How to travel from Cologne to Zurich

Travel between Cologne, Germany and Zurich, Switzerland is: Fully open.

Can travelers from Germany enter Switzerland?

International entry is allowed at this time for: Entry is fully open for citizens and permanent residents of Germany.

Are there rules for self-quarantine when arriving to Zurich from Cologne?

Conditions of entry into Switzerland:

• There are no current restrictions

Are there COVID-19 safety rules for social distancing and wearing face masks in Zurich, Switzerland?

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, the government of Switzerland has imposed the following measures:

• Physical distance requirement: metre (s) ( feet)
• Face mask requirement: Regional advice

This information was last checked on 7/2/22. As this information can change due to the nature of the pandemic, make sure to review the latest COVID-19 travel safety regulations   for your journey to Zurich from Cologne.

The current restriction level for returning to Cologne, Germany from Switzerland is: Fully open.

Am I allowed to reenter Cologne, Germany from Zurich, Switzerland?

Reentering Germany is currently allowed for: Entry is fully open for citizens and permanent residents of Switzerland

Do I need to self-quarantine when I arrive back to Cologne from Zurich?

• There are no current restrictions

Which rules do I need to follow in Cologne, Germany regarding COVID-19?

All travelers returning to Germany must observe the following safety measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the country:

• Physical distance: 1.5 metre (s) (5 feet)
• Face masks: Mandatory

The information above was last checked on 7/5/22. We do our best to keep this information up-to-date, but regulations can change due to the nature of the coronavirus pandemic, so please double check the latest COVID-19 travel safety regulations ahead of your trip back to Cologne from Zurich here.

There are 4 travel options from Cologne to Zurich: bus, flight, ferry or train.

The cheapest way to go to Zurich from Cologne is by taking a ferry, which costs on average $1 (€1).

This is compared to other ways of getting to Zurich:

A ferry is generally $37 (€33) less than a bus for the same trip. Taking a bus costs on average $37 (€33) from Cologne to Zurich.

A ferry is $224 (€200) less than a flight for this journey with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Zurich costing on average $224 (€200).

Taking a ferry is usually $47 (€42) less than taking a train to Zurich, which costs on average $47 (€42) for the same trip.

The quickest way to travel between Cologne and Zurich is by flight, which takes on average 1 h 5 min   compared to other travel options that may take you longer to get to your destination:

In comparison, going by bus can take 10 h 55 min   on average.

In comparison, going by ferry can take 0 h 0 min   on average.

In comparison, taking a train requires on average 5 h 5 min   of travel time.

The distance is approximately 256 miles (413 km) from Cologne to Zurich.

The average frequency per day from Cologne to Zurich is:

• 5 buses a day.
• Around 12 trains per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your trip to Zurich from Cologne as scheduled services by bus, flight, ferry or train can vary by season or day of the week.

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Cologne to Zurich:

• Buses from Cologne to Zurich most often leave from Köln, Köln Bonn Airport (Fernbusbahnhof) and arrive in Zürich, Sihlquai Bus Terminal (Carparkplatz Sihlquai).
• Flights most often depart from Cologne at Cologne/Bonn Airport and arrive in Zurich at Zurich Airport.
• Trains from Cologne to Zurich most often leave from Köln Hbf and arrive in Zürich HB.

If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Cologne to Zurich, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:

• Flixbus can take you to Zurich by bus. If searching for a good deal on buses, you can find tickets for Flixbus from Cologne to Zurich for $37 (€33).
• Travel with Eurowings to go to Zurich by plane. For a good deal on tickets, you can find Eurowings Cologne to Zurich tickets on Omio for $224 (€200).
• Travel with Deutsche Bahn for trains to Zurich. If you’re looking for a good deal on tickets, check for Deutsche Bahn Cologne to Zurich tickets on Omio for $47 (€42).

Yes, there are direct services available from Cologne to Zurich with the following travel companies:

• You can travel directly by bus with BlaBlaCar with 2 direct buses per day.
• You can take a direct train with Deutsche Bahn or ÖBB | Euro City (EC) with 1 direct train per day.

Direct services tend to save you time and add more convenience in getting you to Zurich as you won't need to transfer at another stop in between, so it's worth paying attention to before booking your tickets to Zurich from Cologne.

When planning your trip from Cologne to Zurich, it’s good to keep in mind what tickets to book and their prices in the next 7 days:

• Bus tickets are costing $37 (€33) one way on average.
• Plane tickets are costing on average $224 (€200) one way.
• Ferry tickets cost on average $1 (€1) one way.
• Train tickets cost on average $47 (€42) one way.

However, we recommend buying tickets from Cologne to Zurich online a few months in advance to get the best deals and save money on your upcoming journey.