How to travel from Cologne to Basel

Sat, Mar 28
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Travel by train, bus with
Deutsche Bahn
FlixBus
BlaBlaCar
ÖBB | ICE
ÖBB | Euro City (EC)
1,000+ more
Deutsche Bahn
FlixBus
BlaBlaCar
ÖBB | ICE
ÖBB | Euro City (EC)
1,000+ more
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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 prices starting from $28. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 5h 9m. 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 $28, and a train costs an average of $7.

Distance: 234 miles (378 km)

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Bus

$126

Average price

$45

Average price

Cheapest

5h 39m

Average total duration

Fastest

5h 9m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

8h 43m

Average total duration

8h 13m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

0.1 - 0.3kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

0.4 - 0.9kg

CO2 emissions

Deutsche Bahn

Most popular train company

FlixBus

Most popular bus company

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

Travel options
from Cologne to Basel

How to get from Cologne to Basel by train, bus or flight.

Our recommendation

bus

The best way to travel from Cologne to Basel is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

FlixBusFlixBus+FlixTrainFlixTrain
08:15AM8h56
Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)
05:11PMBasel Bad Bhf
$501One-way
1 transfer

Cheapest

FlixBusFlixBus+FlixTrainFlixTrain
08:15AM8h56
Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)
05:11PMBasel Bad Bhf
$501One-way
1 transfer

Fastest

Deutsche BahnICE 915 · ICE 71
09:31AM3h50
Cologne Messe/Deutz
01:21PMBasel SBB
$1811One-way
1 transfer

Other options

Deutsche BahnIC 1940 · ICE 279
08:14AM5h34
Cologne Hbf
01:48PMBasel SBB
$1511One-way
1 transfer
Deutsche BahnICE 103
08:54AM3h54
Cologne Hbf
12:48PMBasel SBB
$1831One-way
0 transfers
Deutsche BahnICE 515 · ICE 279
09:54AM3h54
Cologne Hbf
01:48PMBasel SBB
$1831One-way
1 transfer
FlixBusFlixBus
04:50AM7h35
Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)
12:25PMBasel, Bahnhof
$531One-way
0 transfers
FlixBusFlixBus
02:40PM8h10
Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)
10:50PMBasel, Bahnhof
$531One-way
0 transfers
FlixBusFlixBus
11:05PM8h20
Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen)
08:25AMBasel, Bahnhof
$541One-way
0 transfers

Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .

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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.

FAQs
There are 2 options to travel between Cologne and Basel including taking a train and bus.
The cheapest way to travel from Cologne to Basel is a train with an average price of $7 (€6).

This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Basel:

A train is $20 (€17) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Cologne to Basel costing on average $28 (€23).

The fastest way to travel from Cologne to Basel is by train with an average journey time of 3h 49m.

Other travel options to Basel take longer:

Bus takes on average 7h 29m.

The distance from Cologne to Basel is approximately 234 miles (378 km).
The average frequency per day from Cologne to Basel is:
  • Around 10 trains per day.
  • Around 6 buses 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.

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Cologne to Basel:
  • Flights mostly depart from Cologne Bonn Airport and arrive in EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg.
  • Trains mostly depart from Cologne Hbf and arrive in Basel SBB.
  • Buses mostly depart from Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) and arrive in Basel, Meret Oppenheim-Strasse (Bahnhof SBB).
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Cologne to Basel, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar, BlaBlaCar Bus to go to Basel by bus.
  • Travel with Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB | ICE, ÖBB | Euro City (EC), ÖBB | Nightjet, ÖBB | InterCity, FlixTrain, Österreichische Bundesbahnen to go to Basel by train.
Yes, there are direct services available from Cologne to Basel with the following travel companies:
  • 3 direct buses per day with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar.
  • 3 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB | Nightjet, Österreichische Bundesbahnen.
Omio customers who travel from Cologne to Basel often also extend their vacation to go to Paris, Zurich, Strasbourg, Colmar, Milan. Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Basel and these popular destinations at a great price.

Travelling from Cologne to Basel: related information

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

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