Rome2Rio

How to get fromBasel to Köln Hbfby train, bus, night train, car, train (Trenitalia), rideshare, or plane

Find Transport to Köln Hbf

See all options

There are 12 ways to get from Basel to Köln Hbf by train, bus, night train, car, train (Trenitalia), rideshare, or plane

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Train

    best
    1. Take the train from Basel Bad Bf to Köln Hbftrain train 43N / ...
    3h 40m
    €90–250

  2. Rideshare

    cheapest
    1. Take the rideshare from Basel to Colognerideshare rideshare 490.5 km
    5h 7m
    €24–35

  3. Bus

    1. Take the bus from Basel, Bahnhof to Kölnbus bus Ivano-Frankivsk
    5h 53m
    €48–52

  4. Night train

    1. Take the nighttrain from Basel Bad Bf to Koeln Hbfnighttrain night train Nj
    6h 17m
    €30–103

  5. Drive  491.5 km

    1. Drive from Basel to Köln Hbfcar car 491.5 km
    4h 11m
    €88–127

  6. Train via Mannheim

    1. Take the train from Basel Bad Bf to Mannheim, Hauptbahnhoftrain train 12 / ...
    2. Take the train from Mannheim, Hauptbahnhof to Köln Hbftrain train 42 / ...
    3h 59m
    €86–188

  7. Bus via Bonn UN Campus

    1. Take the bus from Basel SBB to Bonn UN Campusbus bus FlixBus N11
    8h 11m
    €47–70

  8. Fly Basel to Düsseldorf International Airport

    1. Fly from Basel (BSL) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)plane plane BSL - DUS
    6h 2m
    €98–247

  9. Train to Zurich Airport, fly to Cologne Bonn Airport

    1. Take the train from Basel SBB to Zürich HBtrain train
    2. Fly from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)plane plane ZRH - CGN
    4h 57m
    €104–239

  10. Fly Basel to Cologne Bonn Airport

    1. Fly from Basel (BSL) to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)plane plane BSL - CGN
    6h 8m
    €124–260

  11. Fly Basel to Frankfurt, train

    1. Fly from Basel (BSL) to Frankfurt (FRA)plane plane BSL - FRA
    2. Take the train from Frankfurt to Köln Hbftrain train
    4h 22m
    €141–354

  12. Train to Zurich Airport, fly to Düsseldorf International Airport

    1. Take the train from Basel SBB to Zürich HBtrain train
    2. Fly from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)plane plane ZRH - DUS
    5h 36m
    €113–286

Basel to Köln Hbf by train

Calendar72Weekly Trains
Duration3h 40mAverage Duration
Ticket€90Cheapest Price
See schedules

Comparing Your Travel Options

Map of how to get from Basel to Köln Hbf.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 488.8 km
  • Duration: 3h 40m

What companies run services between Basel, Switzerland and Köln Hbf, Germany?

Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC) operates a train from Basel Bad Bf to Köln Hbf every 4 hours. Tickets cost €90–180 and the journey takes 3h 40m. Two other operators also service this route. Alternatively, GrandBus operates a bus from Basel, Bahnhof to Köln once daily. Tickets cost €48–52 and the journey takes 5h 53m.

Airlines
Train operators
Bus operators
Other operators

Want to know more about travelling around Germany

Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.

Related travel guides

Booking & Getting There