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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 14 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 SBB to Köln Hbftrain43 / ...
    3h 49m
    €35–150

  2. Rideshare

    cheapest
    1. Take the rideshare from Basel to Colognerideshare490.4 km
    4h 57m
    €24–30

  3. Bus

    1. Take the bus from Basel SBB to LeverkusenbusN11
    9h 42m
    €26–55

  4. Night train

    1. Take the night train from Basel Bad Bf to Koeln Messe/Deutz Gl.11-12nighttrainNj
    6h 28m
    €45–263

  5. Drive 490.5 km

    1. Drive from Basel to Colognecar490.5 km
    4h 5m
    €84–122

  6. Train via Mannheim

    1. Take the train from Basel Bad Bf to Mannheim, Hauptbahnhoftrain20 / ...
    2. Take the train from Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof to Köln Hbftrain43 / ...
    3h 56m
    €46–233

  7. Train via Bonn Beuel Bf

    1. Take the train from Basel SBB to Bonn Beuel Bftrain43N
    7h 33m
    €69–150

  8. Fly Basel to Düsseldorf International Airport

    1. Fly from Basel (BSL) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)planeBSL - DUS
    6h 14m
    €127–318

  9. Train to Zurich Airport, fly to Frankfurt, train

    1. Take the train from Basel SBB to Zürich HBtrain
    2. Fly from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Frankfurt (FRA)planeZRH - FRA
    3. Take the train from Frankfurt to Köln Hbftrain
    4h 25m
    €117–330

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

    1. Take the train from Basel SBB to Zürich HBtrain
    2. Fly from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)planeZRH - CGN
    4h 51m
    €93–257

  11. Fly Basel to Cologne Bonn Airport

    1. Fly from Basel (BSL) to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)planeBSL - CGN
    6h 25m
    €97–251

  12. Fly Basel to Frankfurt, train

    1. Fly from Basel (BSL) to Frankfurt (FRA)planeBSL - FRA
    2. Take the train from Frankfurt to Köln Hbftrain
    4h 15m
    €141–354

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

    1. Take the train from Basel SBB to Zürich HBtrain
    2. Fly from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)planeZRH - DUS
    5h 45m
    €103–304

  14. Train to Frankfurt, fly to Düsseldorf International Airport

    1. Take the train from Basel Bad Bf to Frankfurttrain
    2. Fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)planeFRA - DUS
    5h 32m
    €124–304

Basel to Cologne by train

Calendar94Weekly Trains
Duration3h 49mAverage Duration
Ticket€35Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

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

Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) operates a train from Basel SBB to Köln Hbf every 2 hours. Tickets cost €35–130 and the journey takes 3h 49m. Österreichische Bundesbahnen also services this route twice daily. Alternatively, FlixBus operates a bus from Basel SBB to Leverkusen once daily. Tickets cost €26–55 and the journey takes 8h 40m.

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