4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Cologne to Zurich
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cologne to Zurich among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €63 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 4h 7m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.4kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €63, while a flight costs an average of €356.
Distance: 256 miles (413 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Flight | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
€128 Average price | €356 Average price | €63 Average price Cheapest | €143 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 7m Average total duration 5h 37m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 7m Average total duration Fastest 2h 7m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 13h 30m Average total duration 13h 0m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 21m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.2 - 2.5kg CO2 emissions | 0.4 - 1.0kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular airline |  Most popular bus company | 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 Zurich
Compare the available ways to get from Cologne to Zurich, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Zurich:
A bus is €66 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Zurich costing on average €128.
A bus is €294 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Zurich costing on average €356.
Other travel options to Zurich take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 7m.
Bus takes on average 13h 30m.
The journey is about 44m faster (5h 37m by train vs 6h 21m by car) and roughly €15 cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls (€128 vs €143). 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 Zurich
How to get from Cologne to Zurich by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cologne to Zurich is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
FlixBus11:05 PM 9h35 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 8:40 AM Kloten, Zürich Flughafen (Bahnhof) €46 1 One-way 0 transfers
Cheapest
- FlixBus
11:05 PM 9h35 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 8:40 AM Kloten, Zürich Flughafen (Bahnhof) €46 1 One-way 0 transfers
Fastest
- EW762
6:45 AM 1h00 Cologne Bonn Airport 7:45 AM Zurich Airport €129 1 One-way 0 transfers
Other options
- ICE 619 · IC 60403 · IC 559
11:55 PM 7h31 Cologne Hbf 7:26 AM Zurich HB €58 1 One-way 2 transfers - ICE 619 · IC 60403
11:55 PM 8h10 Cologne Hbf 8:05 AM Zurich HB €58 1 One-way 1 transfer - ICE 619 · IC 60403 · IC 559
12:08 AM 7h18 Cologne Hbf 7:26 AM Zurich HB €78 1 One-way 2 transfers
- 50429 · 7991
11:55 AM 20h50 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 8:45 AM Kloten, Zürich Flughafen (Bahnhof) €105 1 One-way 1 transfer - 52120 · 4740
3:35 PM 13h50 Köln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2) 5:25 AM Zürich, Sihlquai Bus Terminal (Carparkplatz Sihlquai) €123 1 One-way 1 transfer
- LX4425
6:45 AM 1h00 Cologne Bonn Airport 7:45 AM Zurich Airport €361 1 One-way 0 transfers 
LH1985 · LH23745:40 PM 3h45 Cologne Bonn Airport 9:25 PM Zurich Airport €383 1 One-way 1 transfer- LH1979+
LH94541:10 PM 3h20 Cologne Bonn Airport 4:30 PM Zurich Airport €502 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
Compare train, bus, and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
How to get from Cologne to Zürich
The Best Way According to our Users
More than 1,000 travel companies trust us to sell their tickets all in one place.
FAQs: Travel from Cologne to Zurich
Travel to Zurich 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 Zurich.
This is compared to other travel options from Cologne to Zurich:
A bus is €66 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cologne to Zurich costing on average €128.
A bus is €294 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cologne to Zurich costing on average €356.
Other travel options to Zurich take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 7m.
Bus takes on average 13h 30m.
- Around 26 trains per day.
- Around 8 flights per day.
- Around 2 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cologne and Zurich as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight 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 Zurich HB.
- Buses mostly depart from Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen) and arrive in Zürich, Sihlquai Bus Terminal (Carparkplatz Sihlquai).
- Travel with BlaBlaCar Bus, FlixBus to go to Zurich by bus.
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB | ICE, ÖBB | InterCity, SNCF | TGV Lyria, ÖBB | Euro City (EC), Eurostar, ÖBB | Nightjet to go to Zurich by train.
- Travel with Eurowings, Lufthansa, Lufthansa City Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa Cityline, Air Baltic, Lot Polish Airlines, Smartwings, British Airways, CitizenPlane, Egypt Air, Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines to go to Zurich by flight.
- 1 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
- 1 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB | Nightjet.
- 4 direct flights per day with Eurowings, Smartwings, CitizenPlane.
Travelling from Cologne to Zurich: related information
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
Travel to popular destinations by train, bus or flight
The Omio App Makes Travel Planning Easy
We’ll get you where you want to go. From live train updates to mobile tickets, our innovative app is the ideal way to plan and keep track of your travel.
