Updated daily · latest data:
Zurich → Cologne by train: where is the ticket cheapest?
16 trains compared · checked 9 Nov 2026 to 9 Nov 2026
One train from the latest check: 08:59–14:43 · IC 794 + ICE 372 + ICE 154 · travel 16 Nov 2026 · checked 9 Nov 2026. All trains are listed below under “All measured trains”.
Same train · from €49.99
at bahn.de (DB) · travel date 8 Dec 2026, 08:59–14:43 · checked 9 Nov 2026
Cheapest trip overall · from €49.99
bahn.de (DB) on 4 of 4 travel dates · all trains and sellers, cheapest trip per travel date
For Zurich – Cologne, bahn.de (DB) was the cheapest seller of the same train for 16 of 16 compared trains (typical fare €77). At Omio, the same train cost a median of 13 % more (16 trains in common).
Book directly
Fares change all the time; check the seller's website before booking. Opens the search for 8 Dec 2026 directly: bahn.de (DB).
Sellers compared
| Seller | How often cheapest | vs. bahn.de (DB) |
|---|---|---|
| bahn.de (DB) Railway of the origin or destination country · 16 trains | 16 of 16 | – |
| Omio Reseller (sells tickets of many railways) · 16 trains | 0 of 16 | +13 % · 16 trains |
Counted per train the seller offered: “cheapest alone” = nobody was cheaper or equally cheap; “tied cheapest” = the same lowest fare as at least one other seller; “more expensive” = another seller was cheaper. “Vs. bahn.de (DB)”: median price difference for the trains both sellers offered. Other currencies are converted at the ECB reference rate of the day the fare was checked.
When to book? Fares by booking time
Cheapest ticket for Zurich – Cologne (median): 1–2 weeks ahead €102, 2–4 weeks ahead €82, more than 4 weeks ahead €64.
| Checked | Trains | cheapest fare (median) | usually cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 weeks ahead | 4 | €102 | bahn.de (DB) (4 of 4) |
| 2–4 weeks ahead | 4 | €82 | bahn.de (DB) (4 of 4) |
| more than 4 weeks ahead | 8 | €64 | bahn.de (DB) (8 of 8) |
For each train the lowest fare of all sellers counts. The groups contain different travel dates and trains; this shows a tendency, not a guarantee.
All measured trains
Checked on 9 Nov 2026
| Booked ahead | Train | bahn.de (DB) | Omio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days ahead travel 16 Nov · checked 9 Nov | 08:37–14:29 IC 282 + ICE 918 | €119.69 | €138.00 incl. estimated service fee |
| 7 days ahead travel 16 Nov · checked 9 Nov | 08:59–14:04 IC 794 + ICE 372 + ICE 610 | €103.69 | €119.00 incl. estimated service fee |
| 7 days ahead travel 16 Nov · checked 9 Nov | 08:59–14:43 IC 794 + ICE 372 + ICE 154 | €99.99 | €119.00 incl. estimated service fee |
| 7 days ahead travel 16 Nov · checked 9 Nov | 08:59–15:06 IC 794 + ICE 372 + IC 2045 | €99.99 | €119.00 incl. estimated service fee |
| 21 days ahead travel 30 Nov · checked 9 Nov | 08:37–14:29 IC 282 + ICE 918 | €93.69 | €100.00 incl. estimated service fee |
| 21 days ahead travel 30 Nov · checked 9 Nov | 08:59–14:04 IC 794 + ICE 372 + ICE 610 | €83.69 | €91.00 incl. estimated service fee |
| 21 days ahead travel 30 Nov · checked 9 Nov | 08:59–14:43 IC 794 + ICE 372 + ICE 124 | €79.99 | €91.00 incl. estimated service fee |
| 21 days ahead travel 30 Nov · checked 9 Nov | 08:59–15:06 IC 794 + ICE 372 + IC 2045 | €73.99 | €84.00 incl. estimated service fee |
| 29 days ahead travel 8 Dec · checked 9 Nov | 08:37–14:13 IC 282 + ICE 918 | €91.69 | €100.00 incl. estimated service fee |
| 29 days ahead travel 8 Dec · checked 9 Nov | 08:59–14:04 IC 794 + ICE 372 + ICE 610 | €53.69 | €56.00 incl. estimated service fee |
| 29 days ahead travel 8 Dec · checked 9 Nov | 08:59–14:43 IC 794 + ICE 372 + ICE 124 | €49.99 | €56.00 incl. estimated service fee |
| 29 days ahead travel 8 Dec · checked 9 Nov | 08:59–15:06 IC 794 + ICE 372 + IC 2045 | €49.99 | €56.00 incl. estimated service fee |
| 42 days ahead travel 21 Dec · checked 9 Nov | 08:59–14:05 IC 794 + ICE 372 + ICE 1076 | €69.99 | €80.00 incl. estimated service fee |
| 42 days ahead travel 21 Dec · checked 9 Nov | 08:59–15:06 IC 794 + ICE 372 + IC 2045 | €64.99 | €73.00 incl. estimated service fee |
| 42 days ahead travel 21 Dec · checked 9 Nov | 09:34–14:30 TGV 9210 + ICE 6 + ICE 918 | €63.69 | €68.00 incl. estimated service fee |
| 42 days ahead travel 21 Dec · checked 9 Nov | 09:34–16:06 ICE 6 + ICE 918 + ICE 226 | €73.99 | €84.00 incl. estimated service fee |
Highlighted: cheapest seller for that train. For each day, the table only shows sellers that had a fare on that day. Fares valid only for part of the route are excluded.