How much is the bus ticket from Cologne to Hamburg?

The cheapest bus tickets from Cologne to Hamburg start from $20. The average price for this route is around $38. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus ride from Cologne to Hamburg?

The average bus trip duration from Cologne to Hamburg is 8h 50m, covering a distance of 226 miles (364 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 6h 40m and is operated by FlixBus .

Which bus companies service the Cologne to Hamburg route?

Several major train operators operate on this route with 4 trains available per day.

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Cologne to Hamburg?

The earliest bus departs from Cologne to Hamburg at 4:05am. And the latest bus departs at 11:55pm.

What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Cologne to Hamburg?

A bus trip from Cologne to Hamburg generates an estimated 9 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.

Bus Cologne to Hamburg from $16 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures for Cologne to Hamburg on January 11
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	11:15pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	7h 25m	6:40am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	Cheapest
	11:40pm	Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße	7h	6:40am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	Fastest
Flixtrain + Flixbus	4:14pm	Hbf	7h 41m	11:55pm	HAM Airport	No tags

Next departures for Cologne to Hamburg on January 12
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	11:15pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	7h 25m	6:40am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	Cheapest
	4:05am	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	6h 40m	10:45am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	Fastest
Flixtrain + Flixbus	12:14pm	Hbf	8h 1m	8:15pm	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	No tags
	11:40pm	Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße	7h	6:40am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	No tags
Flixtrain + Flixbus	12:14pm	Hbf	11h 41m	11:55pm	HAM Airport	No tags

Next departures for Cologne to Hamburg on January 13
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
11:15pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	7h 25m	6:40am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	Cheapest
4:05am	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	6h 40m	10:45am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	Fastest
11:40pm	Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße	7h	6:40am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	No tags
9:45pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	16h 35m	2:20pm	HAM Airport	No tags
10:10pm	Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße	16h 10m	2:20pm	HAM Airport	No tags

Next departures for Cologne to Hamburg on January 14
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
11:15pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	7h 25m	6:40am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	Cheapest
11:40pm	Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße	7h	6:40am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	Fastest
9:45pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	16h 35m	2:20pm	HAM Airport	No tags
10:10pm	Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße	16h 10m	2:20pm	HAM Airport	No tags

Next departures for Cologne to Hamburg on January 15
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	11:15pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	7h 25m	6:40am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	Cheapest
	11:40pm	Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße	7h	6:40am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	Fastest
Flixtrain + Flixbus	4:14pm	Hbf	7h 41m	11:55pm	HAM Airport	No tags

Next departures for Cologne to Hamburg on January 16
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	11:15pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	7h 25m	6:40am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	Cheapest
	11:40pm	Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße	7h	6:40am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	Fastest
Flixtrain + Flixbus	4:14pm	Hbf	7h 41m	11:55pm	HAM Airport	No tags

Next departures for Cologne to Hamburg on January 17
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	11:15pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	7h 25m	6:40am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	Cheapest
	4:05am	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	6h 40m	10:45am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	Fastest
	11:40pm	Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße	7h	6:40am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	No tags
Flixtrain + Flixbus	12:14pm	Hbf	11h 41m	11:55pm	HAM Airport	No tags
	10:20am	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	13h 35m	11:55pm	HAM Airport	No tags

Next departures for Cologne to Hamburg on January 18
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	11:15pm	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	7h 25m	6:40am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	Cheapest
	4:05am	Flughafen Köln/Bonn Airport (CGN)	6h 40m	10:45am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	Fastest
	11:40pm	Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße	7h	6:40am	Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)	No tags
Flixtrain + Flixbus	4:14pm	Hbf	7h 41m	11:55pm	HAM Airport	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 5:29 AM CET.

Compare 3 ways to go from Cologne to Hamburg

We recommend carpooling

Among the sustainable travel choices, the Carpool stands out as the good way to reach Hamburg. The journey takes about 4 hours 20 minutes and with fares starting at just $20, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

12carpool per day

4h 20mAverage Duration

222 milesDistance

15kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$20 - $153	Average Duration8h 50m	CO₂ emissions 9kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$8 - $187	Average Duration4h 4m	CO₂ emissions 9kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average Price$20 - $53	Average Duration4h 20m	CO₂ emissions 15kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in Cologne and Hamburg?

Stops in Cologne

A
Cologne/Bonn Airport
Visit page Map
B
Hbf
Bahnsteig Gleis 2 + 3, 50667 Köln, Germany
Visit page Map
C
Gummersbacher Str.
Gummersbacher Str. 31, 50679 Köln, Germany
Visit page Map
D
Riehl Zoo
Riehler Str. 168, 50735 Köln, Germany
Map
E
Leverkusen Mitte
Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße, 51373 Leverkusen
Map
F
Rhein Energie Stadion
Cologne,, Germany
Map

Stops in Hamburg

A
Hamburg Airport
Visit page Map
B
Hamburg Central Bus Station (ZOB)
Adenauerallee 78, 20097 Hamburg, Germany
Visit page Map
C
Harburg
Hörstener Str. 1, 21079 Hamburg, Germany
Visit page Map
D
Hamburg Altona
Paul-Nevermann-Platz 13, 22765 Hamburg, Germany
Map
E
Volksparkstadion
Sylvesterallee 7, , 22525 Hamburg, , Germany
Map
F
Steinwerder
Buchheisterstraße 16, , 20457 Hamburg, , Germany
Map

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/512,002 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

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.

DE bus companies:FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, Greyhound, ALSA, Intercape, Trenitalia, Big Sky

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Cologne to Hamburg by bus

Please note that schedules, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary at the time of your trip.

How much is the bus ticket from Cologne to Hamburg?
The cheapest bus tickets from Cologne to Hamburg start from $20. The average price for this route is around $38. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus ride from Cologne to Hamburg?
The average bus trip duration from Cologne to Hamburg is 8h 50m, covering a distance of 226 miles (364 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 6h 40m and is operated by FlixBus.
Which bus companies service the Cologne to Hamburg route?
Several major train operators operate on this route with 4 trains available per day.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Cologne to Hamburg?
The earliest bus departs from Cologne to Hamburg at 4:05am. And the latest bus departs at 11:55pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Cologne to Hamburg?
A bus trip from Cologne to Hamburg generates an estimated 9 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

01/09

$64

01/10

$29

Today

$41

01/12

$29

01/13

$23

01/14

$22

01/15

$23

01/16

$31

The cheapest trip from Cologne to Hamburg was searched and found on Jan 14, 2026 with a price of $22

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

You can expect to pay from $22 to $64 for a bus ticket from Cologne to Hamburg based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $22 which is on 2026-01-14.