Travel Information
Compare train and bus for Basel to Cologne
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Basel to Cologne among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from €25. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 5h 14m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.3kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €25, and a train costs an average of €25.
Distance: 234 miles (378 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus |
|---|---|
€103 Average price | €38 Average price Cheapest |
5h 44m Average total duration Fastest 5h 14m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 9m Average total duration 6h 39m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.4 - 0.9kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Travel optionsfrom Basel to Cologne
How to get from Basel to Cologne by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Basel to Cologne is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
FlixBusCheapest
FlixBusFastest
ICE 374+
IC 1947Other options
ICE 74 · ICE 1010 · ICE 926
FlixTrain+
FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBusFind all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
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FAQs: Travel from Basel to Cologne
Travel to Cologne easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Basel to Cologne.

This is compared to other travel options from Basel to Cologne:
A bus is $0.61 (€0.48) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Basel to Cologne costing on average $32 (€25).
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Bus takes on average 7h 20m.
- Around 12 trains per day.
- Around 8 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Basel and Cologne as scheduled services by train and bus can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg and arrive in Cologne Bonn Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Basel SBB and arrive in Cologne Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Basel, Meret Oppenheim-Strasse (Bahnhof SBB) and arrive in Köln, Kennedystraße (Bonn Flughafen).
- Travel with BlaBlaCar, FlixBus to go to Cologne by bus.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB | ICE, ÖBB | InterCity, ÖBB Nightjet, FlixTrain, ÖBB | Euro City (EC) to go to Cologne by train.
- 3 direct buses per day with BlaBlaCar, FlixBus.
- 2 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB Nightjet, ÖBB | Euro City (EC).
Travelling from Basel to Cologne: related information
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