How to travel from Geneva to Cologne, Germany

The distance between Geneva and Cologne is around 739km (459 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 30m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Geneva to Cologne by train, plane and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out CologneGeneva if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Lyon Part Dieu then fly from Lyon (LYS) to Dusseldorf (DUS).

  • Duration4h 30m
  • Flight time1h 30m
  • Typical cost
    €530($530)
Operated by

Multiple operators

💰 Cheapest
2
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Olten and then to Siegburg Bf.

  • Duration6h 45m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    €255($255)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

3
car
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Drive

Drive to Cologne.

  • Duration6h 35m
  • Distance739km (459 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Geneva and Cologne

There are several options for getting from Geneva to Cologne by train, plane and car. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around €255 ($255) and will take around 6h 45m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 4h 30m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €530 ($530).

The distance between Geneva and Cologne is around 739km (459 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 530km (329 miles)

It takes around 4h 30m to get from Geneva and Cologne by train and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 6h 35m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Geneva to Cologne is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 30m and will set you back approx €530 ($530).

The cheapest way to travel between Geneva and Cologne, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around €255 ($255) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Geneva and Cologne. It typically takes around 6h 45m and departs every 4 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Geneva to Cologne. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Olten, Basel SBB and Siegburg Bf. These services run every 4 hours and will take a minimum of 6h 45m.

Swiss Railways, Deutsche Bahn, Trenitalia EuroCity and Austrian Railways (ÖBB) run train services between Geneva and Cologne. Trains depart every 4 hours and will take around 6h 45m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Geneva and Cologne. We recommend that you take the train to Lyon Part Dieu then fly from Lyon (LYS) to Dusseldorf (DUS). instead which will take 4h 30m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Geneva to Cologne. We recommend that you take the train to Lyon Part Dieu then fly from Lyon (LYS) to Dusseldorf (DUS). instead which will take 4h 30m.

The closest major airport to Cologne is Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) (CGN) which is approximately 13km (8 miles) from Cologne. Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) (DUS) and Dortmund Airport (DTM) (DTM) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Geneva and Cologne. The distance is around 739km (459 miles) by road and it will take around 6h 35m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Geneva to Cologne is to take the train and then fly which takes, on average, 4h 30m and will usually cost around €530 ($530).

How do I get from Geneva to Cologne

Compare travel optionsbetween Geneva and Cologne

Transport options from Geneva to Cologne
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane
4h 30m
€530($530)
every 3 hours863km (536 miles)
Train + 2 similar
6h 45m
€255($255)
every 4 hours739km (459 miles)
Train via Bern7h 45m
€420($420)
twice daily760km (472 miles)
Train via Bern9h 30m
€275($275)
every 20 mins806km (501 miles)
Drive
6h 35m
€150($150)
on demand739km (459 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Geneva and Cologne

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Cologne

The following major airports near Cologne offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Germany and internationally.

CGN
Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)
International Airport
Distance
13km (8 miles) from Cologne
DUS
Düsseldorf Airport (DUS)
International Airport
Distance
40km (25 miles) from Cologne
DTM
Dortmund Airport (DTM)
International Airport
Distance
79km (49 miles) from Cologne