Is there a way to reach Budapest from Cologne without flying?

Both buses and trains are available for traveling between these two cities. Either way you choose, you'll be sure to reach your destination in the most easy and eco-friendly way. Another option is using carpool services and riding with fellow travelers.

How long does it take to get to Budapest from Cologne by bus?

Traveling from Cologne to Budapest takes around 20h on average, but the fastest bus can get you there in about 15h 20m. This is the time it takes to travel the 594 miles (958 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between Cologne and Budapest?

Cologne and Budapest are 594 miles (958 km) apart.

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Cologne to Budapest?

If you're headed to Budapest from Cologne, chances are that your bus will depart from Cologne/Bonn Airport and arrive at Kelenföld. These are the main departure and arrival locations on this route, there are other pick-up and drop-off locations that could make it easier for you to reach your destination.

What is the most affordable way to go from Cologne to Budapest?

If you want the cheapest way to travel this route, pick the bus. The lowest tickets for this trip cost as little as $51.

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Cologne to Budapest?

The bus ticket costs $73 on average. Over the last 30 days, the prices ranged between $51 and $259, so make sure to compare them to get the best option.

What are the best sights and things to do in Budapest?

Once in Budapest, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Gellért Thermal Baths, Citadel, The Great Synagogue, Hungarian National Museum and Shoes on the Danube Bank.

Cologne to Budapest Bus Tickets

TodayMay 4

from $62

TomorrowMay 5

TueMay 6

WedMay 7

ThuMay 8

FriMay 9

SatMay 10

SunMay 11

Cheap buses leaving today

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: May 4 at 6:10pm
Departure city: Cologne
Departure location: Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße
Arrival time: May 5 at 1:10pm
Destination city: Budapest
Destination location: Kelenföld
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 19h
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: May 4 at 3:50pm
Departure city: Cologne
Departure location: Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)
Arrival time: May 5 at 9:05am
Destination city: Budapest
Destination location: Könyves Kálmán
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 17h 15m
Departure time: May 4 at 3:50pm
Departure city: Cologne
Departure location: Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)
Arrival time: May 5 at 11:50am
Destination city: Budapest
Destination location: T2A Budapest Airport (BUD)
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 20h
Departure time: May 4 at 11:35pm
Departure city: Cologne
Departure location: Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)
Arrival time: May 5 at 6:45pm
Destination city: Budapest
Destination location: T2A Budapest Airport (BUD)
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 19h 10m
Departure time: May 4 at 3:10pm
Departure city: Cologne
Departure location: Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße
Arrival time: May 5 at 11:50am
Destination city: Budapest
Destination location: T2A Budapest Airport (BUD)
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 20h 40m

Accepted payments

Compare 3 ways to go from Cologne to Budapest.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$51 - $259	Average Duration20h	CO₂ emissions 24kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	Cheapest
Train	Average Price$52 - $249	Average Duration22h 11m	CO₂ emissions 23kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	Most eco-friendly
Carpool	Average Price$82 - $101	Average Duration11h 50m	CO₂ emissions 40kg CO₂e4 out of 5 stars	Fastest

Busbud recommends carpooling from Cologne to Budapest

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as the good way to reach Budapest. The journey takes about 11 hours 50 minutes and with fares starting at just $82, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

1carpool per day

11h 50mAverage Duration

$82Cheapest ticket

40kgCO₂ emissions

Bus Cologne to Budapest: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$73

Average bus trip duration20h

Number of daily buses22

Earliest bus departure12:45am

Distance588 miles (948 km)

Latest bus departure11:35pm

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/58,494 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.6

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

BlaBlaCar Bus

3.5/510,160 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness3.7

Cleanliness4.3

Wifi2.5

RegioJet

4/51,021 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.4

Wifi3.8

HU bus companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Sindbad, MarinoBus, Infobus, RegioJet

Cologne to Budapest Bus

Busbud helps you find a bus from Cologne to Budapest. Get the best fare and schedule, book a round trip ticket or find buses with WiFi and electrical outlets.

Bus service from Cologne to Budapest will be provided by the most trusted bus companies.

Discover how much the bus trip from Cologne to Budapest will cost you. Use our filters and sorting features to find the cheapest bus tickets or luxury buses.

Where are the popular stops in Cologne and Budapest?

Stops in Cologne

A - Cologne/Bonn Airport

B - Hbf

C - Gummersbacher Str.

D - Riehl Zoo

E - Leverkusen Mitte

F - Rhein Energie Stadion

Stops in Budapest

A - Kelenföld

B - Népliget

C - Budapest Airport

D - Mexikói út

E - Könyves Kálmán

F - Nyugati

Frequently asked questions for your trip Cologne - Budapest

Is there a way to reach Budapest from Cologne without flying?
How long does it take to get to Budapest from Cologne by bus?
What is the distance between Cologne and Budapest?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Cologne to Budapest?
What is the most affordable way to go from Cologne to Budapest?
What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Cologne to Budapest?
What are the best sights and things to do in Budapest?

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

05/02

$169

05/03

$65

Today

$62

05/05

$159

05/06

No data

05/07

$88

05/08

$173

05/09

$154

The cheapest trip from Cologne to Budapest was searched and found on May 4, 2025 with a price of $62

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Cologne to Budapest, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $62 to $173 for a bus ticket from Cologne to Budapest based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $88 which is on 2025-05-07.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Make friends with the driver. They usually know a lot about your destination and may even recommend which side of the bus to sit on to get the best views on the road between Cologne and Budapest!

Much more than a mere vehicle taking you from Cologne to Budapest, riding the bus will expose you to some of the most stunning panoramas while enroute to your final bus stop.

Buses have one of the smallest carbon footprints of motorized transport modes. A bus going from Cologne to Budapest will emit less CO2 than a car or an airplane.

Tune out to the fine sounds of your best music playlist on your bus trip from Cologne to Budapest while indulging in miles on end of beautiful scenic views.

Did you know?

It takes 27 hours to go by bus from Lima to Cusco, one of the craziest bus trips on the world. This route is used daily by locals and backpackers.

9.2% of ground transportation in Europe is done by bus versus 7.4% by train.

The bus driver with the longest career in the world drove more than 2,000,000 miles and is a happy World Record holder.

What's the cheapest way to go from Cologne to Budapest?

The bus is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel Time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel Time20h	Avg Price$73	Daily Departures22
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel Time22h 11m	Avg Price$79	Daily Departures5
Vehicle TypeCarpool	Travel Time11h 50m	Avg Price$82	Daily Departures1

Will you be returning to Cologne by bus?

Bus from Cologne to Budapest

You can also go to Budapest by train

Train from Cologne to Budapest

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud.com makes it easy for you to find, compare and book city-to-city bus tickets, all over the world. We save you the extra trip to the bus station. Use Busbud to book your trip online, in your own language and currency, wherever you are. Busbud prides itself on its worldwide partnerships. We make it possible for you to buy tickets with its large network of trustworthy bus partners like Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

Bus Tickets from Cologne to Budapest