The distance between Zurich and Cologne is around 572km (356 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 4h 60m.
We've found 4 different ways to get from Zurich to Cologne by train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Cologne → Zurich if you're planning a return trip.
Take the train to Basel Sbb and then to Siegburg Bf.
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Take the bus to Leverkusen Wiesdorf Mitte Bf.
There are several options for getting from Zurich to Cologne by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €35 ($35) and will take around 9h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 4h 60m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €135 ($135).
The distance between Zurich and Cologne is around 572km (356 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 413km (256 miles)
It takes around 4h 60m to get from Zurich and Cologne by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 60m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Zurich to Cologne is to take the train which takes around 4h 60m and will set you back approx €135 ($135).
The cheapest way to travel between Zurich and Cologne, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €35 ($35) for a standard one-way ticket.
Yes there is a train service that runs between Zurich and Cologne. It typically takes around 4h 60m and departs every 4 hours.
Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Zurich and Cologne with no changeovers required. The train runs twice daily and takes 6h 5m.
Deutsche Bahn, Swiss Railways, SBB GmbH and TGV inOui run train services between Zurich and Cologne. Trains depart every 4 hours and will take around 4h 60m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Zurich and Cologne. It typically takes around 9h 50m and departs twice daily.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Zurich to Cologne. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Leverkusen Wiesdorf Mitte Bf. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 9h 50m.
FlixBus run regular bus services between Zurich and Cologne. Buses run twice daily and take around 9h 50m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Zurich to Cologne. We recommend that you take the train to Basel Sbb and then to Siegburg Bf. instead which will take 4h 60m.
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.
Yes it is possible to drive from Zurich and Cologne. The distance is around 572km (356 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 60m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Zurich to Cologne is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 60m and will usually cost around €135 ($135).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Train + 1 similar | 4h 60m | €135($135) | every 4 hours | 577km (358 miles) |
Train to Koeln Hbf | 6h 5m | €330($330) | every 20 mins | 592km (368 miles) |
Bus | 9h 50m | €35($35) | twice daily | 659km (410 miles) |
Drive | 4h 60m | €115($115) | on demand | 572km (356 miles) |
SBB GmbH
TRANS REGIO Deutsche Regionalbahn GmbH
The following major airports near Cologne offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Germany and internationally.