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How to get fromCologne to Zurichby train, plane, bus, night train, or car

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There are 12 ways to get from Cologne to Zurich by train, plane, bus, night train, or car

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 to Frankfurt, fly to Zurich Airport

    best
    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
    3h 17m
    CHF 110–263

  2. Night train

    cheapest
    1. Take the nighttrain from Koeln Hbf to Zuerich Hbnighttrain night train Nj
    8h 12m
    CHF 35–130

  3. Train via Karlsruhe

    1. Take the train from Köln Hbf to Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhoftrain train 43 / ...
    2. Take the train from Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof to Basel SBBtrain train 12 / ...
    3. Take the train from Basel SBB to Zürich HBtrain train Tgv / ...
    5h 43m
    CHF 96–213

  4. Bus

    1. Take the bus from Köln to Zürich Bus Stationbus bus Ivano-Frankivsk
    6h 50m
    CHF 51–55

  5. Fly Cologne Bonn Airport to Zurich Airport

    1. Fly from Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Zurich Airport (ZRH)plane plane CGN - ZRH
    3h 52m
    CHF 70–194

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

    1. Take the train from Koeln Hbf to Duesseldorf Flughafentrain train
    2. Fly from Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) to Zurich Airport (ZRH)plane plane DUS - ZRH
    4h 36m
    CHF 84–237

  7. Train to Frankfurt, fly to Basel, train

    1. Take the train from Köln Messe/Deutz Bf to Frankfurttrain train
    2. Fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Basel (BSL)plane plane FRA - BSL
    3. Take the train from Basel SBB to Zürich HBtrain train
    4h 36m
    CHF 153–409

  8. Train, bus to Luxembourg, fly to Zurich Airport

    1. Take the train from Köln Süd Bf to Trier, Hauptbahnhoftrain train
    2. Take the bus from Trier, Hauptbahnhof to Kirchberg, Hugo Gernsbackbus bus
    3. Fly from Luxembourg (LUX) to Zurich Airport (ZRH)plane plane LUX - ZRH
    6h 58m
    CHF 122–431

  9. Train to Brussels Airport, fly to Zurich Airport

    1. Take the train from Köln Hbf to Brussels-Nordtrain train
    2. Fly from Brussels Airport (BRU) to Zurich Airport (ZRH)plane plane BRU - ZRH
    5h 41m
    CHF 121–293

  10. Train

    1. Take the train from Köln Süd to Zürich HBtrain train Nightjet
    8h 1m
    CHF 65–130

  11. Bus via Bonn UN Campus

    1. Take the bus from Bonn UN Campus to Zurich Bus Stationbus bus FlixBus N11
    11h 29m
    CHF 49–75

  12. Drive  532.1 km

    1. Drive from Cologne to Zurichcar car 532.1 km
    5h 22m
    CHF 89–128

Cologne to Zurich by train

Calendar193Weekly Trains
Duration5h 43mAverage Duration
TicketCHF 96Cheapest Price
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Comparing Your Travel Options

Map of how to get from Cologne to Zurich.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 468.5 km
  • Duration: 3h 17m

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

You can take a train from Köln Hbf to Zürich HB via Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof and Basel SBB in around 5h 43m. Alternatively, GrandBus operates a bus from Köln to Zürich Bus Station once daily. Tickets cost CHF 51–55 and the journey takes 6h 50m.

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