Basel / Bâle to Freiburg im Breisgau by train

How to take the rail journey from Basel to Freiburg for access to The Black Forest

There is a choice of two train services when travelling from Basel to Freiburg im Breisgau:

  1. The faster, but typically more expensive option, is to take an ICE or EC train.
  2. The slower Regio trains are cheaper if you will be booking tickets last minute at the station.
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Routes

Option 1: taking the express trains

Travel Information

Final Destination: Berlin or Hamburg or Kiel or Frankfurt or Dortmund or Koln or Amsterdam

These trains depart from Basel SBB station and then go on to also call at Basel Bad Bf station.

If the starting point for journey is in Basel city centre, the quicker and cheaper option is to opt for Basel Bad Bf as your departure station.

However, board these trains at Basel SBB station, if
(1) you will be making a connection into these trains from elsewhere in Switzerland.
(2) you will be making this journey with a rail pass and want to gamble on not making the optional reservations; you'll be more likely to find the available seats if you board at Basel SBB.

Frequency: 1 - 2 x trains per hour

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes (on these trains*)

Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date

The alternative Regio train between between Basel and Freiburg are slower, but are always cheaper than the ICE trains; even when booking ahead.

DB, the German national rail operator applies a 'from €17.90' pricing policy for journeys by ICE trains, which makes these trains a particularly expensive option for this comparatively short journey
Though there a couple of EC trains per day from Basel to Freiburg and they can be cheaper

If you want to commit to travelling by ICE trains, then you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.

Book 1st class ticket journey tickets on DB Bahn and your seat reservation is included.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
DB from €17.90

DB Guide

DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.

It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.

On journeys within Germany and on most international journeys from and to Germany on trains operated by DB:

  • For journeys by the express trains, EC. IC and ICE trains an adult (on German railways an adult is a person aged 15 and over) can take up to four children aged 6 - 14 with them at no additional charge.
  • Tickets need to be booked for children aged 0 - 5, but there is no charge for them.
  • Those aged 65 and over can take journeys at a discounted rate.
  • Dogs, which are too large to be placed in pet carriers, require tickets which cost 50% of the adult rate.

When booking both types of the discounted 'Sparpreis' tickets seat reservations are an optional extra, so need to be added when booking if you want an assigned seat(s).

Trainline from €17.90

Trainline Guide

On this journey

Good to Know

Option 2: taking the Regio trains:

Travel Information

Final Destination: Offenburg

When taking a train from Basel to Freiburg you can primarily choose between taking these Regio trains or the faster express trains.
Taking these Regio trains is the slower, but cheaper of the two services.
You will make a particularly large saving on these Regio trains if you will be booking tickets last minute at the station.

1 or 2 x trains per hour

Tickets

Book early and save: No

Tickets will cost the same price if purchased at the station immediately before departure for these trains, even if you can book ahead the faster ICE and EC trains won't be cheaper.

Note that if you book a return ticket from Basel Bad Bf station, it won't be valid for a journey between Basel Bad Bf and Basel SBB station.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
DB Bahn *

DB Bahn Guide

DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.

It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.

A key feature of DB website worth keeping mind is that it offers 1st class ticket purchasers complimentary seat reservations on journeys both within and to/from Germany.

Seat reservations for daytime in both 1st and 2nd class can also be booked separately from tickets.

On this journey

Good to Know

The majority of these Regio trains commence their journeys at Basel Bad Bf station, but the ICE and EC trains also depart from Basel SBB station.
So if your journey to Freiburg will be commencing in Basel city centre, you will have a wider choice of services if you head to Basel Bad Bf station.

Though if you will be connecting in Basel, when heading to Freiburg from other destinations in Switzerland, most of the journey options you will see, won't involve taking these Regio trains.

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