4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train and bus for Cologne to Basel
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Basel among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $47 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 4h 45m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.3kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $47, while a flight costs an average of $777.
Distance: 234 miles (378 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$128 Average price | $47 Average price Cheapest | $777 Average price | $159 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 30m Average total duration 5h 0m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 8h 47m Average total duration 8h 17m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 45m Average total duration Fastest 2h 45m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 5h 9m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.4 - 0.9kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company |  Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Compare ways to travel from Cologne to Basel
Compare the available ways to get from Cologne to Basel, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Basel:
A bus is $81 (€69) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Basel costing on average $128 (€108).
A bus is $730 (€615) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Basel costing on average $777 (€654).
Other travel options to Basel take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 30m.
Bus takes on average 8h 47m.
The journey is about 9m faster (5h 0m by train vs 5h 9m by car) and roughly $32 (€27) cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls ($128 (€108) vs $159 (€134)). You'll also arrive in the city centre rather than hunting for parking, and you can work, read, or watch the landscape go by instead of concentrating on the road.
Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way or need a car once you arrive.
Travel optionsfrom Cologne to Basel
How to get from Cologne to Basel by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cologne to Basel is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- FlixBus
4:50 AM 7h35 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 12:25 PM Basel, Bahnhof $33 1 One-way 0 transfers
Cheapest
- FlixBus
4:50 AM 7h35 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 12:25 PM Basel, Bahnhof $33 1 One-way 0 transfers
Fastest
- ICE 915 · ICE 71
9:33 AM 3h48 Cologne Messe/Deutz 1:21 PM Basel SBB $119 1 One-way 1 transfer
Other options
- ICE 515 · ICE 279
9:46 AM 4h02 Cologne Messe/Deutz 1:48 PM Basel SBB $54 1 One-way 1 transfer - ICE 23 · ICE 711 · ICE 101
5:53 AM 4h55 Cologne Hbf 10:48 AM Basel SBB $54 1 One-way 2 transfers - ICE 2013 · ICE 371
10:53 AM 4h55 Cologne Hbf 3:48 PM Basel SBB $54 1 One-way 1 transfer
- FlixBus
2:40 PM 8h10 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 10:50 PM Basel, Bahnhof $34 1 One-way 0 transfers - FlixBus · FlixBus
7:10 PM 8h40 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 3:50 AM Basel, Bahnhof $39 1 One-way 1 transfer - FlixBus+
FlixTrain8:15 AM 8h57 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 5:12 PM Basel Bad Bhf $39 1 One-way 1 transfer
Find 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 Cologne to Basel
Travel to Basel 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 Cologne to Basel.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Basel:
A bus is $81 (€69) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Basel costing on average $128 (€108).
A bus is $730 (€615) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Basel costing on average $777 (€654).
Other travel options to Basel take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 30m.
Bus takes on average 8h 47m.
- Around 11 trains per day.
- Around 5 buses per day.
- Around 1 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cologne and Basel as scheduled services by train and bus can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Cologne Bonn Airport and arrive in Zurich Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Cologne Hbf and arrive in Basel SBB.
- Buses mostly depart from Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) and arrive in Basel, Bahnhof.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, Eurostar, ÖBB | InterCity, ÖBB | ICE, ÖBB | Euro City (EC), FlixTrain, ÖBB | Nightjet, SNCF | TGV Lyria to go to Basel by train.
- Travel with British Airways, Eurowings to go to Basel by flight.
- Travel with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus to go to Basel by bus.
- 1 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB | Nightjet.
- 0 direct flights per day with Eurowings.
- 3 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
Travelling from Cologne to Basel: related information
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