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4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Zurich to Cologne
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Zurich to Cologne among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €60 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 3h 54m. 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 €60, while a flight costs an average of €383.
Distance: 256 miles (413 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Flight | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
€129 Average price | €383 Average price | €60 Average price Cheapest | €143 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 2m Average total duration 5h 32m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 54m Average total duration Fastest 1h 54m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 13h 9m Average total duration 12h 39m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 32m 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.
This is compared to other travel options from Zurich to Cologne:
A bus is €69 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Zurich to Cologne costing on average €129.
A bus is €323 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Zurich to Cologne costing on average €383.
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 2m.
Bus takes on average 13h 9m.
Tickets start at around €129 compared to roughly €143 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about €14. The journey takes 5h 32m versus 5h 32m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.
Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.
Travel optionsfrom Zurich to Cologne
How to get from Zurich to Cologne by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Zurich to Cologne is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- IC 604029:54 PM7h50Zurich HB5:44 AMCologne Hbf€401One-way0 transfers
Cheapest
- IC 604029:54 PM7h50Zurich HB5:44 AMCologne Hbf€401One-way0 transfers
Fastest
- EW7638:50 AM1h05Zurich Airport9:55 AMCologne Bonn Airport€1351One-way0 transfers
Other options
- ICE 272 · ICE 5106:58 PM7h43Zurich HB2:41 AMCologne Hbf€781One-way1 transfer
- ICE 272 · S6 · ICE 9206:58 PM7h14Zurich HB2:12 AMCologne Hbf€851One-way2 transfers
- IR 1992 · ICE 376 · ICE 61411:36 PM10h29Zurich HB10:05 AMCologne Hbf€901One-way2 transfers
- FlixBus · FlixBus5:25 PM10h10Kloten, Zürich Flughafen (Bahnhof)3:35 AMKöln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)€481One-way1 transfer
- FlixBus · FlixBus6:20 PM11h40Kloten, Zürich Flughafen (Bahnhof)6:00 AMKöln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)€491One-way1 transfer
- FlixBus9:25 PM9h20Kloten, Zürich Flughafen (Bahnhof)6:45 AMKöln, Köln Bonn Flughafen (Terminal 2)€491One-way0 transfers
- LX44248:50 AM1h05Zurich Airport9:55 AMCologne Bonn Airport€3131One-way0 transfers
LH5763+
LH19769:30 AM2h55Zurich Airport12:25 PMCologne Bonn Airport€3471One-way1 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.
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How to get from Zürich to Cologne
The Best Way According to our Users
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FAQs: Travel from Zurich 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 Zurich to Cologne.
This is compared to other travel options from Zurich to Cologne:
A bus is €69 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Zurich to Cologne costing on average €129.
A bus is €323 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Zurich to Cologne costing on average €383.
Other travel options to Cologne take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 2m.
Bus takes on average 13h 9m.
- Around 31 trains per day.
- Around 7 flights per day.
- Around 4 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Zurich and Cologne as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Zurich Airport and arrive in Cologne Bonn Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Zurich HB and arrive in Cologne Hbf.
- Buses mostly depart from Zürich, Sihlquai Bus Terminal (Carparkplatz Sihlquai) and arrive in Köln, Kennedystraße (Köln Bonn Flughafen).
- Travel with Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB | ICE, ÖBB | Nightjet, ÖBB | InterCity, ÖBB | Euro City (EC), Sylter Verkehrsgesellschaft, SNCF | TGV Lyria, Eurostar to go to Cologne by train.
- Travel with FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus to go to Cologne by bus.
- Travel with Eurowings, Smartwings, Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cityline, CitizenPlane, Swiss, BA Cityflyer, Lufthansa City Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines, Air Baltic, Lot Polish Airlines, British Airways to go to Cologne by flight.
- 3 direct trains per day with Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB | Nightjet, ÖBB | InterCity.
- 1 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
- 4 direct flights per day with Eurowings, Smartwings.
Travelling from Zurich to Cologne: related information
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