- Must visit
Museum Ludwig
Important collection of modern and contemporary art near the cathedral, including Pop Art and post-war works. A staple for art-focused visitors.
Cheapest price on 17 Sept
£9
Average ticket price on 17 Sept
£10
Fastest journey on 17 Sept
1 h 45 m
Average journey duration on 17 Sept
2 h 21 m
Buses on 17 Sept
8
Distance
74 km
The best way to find a cheap coach ticket from Dortmund to Cologne is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Dortmund to Cologne will cost around £10 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap coach tickets today for only £9.
On Thu 17 Sept, we found 8 buses from Dortmund to Cologne, including 8 direct services.
These direct buses cover the 74 km distance in an average of 2 h 21 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 1 h 45 m .
The slowest buses will take 2 h 45 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
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FlixBusOmio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Dortmund to Cologne among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £7 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 1h 48m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.0 - 0.1kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £7, while a train costs an average of £9.
Distance: 74 km
| Coach | Most popular Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£7 Average Price Cheapest | £9 Average Price | £12 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
2h 17m Average total duration 1h 47m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 48m Average total duration Fastest 1h 18m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 16m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions | 0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Dortmund to Cologne:
A coach is £2 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Dortmund to Cologne costing on average £9.
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Coach takes on average 1h 47m.
Tickets start at around £7 compared to roughly £12 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about £5. The journey takes 1h 47m versus 1h 16m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Direct services are operated by FlixBus, BlaBlaCar.
Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.
The table below shows live departures for Dortmund to Cologne coaches for tomorrow, Thursday 17 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated coach journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FlixBus | 5:05 Dortmund, ZOB am Hbf | 2h35 | 7:40 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 5:15 Dortmund, ZOB am Hbf | 2h50 | 8:05 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 9:45 Dortmund, ZOB am Hbf | 3h20 | 13:05 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 10:55 Dortmund, ZOB am Hbf | 2h25 | 13:20 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 17:00 Dortmund, ZOB am Hbf | 2h45 | 19:45 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 17:55 Dortmund, ZOB am Hbf | 2h15 | 20:10 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 19:35 Dortmund, ZOB am Hbf | 1h45 | 21:20 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 20:40 Dortmund, ZOB am Hbf | 3h05 | 23:45 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and coach prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Buses from Dortmund to Cologne run on average 10 times per day, taking around 1h 47m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at £5 but you can travel from only £5 by train.
There are 9 coaches per day. The earliest coach runs at 03:40, the last at 23:55. The fastest coach covers the 74 km distance in 1h 45m.
Distance 74 km |
Average bus duration 1h 47m |
Cheapest ticket price £5 |
Buses per day 10 |
Direct buses 9 |
Fastest bus 1h 45m |
First bus 3:40 |
Last bus 23:55 |
Cheapest Month Jul |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jul - Sept |
Busiest Day Sun |
Least Busy Day Thu |
Best time to book 35 days |
Discover the best of Cologne — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Cologne trip today.
Important collection of modern and contemporary art near the cathedral, including Pop Art and post-war works. A staple for art-focused visitors.
Archaeological museum built around Roman remains, especially the Dionysus mosaic. Excellent for understanding Cologne’s Roman origins.
Major art museum with medieval painting, sculpture and applied arts. A strong choice for seeing Cologne’s artistic heritage in one place.
Historic old town lanes and squares by the Rhine, packed with colourful houses, churches and viewpoints. Ideal for a classic Cologne stroll.
Long Rhine promenade with bridge, cathedral and river views. Popular for walking, photography and watching boats pass through the city centre.
Lively square in the old town framed by historic buildings and museums. A useful base for sightseeing and one of Cologne’s best-known public spaces.
Rye bread with butter, cheese, ham or sausage, traditionally served in Cologne breweries as a simple local snack with Kölsch.
Hearty dish of black pudding with fried onions and mashed potatoes, a Rhineland classic closely associated with Cologne home cooking.
Slow-cooked horsemeat in a sweet-sour raisin sauce, a historic Rhineland speciality still served in a few traditional Cologne restaurants.
Classic Brauhaus serving Päffgen Kölsch and Rhineland favourites in a bustling, wood-panelled setting popular with locals.
Traditional brewery venue by Heumarkt with house Kölsch and dependable regional cooking in a spacious historic hall.
Long-established restaurant for refined German and Rhineland cooking, with a more formal atmosphere than a typical Brauhaus.
Moderate for Germany: hotels can be pricey in peak periods, but dining and public transport are broadly manageable for most city-break budgets.
Service is often included, but it is usual to round up or add about 5-10% in restaurants. Round up taxi fares, and leave small change in cafés if service was good.
Official public transport app
Köln ZOB -> Köln Hbf, Cologne
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Dortmund to Cologne by coach. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest coach, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Cologne, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Dortmund to Cologne buses use the Dortmund, ZOB am Hbf to Köln, Kennedystraße (Bonn Flughafen) station pair, with some services arriving at Leverkusen, Bf Mitte. Use this guide to compare Dortmund and Cologne bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Dortmund, ZOB am Hbf has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Cafeteria Express (in the station), Bistro Central (0.2 km), Restaurant Heimatliebe (0.5 km).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the entrance of the station.
Ticket office support is available at Dortmund, ZOB am Hbf.
Available at Dortmund, ZOB am Hbf: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Dortmund, ZOB am Hbf: Elevators, ramps.
Köln, Kennedystraße (Bonn Flughafen) is 13 km from Cologne city centre. Public transport options include:
Köln, Kennedystraße (Bonn Flughafen) has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Accessibility and WC.
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the entrance.
Available at Köln, Kennedystraße (Bonn Flughafen): Parking, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Köln, Kennedystraße (Bonn Flughafen): Elevators, ramps.
Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) is 13 km from Cologne city centre. Public transport options include:
Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC and Ticket Office.
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the entrance and baggage claim area.
Ticket office support is available at Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2).
Available at Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2): Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2): Elevators, ramps.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need