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

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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 Bad Bf to Köln Hbftrain train 43N / ...
    3h 40m
    €50–170

  2. Rideshare

    cheapest
    1. Take the rideshare from Basel to Colognerideshare rideshare 490.4 km
    4h 57m
    €24–30

  3. Bus

    1. Take the bus from Basel SBB to Leverkusenbus bus N11
    9h 41m
    €26–65

  4. Night train

    1. Take the night train from Basel Bad Bf to Koeln Hbfnighttrain night train Nj
    6h 30m
    €45–263

  5. Drive 490.5 km

    1. Drive from Basel to Colognecar car 490.5 km
    4h 9m
    €85–123

  6. Train via Mannheim

    1. Take the train from Basel SBB to Mannheim, Hauptbahnhoftrain train 20 / ...
    2. Take the train from Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof to Köln Hbftrain train 43 / ...
    4h 9m
    €48–234

  7. Train via Koblenz

    1. Take the train from Basel SBB to Koblenz Hauptbahnhoftrain train 43N
    2. Take the train from Koblenz Hbf to Koeln Messe/Deutztrain train Re
    6h 55m
    €56–142

  8. Fly Basel to Cologne Bonn Airport

    1. Fly from Basel (BSL) to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)plane plane BSL - CGN
    6h 20m
    €97–244

  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 51m
    €94–250

  10. Fly Basel to Düsseldorf International Airport, train

    1. Fly from Basel (BSL) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)plane plane BSL - DUS
    2. Take the train from Duesseldorf Hbf to Koeln Hbftrain train
    6h 21m
    €118–298

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

    1. Take the train from Basel SBB to Zürich HBtrain train
    2. Fly from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Frankfurt (FRA)plane plane ZRH - FRA
    3. Take the train from Frankfurt to Köln Messe/Deutz Bftrain train
    4h 46m
    €120–310

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

    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
    3. Take the train from Duesseldorf Hbf to Koeln Hbftrain train
    5h 52m
    €105–314

  13. 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 35m
    €143–324

  14. Train to Frankfurt, fly to Düsseldorf International Airport, train

    1. Take the train from Basel Bad Bf to Frankfurttrain train
    2. Fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)plane plane FRA - DUS
    3. Take the train from Duesseldorf Hbf to Koeln Hbftrain train
    5h 39m
    €130–298

Basel to Cologne by train

Calendar82Weekly Trains
Duration3h 40mAverage Duration
Ticket€50Cheapest 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 Bad Bf to Köln Hbf every 3 hours. Tickets cost €50–170 and the journey takes 3h 40m. Österreichische Bundesbahnen also services this route twice daily. Alternatively, FlixBus operates a bus from Basel SBB to Leverkusen once daily. Tickets cost €26–65 and the journey takes 8h 40m.

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