There are 6 ways to get from Cologne to Besançon by train (TGV), bus, car, train, 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.
Train
best- Take the train from Köln Hbf to Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhoftrain 43 / ...
- Take the train from Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof to Strasbourg Bahnhoftrain 83 / ...
- Take the train from Strasbourg to Besancon-Franche Comte Tgvtrain Tgv
7h 18m€109–199Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Köln to Basel, Bahnhofbus Ivano-Frankivsk
- Take the bus from Basel SBB to Besançonbus FlixBus N199
9h 48m€64–75Drive 504.1 km
- Drive from Cologne to Besançoncar 504.1 km
5h 47m€96–138Train to Frankfurt, fly to Basel, train
- Take the train from Köln Messe/Deutz Bf to Frankfurttrain
- Fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Basel (BSL)plane FRA - BSL
- Take the train from Mulhouse Ville to Besancon-Franche Comte Tgvtrain
6h 19m€177–460Train, bus
- Take the train from Köln Hbf to Basel SBBtrain 43N
- Take the bus from Basel SBB to Besançonbus FlixBus N199
10h 10m€104–195Fly Cologne Bonn Airport to Zurich Airport, train
- Fly from Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Zurich Airport (ZRH)plane CGN - ZRH
- Take the train from Zürich HB to Mulhousetrain
- Take the train from Mulhouse Ville to Besancon-Franche Comte Tgvtrain
7h 51m€146–324
Cologne to Besançon by train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Cologne to Besançon is to bus which costs €60 - €75 and takes 9h 48m.
The fastest way to get from Cologne to Besançon is to drive which takes 5h 47m and costs €95 - €140.
No, there is no direct bus from Cologne to Besançon. However, there are services departing from Köln and arriving at Besançon via Basel SBB. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 48m.
No, there is no direct train from Cologne to Besançon. However, there are services departing from Köln Hbf and arriving at Besancon Viotte via Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof, Strasbourg and Besancon-Franche Comte Tgv. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 7h 18m.
The distance between Cologne and Besançon is 630 km. The road distance is 504.1 km.
The best way to get from Cologne to Besançon without a car is to train which takes 7h 18m and costs €100 - €200.
It takes approximately 7h 18m to get from Cologne to Besançon, including transfers.
Cologne to Besançon bus services, operated by GrandBus, depart from Köln station.
Cologne to Besançon train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), depart from Köln Hbf station.
The best way to get from Cologne to Besançon is to train which takes 7h 18m and costs €100 - €200. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €60 - €75 and takes 9h 48m.
What companies run services between Cologne, Germany and Besançon, France?
You can take a train from Köln Hbf to Besancon Viotte via Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof, Strasbourg Bahnhof, Strasbourg, and Besancon-Franche Comte Tgv in around 7h 18m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Köln to Besançon via Basel, Bahnhof and Basel SBB in around 9h 48m.
- Website
- lufthansa.com
Flights from Frankfurt to Basel
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €80–500
Flights from Frankfurt to Basel via Munich
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- €80–450
Flights from Cologne Bonn Airport to Zurich Airport via Munich
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 51m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €45–310
- Website
- eurowings.com
Flights from Cologne Bonn Airport to Zurich Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €75–200
- Website
- airdolomiti.it
Flights from Frankfurt to Basel
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €160–500
- Phone
- +49 30 2970
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Köln Hbf to Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €45–95
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof to Strasbourg Bahnhof
- Ave. Duration
- 43 min
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €13–26
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Köln Messe/Deutz Bf to Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 54 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- €27–55
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Köln Hbf to Basel SBB
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €85–180
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
- Phone
- +33 1 84 94 36 35
- Website
- TGV inOui
Train from Strasbourg to Besancon-Franche Comte Tgv
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 52m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €45–75
- Website
- TGV inOui
Train from Mulhouse Ville to Besancon-Franche Comte Tgv
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €25–40
- Website
- TGV inOui
Train from Mulhouse Ville to Besancon-Franche Comte Tgv
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €25–40
- Website
- TGV inOui
Rome2Rio's guide to Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF)
Contact Details
- Phone
- +33 1 84 94 36 35
- Website
- Oui.SNCF
Train from Strasbourg to Besancon-Franche Comte Tgv
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 47m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €45–70
- Website
- Oui.SNCF
Train from Mulhouse Ville to Besancon-Franche Comte Tgv
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €24–40
- Website
- Oui.SNCF
Train from Mulhouse Ville to Besancon-Franche Comte Tgv
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €24–40
- Website
- Oui.SNCF
- Phone
- +31 30 751 5155
- Website
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Train from Köln Messe/Deutz Bf to Frankfurt
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 2m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- €18–35
- Website
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Train from Zürich HB to Mulhouse
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 19m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €40–65
- Website
- Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS)
- Phone
- +38 098-888-11-08
- [email protected]
- Website
- Grand Bus
Bus from Köln to Basel, Bahnhof
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 53m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €48–52
- Website
- Grand Bus
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Basel SBB to Besançon
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €15–23
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Basel SBB to Besançon
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €15–23
- Website
- Flixbus
Want to know more about travelling around France
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.
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Booking & Getting There
Cologne to Besançon bus services, operated by GrandBus, arrive at Basel, Bahnhof station.
Cologne to Besançon train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC), arrive at Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof station.
Yes, the driving distance between Cologne to Besançon is 504 km. It takes approximately 5h 47m to drive from Cologne to Besançon.
Book your Cologne to Besançon train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Cologne to Besançon bus tickets online with Omio.
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