cologne to Frankfurt
Monthly avg. prices
Which train should you take from Cologne to Frankfurt?
There are 4 train lines with service from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main. Deutsche Bahn is the most popular choice with travelers, offering scheduled service on 21 trains each day.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| DB Intercity | 1 | 2h 32m | $17.55 |
| DB Intercity-Express | 5 | 1h 25m | $48.35 |
| Deutsche Bahn | 21 | 2h 6m | $45.23 |
| Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company | 5 | 2h 32m | $34.11 |
Deutsche Bahn IC is the German railway's long-distance train service provider with service across Germany and neighboring countries, including the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, and Poland. Onboard amenities include restrooms, power outlets, and a restaurant car where passengers can purchase drinks, snacks, and meals.
The most popular Deutsche Bahn ICE routes travel to Berlin, Cologne, Paris, and Munich. Seating is spacious with a good amount of legroom, and onboard amenities include complimentary WiFi, restrooms, and a restaurant car selling beverages, snacks, sandwiches, and hot meals. Unlike the rest of the Deutsche Bahn network, ticket prices on Deutsche Bahn ICE services are not based on a per-kilometer rate but on specific station-to-station links.
Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company train tickets from Cologne to Frankfurt start from $25, and on average cost . Daily there are 5 Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company schedules to Frankfurt am Main. Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company in Cologne leaves from Central Station . And in Frankfurt am Main trains arrive at Frankfurt-Zeilsheim and 3 other train stations.
From Cologne to Frankfurt train travel on Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company takes 2 hours and 32 minutes. If you are looking to get to Frankfurt am Main faster, Deutsche Bahn with non-federally owned railway company offers more express schedule options with a travel time of 1 hours and 3 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Trains departing from Cologne to Frankfurt tend to have the most passengers on Thursday. With higher demand ticket prices also tend to be higher on Thursday. If you are trying to snag a cheap train tickets or just want an emptier train you'll have better luck by booking travel departing on Thursday as the least number of people tend to travel then.
The earliest train departs Cologne at 3:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 11:00pm. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.
There are 26 scheduled trains on most days. 42 of these are direct connections to Frankfurt. While direct trains may still make stops along the way, you will not need to switch trains at any point. If you're looking to get to your destination faster, a direct train is the convenient and time-efficient choice.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Frankfurt to Cologne.
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
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 is the train station in Cologne?
Image credit: Magnus Hagdorn
Link to image attributionMain departure station: Central Station
Cologne Central Station is, unsurprisingly, the central station and main transport hub of Cologne. Multiple nationwide and regional trains stop here and connect to other routes. Thalys and Deutsche Bahn ICE provide service to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and many more. Inside the station, you can kill some time perusing souvenir shops and grab a meal at one of the restaurants- or skip straight to desert at one of the multiple bakeries available. There's even a shop for clothes and a bank in the building. Once outside, you'll be in the center of Cologne, so there are plenty of attractions and restaurants nearby.
All train stations in Cologne:
Central Station
Köln Messe/Deutz Gl.11-12
Where is the train station in Frankfurt?
Image credit: onnola
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: Central Train Station
Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (Frankfurt Central Station) is a major transport hub in the city and the busiest station in the state of Hessen. It features the original 1888 Neo-Renaissance design and some newer neoclassical architecture, making it a unique and visually pleasing station. It's often referred to as the most important station in Germany due to its central location and large economic district. Trains here run internationally to stations in Zurich, Vienna, and Budapest in addition to cities across Germany such as Hamburg, Berlin, and Munich. The station has plenty of amenities, including luggage lockers, toilets and multiple bakeries, a bookshop and newsstand, a supermarket, and other shops.
All train stations in Frankfurt:
Central Train Station
Frankfurt-Höchst Farbwerke
Frankfurt-Sindlingen
Frankfurt-Zeilsheim
Central Train Station
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Frankfurt to Cologne?
Search Train 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.
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