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How to get fromBasel to Cologneby train, bus, night train, car, train (Trenitalia), rideshare, or plane

Find Transport to Cologne

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There are 12 ways to get from Basel to Cologne by train, bus, night train, car, train (Trenitalia), rideshare, or plane

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

    best
    1. Take the train from Basel Bad Bf to Köln Hbftrain train 43N / ...
    3h 40m
    €90–240

  2. Rideshare

    cheapest
    1. Take the rideshare from Basel to Colognerideshare rideshare 490.5 km
    4h 57m
    €24–35

  3. Bus

    1. Take the bus from Basel, Bahnhof to Kölnbus bus Ivano-Frankivsk
    5h 53m
    €48–52

  4. Night train

    1. Take the nighttrain from Basel Bad Bf to Koeln Hbfnighttrain night train Nj
    6h 17m
    €30–103

  5. Drive  490.5 km

    1. Drive from Basel to Colognecar car 490.5 km
    4h 10m
    €88–127

  6. Train via Mannheim

    1. Take the train from Basel Bad Bf to Mannheim, Hauptbahnhoftrain train 12 / ...
    2. Take the train from Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof to Köln Messe/Deutz Bftrain train 47 / ...
    3h 49m
    €86–193

  7. Train via Bonn Hbf

    1. Take the train from Basel SBB to Bonn Hbftrain train 43N
    7h
    €100–192

  8. Fly Basel to Düsseldorf International Airport

    1. Fly from Basel (BSL) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)plane plane BSL - DUS
    6h 2m
    €108–277

  9. Train to Zurich Airport, fly to Cologne Bonn Airport

    1. Take the train from Basel SBB to Zürich HBtrain train
    2. Fly from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)plane plane ZRH - CGN
    4h 57m
    €104–247

  10. Fly Basel to Cologne Bonn Airport

    1. Fly from Basel (BSL) to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)plane plane BSL - CGN
    6h 8m
    €124–260

  11. Fly Basel to Frankfurt, train

    1. Fly from Basel (BSL) to Frankfurt (FRA)plane plane BSL - FRA
    2. Take the train from Frankfurt to Köln Messe/Deutz Bftrain train
    4h 19m
    €153–364

  12. Train to Zurich Airport, fly to Düsseldorf International Airport

    1. Take the train from Basel SBB to Zürich HBtrain train
    2. Fly from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)plane plane ZRH - DUS
    5h 36m
    €118–294

Basel to Cologne by train

Calendar72Weekly Trains
Duration3h 40mAverage Duration
Ticket€90Cheapest Price
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Comparing Your Travel Options

Map of how to get from Basel to Cologne.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 488.8 km
  • Duration: 3h 40m

What companies run services between Basel, Switzerland and Cologne, Germany?

Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) operates a train from Basel Bad Bf to Köln Hbf every 4 hours. Tickets cost €90–180 and the journey takes 3h 40m. Two other operators also service this route. Alternatively, GrandBus operates a bus from Basel, Bahnhof to Köln once daily. Tickets cost €48–52 and the journey takes 5h 53m.

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