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How to get fromCologne to Baselby train, bus, night train, car, rideshare, or plane

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There are 11 ways to get from Cologne to Basel by train, bus, night train, car, 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 Köln Hbf to Basel Bad Bftrain train 43N / ...
    3h 42m
    CHF 50–370

  2. Night train

    cheapest
    1. Take the nighttrain from Koeln Hbf to Basel Bad Bfnighttrain night train Nj
    6h 18m
    CHF 30–110

  3. Bus

    1. Take the bus from Köln to Basel, Bahnhofbus bus Ivano-Frankivsk
    5h 53m

  4. Drive 490.1 km

    1. Drive from Cologne to Baselcar car 490.1 km
    4h 8m
    CHF 80–115

  5. Train via Mannheim

    1. Take the train from Köln Messe/Deutz Bf to Mannheim, Hauptbahnhoftrain train 47 / ...
    2. Take the train from Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof to Basel Bad Bftrain train 12 / ...
    3h 49m
    CHF 67–368

  6. Rideshare

    1. Take the rideshare from Cologne to Baselrideshare rideshare 489.8 km
    5h 49m
    CHF 30

  7. Train to Frankfurt, fly to Basel

    1. Take the train from Köln Messe/Deutz Bf to Frankfurttrain train
    2. Fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Basel (BSL)plane plane FRA - BSL
    3h 8m
    CHF 132–388

  8. Fly Cologne Bonn Airport to Basel

    1. Fly from Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Basel (BSL)plane plane CGN - BSL
    6h 28m
    CHF 56–235

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

    1. Take the train from Köln Messe/Deutz Bf to Frankfurttrain train
    2. Fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Zurich Airport (ZRH)plane plane FRA - ZRH
    3. Take the train from Zürich HB to Basel SBBtrain train
    4h 21m
    CHF 136–404

  10. Fly Cologne Bonn Airport to Zurich Airport, train

    1. Fly from Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Zurich Airport (ZRH)plane plane CGN - ZRH
    2. Take the train from Zürich HB to Basel SBBtrain train
    4h 56m
    CHF 105–281

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

    1. Take the train from Köln Hbf to D-Flughafen Bftrain train
    2. Fly from Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) to Zurich Airport (ZRH)plane plane DUS - ZRH
    3. Take the train from Zürich HB to Basel SBBtrain train
    5h 19m
    CHF 112–319

Cologne to Basel by train

Calendar122Weekly Trains
Duration3h 42mAverage Duration
TicketCHF 50Cheapest Price
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Comparing Your Travel Options

Map of how to get from Cologne to Basel.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 488.9 km
  • Duration: 3h 42m

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

Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) operates a train from Köln Hbf to Basel Bad Bf hourly. Tickets cost CHF 80–370 and the journey takes 3h 42m. Two other operators also service this route. Alternatively, GrandBus operates a bus from Köln to Basel, Bahnhof once daily, and the journey takes 5h 53m.

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Want to know more about travelling around Switzerland

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