There are 8 ways to get from Zurich to Karlsruhe by train (Trenitalia), bus, night train, rideshare, train, car, 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 (Trenitalia)
best- Take the train from Zuerich Hb to Karlsruhe Hbftrain Ec
2h 55m€60–110Rideshare
cheapest- Take the rideshare from Zurich to Karlsruhe251.4 km
3h 34m€19Bus
- Take the bus from Zurich Bus Station to Karlsruhe central train stationbus FlixBus N07 / ...
3h 40m€20–35Night train
- Take the nighttrain from Zuerich Hb to Karlsruhe Hbfnighttrain Nj
3h 15m€24–93Train via Basel
- Take the train from Zürich HB to Basel SBBtrain Ice / ...
- Take the train from Basel SBB to Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhoftrain 12 / ...
3h 5m€44–102Train via Singen
- Take the train from Zürich HB to Singentrain Ic / ...
- Take the train from Singen to Rastatttrain Re2
4h 51m€36–52Drive 250.6 km
- Drive from Zurich to Karlsruhecar 250.6 km
2h 48m€45–65Fly, train
- Fly from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Stuttgart Airport (STR)plane ZRH - STR
- Take the train from Hauptbahnhof to Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhoftrain
3h 37m€111–317
Zurich to Karlsruhe by train (Trenitalia)
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Zurich to Karlsruhe is to rideshare which costs €19 and takes 3h 34m.
The fastest way to get from Zurich to Karlsruhe is to drive which takes 2h 48m and costs €45 - €65.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Zurich Bus Station station and arriving at Karlsruhe central train station station. Services depart four times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 3h 40m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Zuerich Hb and arriving at Karlsruhe Hbf. Services depart twice daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 2h 55m.
The distance between Zurich and Karlsruhe is 282 km. The road distance is 250.6 km.
The best way to get from Zurich to Karlsruhe without a car is to train which takes 2h 55m and costs €60 - €110.
The train from Zuerich Hb to Karlsruhe Hbf takes 2h 55m including transfers and departs twice daily.
Zurich to Karlsruhe bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from Zurich Bus Station.
Zurich to Karlsruhe train services, operated by Trenitalia EuroCity, depart from Zuerich Hb station.
The best way to get from Zurich to Karlsruhe is to train which takes 2h 55m and costs €60 - €110. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €20 - €35 and takes 3h 40m.
What companies run services between Zurich, Switzerland and Karlsruhe, Germany?
Trenitalia EuroCity operates a train from Zuerich Hb to Karlsruhe Hbf twice daily. Tickets cost €60–110 and the journey takes 2h 55m. Alternatively, FlixBus operates a bus from Zurich Bus Station to Karlsruhe central train station 4 times a day. Tickets cost €20–35 and the journey takes 3h 40m.
- Website
- swiss.com
Flights from Zurich Airport to Stuttgart Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €65–440
- Phone
- +39 06 68475475
- [email protected]
- Website
- Trenitalia Eurocity
Train from Zuerich Hb to Karlsruhe Hbf
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €60–110
- Website
- Trenitalia Eurocity
- 1st Class
- €75–110
- 2nd Class
- €60–85
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Zurich Bus Station to Karlsruhe central train station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €20–35
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +3 318 576 2228
- Website
- BlaBlaCar
Rideshare from Zurich to Karlsruhe
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 34m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €19
- Schedules at
- BlaBlaCar
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
Heading to Europe? Read this before you buy a Eurail Pass
Read the travel guide
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
Zurich to Karlsruhe bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at Karlsruhe central train station.
Zurich to Karlsruhe train services, operated by Trenitalia EuroCity, arrive at Karlsruhe Hbf station.
Yes, the driving distance between Zurich to Karlsruhe is 251 km. It takes approximately 2h 48m to drive from Zurich to Karlsruhe.
Book your Zurich to Karlsruhe train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Zurich to Karlsruhe bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
There are 892+ hotels available in Karlsruhe.
Check out Blablacar's carpooling service for rideshare options between Zurich and Karlsruhe. A great option if you don't have a driver's licence or want to avoid public transport.









