There are 8 ways to get from Heidelberg to Cologne by train, bus, car, plane, tram, or rideshare
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train via Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof
best- Take the train from Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof to Köln Messe/Deutz Bftrain 47 / ...
2h 9m€43–182Rideshare
cheapest- Take the rideshare from Heidelberg to Cologne249.8 km
2h 45m€10–19Bus
- Take the bus from Heidelberg Post Waypoint to Frankfurt central train stationbus FlixBus 108 / ...
- Take the bus from Frankfurt, Hauptbahnhof FOB to Kölnbus Ivano-Frankivsk
4h 47m€31–39Drive 250.7 km
- Drive from Heidelberg to Colognecar 250.7 km
2h 14m€36–52Train, fly
- Take the train from Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof to Frankfurttrain
- Fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)plane FRA - DUS
- Take the train from Duesseldorf Flughafen to Koeln Hbftrain
4h 3m€117–260Train
- Take the train from Heidelberg, Hauptbahnhof to Köln Hbftrain 55 / ...
2h 42m€45–190Tram, train
- Take the tram from Heidelberg, Seegarten to Mannheim, Hauptbahnhoftram Rnv 5
- Take the train from Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof to Köln Hbftrain 42 / ...
2h 55m€45–177Train via Mainz
- Take the train from Ludwigshafen, Mitte to Mainz, Hauptbahnhoftrain S5 / ...
- Take the train from Mainz, Hauptbahnhof to Köln West Bftrain Rb26
5h 34m€48–80
Heidelberg to Cologne by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Heidelberg to Cologne is to rideshare which costs €10 - €19 and takes 2h 45m.
The fastest way to get from Heidelberg to Cologne is to train via Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof which takes 2h 9m and costs €40 - €190.
No, there is no direct bus from Heidelberg to Cologne. However, there are services departing from Heidelberg Post Waypoint and arriving at Köln via Frankfurt, Hauptbahnhof FOB. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 4h 47m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Heidelberg, Hauptbahnhof and arriving at Köln Hbf. Services depart every four hours, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 2h 42m.
The distance between Heidelberg and Cologne is 256 km. The road distance is 250.7 km.
The best way to get from Heidelberg to Cologne without a car is to train via Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof which takes 2h 9m and costs €40 - €190.
It takes approximately 2h 9m to get from Heidelberg to Cologne, including transfers.
Heidelberg to Cologne bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from Heidelberg Post Waypoint station.
Heidelberg to Cologne train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), depart from Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof station.
The best way to get from Heidelberg to Cologne is to train via Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof which takes 2h 9m and costs €40 - €190. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €30 - €40 and takes 4h 47m.
What companies run services between Heidelberg, Germany and Cologne, Germany?
Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) operates a train from Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof to Köln Messe/Deutz Bf hourly. Tickets cost €40–170 and the journey takes 1h 22m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Heidelberg Post Waypoint to Köln via Frankfurt, Hauptbahnhof FOB in around 4h 47m.
- Website
- lufthansa.com
Flights from Frankfurt to Düsseldorf International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €29–230
- Phone
- +49 30 2970
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof to Köln Messe/Deutz Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 22m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €40–170
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof to Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 31 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €12–55
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Duesseldorf Flughafen to Koeln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 32 min
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €9–40
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Heidelberg, Hauptbahnhof to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 42m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €45–190
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof to Köln Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €40–170
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Heidelberg Post Waypoint to Frankfurt central train station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 44m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €8–13
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +3 318 576 2228
- Website
- BlaBlaCar
Rideshare from Heidelberg to Cologne
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €10–19
- Schedules at
- BlaBlaCar
Want to know more about travelling around Germany
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More Questions & Answers
Heidelberg to Cologne bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at Frankfurt central train station.
Heidelberg to Cologne train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), arrive at Köln Messe/Deutz Bf station.
Yes, the driving distance between Heidelberg to Cologne is 251 km. It takes approximately 2h 14m to drive from Heidelberg to Cologne.
Book your Heidelberg to Cologne train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Heidelberg to Cologne bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 1831+ hotels available in Cologne.
Check out Blablacar's carpooling service for rideshare options between Heidelberg and Cologne. A great option if you don't have a driver's licence or want to avoid public transport.









