How to take a rail journey from Cologne/Köln to Basel

Final Destination: Basel SBB

All trains also call at: Karlsruhe and Freiburg

These ICE trains usually depart in even hours during the day with the final train of the usually scheduled to depart from Koln Hbf at either 18:55 or 20:55.

The first train of the day from Koln is usually due to arrive in Basel at around 10:40.
Though if you need to be there earlier you can take the overnight train, which is due in to Basel at 06:10.

Arriving in Basel:

If you're heading to Basel city centre, the quickest journey is usually to leave this train at Basel Bad bf.
There are easy tram connections from Basel Bad bf station to the city centre.

After the train departs from Basel Bad Bf it will go on to call at Basel SBB station.
Remain on the train until it arrives at Basel SBB if your final destination is to the south of the city centre, or if you will be connecting into trains to other destinations in Switzerland - including Brig, Luzern, Interlaken Visp and Zurich.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date - but this period of time is shorter when looking up journeys in August to October.

A choice of stations in Basel:

These trains call first at Basel Bad Bf station before going on to terminate at Basel SBB station.

If you want to travel to Basel Bad Bf - the city centre station, then select it from the station options in the 'To' Box.
If you want to travel to Basel SBB, select this station in the 'To' box.

However, tickets booked to Basel Bad Bahnhof are not valid to Basel SBB, so work out which of the two main stations in Basel suits your needs BEFORE you buy a ticket.
And because DB categorises the journey on to Basel SBB as an international journey, tickets can be more expensive if you book to Basel SBB.
In contrast, despite its location in Switzerland, DB applies the same fare rules for journeys to Basel Bad Bf as it does to other journeys wholly within Germany; hence tickets to Basel Bad Bf being cheaper.

A choice of tickets

Four types of tickets are available:
Two types of discounted tickets, which will be cheaper the further ahead you book - Sparpreis and Super Sparpreis
Two types of non-discounted ticket - Flexpreis Aktion and Flexpreis

A key difference between these types of tickets is refunds:

• Super Sparpreis tickets are cheapest, but they can't be refunded at all.
• Sparpreis tickets can be refunded for a fee, but the refund will be in the form of travel vouchers to be used for alternative / future journeys.
• Flexpreis tickets can be refunded at no additional charge.
• Flexpreis Aktion tickets can't be refunded either - but their higher cost is due to...

...the other key difference is that both types of Flexpreis tickets live up to their name, as they can be used on any departure on your travel date - in contrast, both types of Sparpreis tickets are only valid on the specific departures selected when booking,

Note that none of the tickets can be exchanged to a different departure.
There's no need for this to be available for both types of Flexpreis tickets, as they aren't train departure specific.
If you book a Sparpreis ticket and want to travel by a different departure you can refund it and then use the travel voucher towards the cost of the new booking.
Super Sparpreis tickets can't be exchanged or refunded.

The Sparpreis, Flexpreis Aktion and Flexpreis tickets also include 'City tickets' for Koln which can be used on public transport between locations in the city centre and Koln hbf.

Seat reservations

Seat reservations are optional on ICE trains on this route - take note if you will be using a rail pass.
They cost €4.90 when travelling in 2nd Class and €5.90 when travelling in 1st class.
Specific seats can be selected from seating plans - you don't have to accept the seat(s) that you will be automatically offered.

They are included within the cost of booking 1st class Flexpreis tickets and both 1st and 2nd class Flexpreis Plus tickets.
Though despite seats being automatically assigned when booking these three types of ticket - and these tickets being valid on any departure, you will need to pay to re-book the reservations, if you subsequently decide to travel on an alternative train.
So because you won't save by booking these types of tickets in advance, it can be a good idea to wait until you are sure when you will want to travel.

When booking Super Sparpreis, Sparpreis and 2nd class Flexpreis tickets, you have the option of purchasing seat reservations later.
It can be worth re-looking up a journey a week or two ahead of travel, because the DB website will indicate how busy a departure will be.
Although if you do book your reservations later and your journey involves more than one train, you will then have to pay for separate reservations per train.

1st Class tickets

No matter what type of ticket booked, if you choose to travel 1st class, you will have access to the same seating areas on the train, ICE trains do not have Business or Executive lounges.
Though only those who have booked 1st class Flexpreis or Flexpreis Plus tickets can access the DB Lounges at the major stations.

Booking on the DB website

When looking for tickets from Köln on DB type ‘K‘ or 'COLOGNE' into the ‘from‘ box and not ‘Ko‘.

You can find these direct trains more easily by making a proactive selection of 'Direct Trains Only'.

Or to see all the combinations of trains and journey options, some of which may be cheaper, take off the 'fastest connections' default.

Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so if you can be flexible with your departure time use the 'best prices' tool - at the top right on the list of journey options.

These trains are usually scheduled to depart from Koln at 08:53 and 10:53.

Final Destination: Zurich or Interlaken

These trains also call at: Bonn, Koblenz and Mainz

Arriving in Basel:

These trains also call at: Basel SBB
If you're heading to Basel city centre, the quickest journey is usually to leave this train at Basel Bad bf.
There are easy tram connections from Basel Bad bf station to the city centre.

After the train departs from Basel Bad Bf it will go on to call at Basel SBB station.

Remain on the train until it arrives at Basel SBB if your final destination is to the south of the city centre, or if you will be connecting into trains to other destinations in Switzerland with no direct trains from Cologne/Koln including Chur, Luzern, Lugano, Locarno, Brig and Biel (for Lausanne and Geneva).

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings usually open: 6 months ahead of the travel date

Reservations:

Seat reservations are optional these EC trains- take note if you will be using a rail pass.
They cost €4.90 when travelling in 2nd Class and €5.90 when travelling in 1st class.
Specific seats can be selected from seating plans - you don't have to accept the seat(s) that you will be automatically offered - on the train which typically departs at 10:53 has a 1st class observation car, which tends to be the middle 1st class of the three 1st class cars included in the train's formation.

They are included within the cost of booking 1st class Flexpreis tickets and both 1st and 2nd class Flexpreis Plus tickets.

Opting to reserve is particularly recommended if you will be travelling 2nd class on these trains.

Finding tickets:

When looking for tickets from Köln on DB  type ‘K‘ or 'COLOGNE' into the ‘from‘ box and not ‘Ko‘.

When making an online booking, check that you’re looking at booking info for these direct EC trains that depart from Koln at around 08:53 and 10:53.
They can be classified as IC trains in Germany.

A choice of stations in Basel:
 
These trains also call at Basel SBB after they call at Basel Bad Bf.

If the finish point for your journey is in Basel city centre, the quickest option will be leaving the train at Basel Bad Bf so take care to select it as your 'To' destination - tickets to Basel Bad Bf are also usually cheaper.

This relatively new Nightjet train is typically scheduled to depart from Koln hbf at 23:42 or 23:53.

Final Destination: Zurich

This train also calls at: Basel SBB*

*If you're heading to Basel city centre, the quickest journey is usually to leave this train at Basel Bad bf, where it is usually scheduled to arrive at 06:11
There are easy tram connections from Basel Bad bf station to the city centre.

After the train departs from Basel Bad Bf it will go on to call at Basel SBB station (it is typically scheduled to arrive there at 06:20).

Remain on the train until it arrives at Basel SBB if your final destination is to the south of the city centre, or if you will be connecting into trains to other destinations in Switzerland;including Brig, Luzern, Interlaken and Visp.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings usually open: 6 months ahead of the travel date

The train conveys:

• Compartment Seats (Sitzwagen)
• Couchettes (Liegewagen); 4 berths AND 6 berths
• Standard sleeping cars (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
• Deluxe sleeping cars with showers (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins

The first price you will see on the OBB ticketing site will be for the compartment seats.

Click the train guides below for more info including the rail pass reservation fees:

Rail pass users must reserve before boarding these trains,

You can now book rail pass reservations without paying booking fees on the OBB website (OBB operates these trains).Though the process for doing so isn't particularly obvious, hence this step-by-step guide.
By booking online you can avoid the booking fees which will be payable at the station in The Netherlands.

When looking for tickets from Köln on DB Bahn type ‘K‘ or 'COLOGNE' into the ‘from‘ box and not ‘Ko‘.
Check that you’re looking at booking info for this direct overnight train
On the DB booking site look for the journey that:

• departs Koln Hbf at around 23:53
• has 0 in the Chg. column