Rome2Rio

How to get fromCologne to Bilbaoby train, plane, bus, car, or train (Eurostar, TGV)

Find Transport to Bilbao

See all options

There are 12 ways to get from Cologne to Bilbao by train, plane, bus, car, or train (Eurostar, TGV)

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Train to Düsseldorf International Airport, fly

    best
    1. Take the train from Koeln Hbf to Duesseldorf Flughafentrain train
    2. Fly from Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) to Bilbao Airport (BIO)plane plane DUS - BIO
    5h 43m
    €82–237

  2. Train, bus via Saint-Jean-de-Luz

    1. Take the train from Koeln Hbf to Paris Nordtrain train
    2. Take the train from Paris Montparnasse 1 Et 2 to St Jean De Luz Cibouretrain train Tgv
    3. Take the bus from Saint-Jean-de-Luz to Bilbao Intermodalbus bus
    12h 18m
    €343–575

  3. Train, bus

    1. Take the train from Köln Hbf to Paris Nordtrain train Tha
    2. Take the bus from Aéroport Orly 4 to Bilbao Intermodalbus bus
    17h 28m
    €152–461

  4. Drive  1,376.7 km

    1. Drive from Cologne to Bilbaocar car 1,376.7 km
    13h 11m
    €226–326

  5. Fly from Cologne Bonn Airport

    1. Fly from Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bilbao Airport (BIO)plane plane CGN - BIO
    6h 55m
    €89–225

  6. Train to Frankfurt, fly

    1. Take the train from Köln Messe/Deutz Bf to Frankfurttrain train
    2. Fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Bilbao Airport (BIO)plane plane FRA - BIO
    5h 45m
    €104–296

  7. Train to Brussels Airport, fly

    1. Take the train from Köln Hbf to Brussels-Nordtrain train
    2. Fly from Brussels Airport (BRU) to Bilbao Airport (BIO)plane plane BRU - BIO
    6h 34m
    €100–309

  8. Train, train to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, fly

    1. Take the train from Köln Hbf to Arnhem Centraaltrain train
    2. Take the train from Arnhem Centraal to Schiphol Airport Train Stationtrain train
    3. Fly from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) to Bilbao Airport (BIO)plane plane AMS - BIO
    7h 48m
    €115–335

  9. Train, bus to Luxembourg, fly

    1. Take the train from Köln Süd Bf to Trier, Hauptbahnhoftrain train
    2. Take the bus from Trier, Hauptbahnhof to Kirchberg, Hugo Gernsbackbus bus
    3. Fly from Luxembourg (LUX) to Bilbao Airport (BIO)plane plane LUX - BIO
    9h 16m
    €102–389

  10. Train

    1. Take the train from Köln Hbf to Bruxelles Miditrain train 79
    2. Take the train from Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Aeroport Cdg2 Tgv Roissytrain train Tgv
    3. Take the train from Aeroport Cdg2 Tgv Roissy to Bordeaux St Jeantrain train Tgv
    4. Take the train from Bordeaux St Jean to Hendayetrain train Ter
    5. Take the train from Amara-Donostia to Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo-Bilbaotrain train E1
    16h 42m
    €245–599

  11. Train, bus #2

    1. Take the train from Köln Hbf to Bruxelles Miditrain train 79
    2. Take the bus from Brussels - Midi Train Station to Bilbao Intermodalbus bus BlaBlaCar Bus
    20h 37m
    €128–295

  12. Bus

    1. Take the bus from Cologne Airport CGN to Vitoria-Gasteizbus bus FlixBus N1153
    2. Take the bus from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Bilbao Intermodalbus bus A/3714 / ...
    25h 27m
    €137–225

Cologne to Bilbao by train, subway, foot, and bus

Calendar37Weekly Services
Duration12h 18mAverage Duration
Ticket€343Cheapest Price
See schedules

Comparing Your Travel Options

Map of how to get from Cologne to Bilbao.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 1,216.4 km
  • Duration: 5h 43m

What companies run services between Cologne, Germany and Bilbao, Spain?

Lufthansa, Eurowings, and three other airlines fly from Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bilbao Airport (BIO) 3 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a train from Köln Hbf to Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo-Bilbao via Bruxelles Midi, Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi, Aeroport Cdg2 Tgv Roissy, Bordeaux St Jean, Hendaye, Hendaia, and Amara-Donostia in around 16h 42m.

Airlines
Train operators
Bus operators

Want to know more about travelling around Spain

Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.

Related travel guides

Booking & Getting There