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How to take a rail journey from Cologne/Köln to Basel
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Köln / Cologne / Koeln to Basel / Bâle by train
There are three options for a taking a direct train from Cologne/Köln to Basel:
- The fastest and most frequent option for a daytime journey are the swish ICE trains.
- For those who favor a scenic journey over a train ride with a wow factor, there are the EC trains which take the beautiful route through the Rhine Valley.
- Or if you need to be in Basel in time for breakfast, there is also an overnight train
All of these trains call at two stations in Basel, the first stop is the Basel Bad Bf, which is managed by DB, the German national rail operator, which therefore creates the illusion that you won't have left Germany.
The trains then continue on to Basel SBB station where connections are available to a swathe of Swiss destinations without direct trains from Cologne/Köln, including Luzern, Lugano, Locarno, Brig and Biel (for Lausanne and Geneva)
What matters about this is that the tickets to Basel Bad Bf will be cheaper as DB classifies this is a national journey, but the journey on to Basel SBB becomes an international journey.
So if you will be heading to Basel city centre, book tickets to Basel Bad Bf.
Routes you can take to go from Köln / Cologne / Koeln to Basel / Bâle
When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.
Choose one of the following options:
Looking for connections?
Route Information
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
3hr 40min approx
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
Mon to Weds = 8 x trains per day
Thurs to Sun = 7 x trains per day
Purchase Tickets
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.
Save A Train Guide
Happy rail Guide
Happy Rail is a Netherlands rail ticket agency which sells tickets for both national and international journeys within a range of countries including Belgium France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland.
HappyRail doesn't charge booking fees in the conventional sense, but if you're not Dutch you can expect to pay additional transaction fees, which will be added to the total cost.
That's because the most common form of online payment used in The Netherlands is 'iDEAL' and HappyRail doesn't charge a transaction fee for 'iDEAL' payments, but only Dutch residents can sign up to 'iDEAL'.
Other forms of payment include Visa debit cards will incur a fee.
Travel Information
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.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
The ICE 3 trains are used on most departures, but some departures are by ICE 4 trains.
These ICE trains travel at up to 285 km/h on Germany's fastest high speed line between Siegburg/Bonn and Frankfurt Flughafen.
They also take another higher speed route later in the journey between Karlsruhe and Offenburg.
But aside from the thrills of travelling at high speed, this isn't a particularly scenic journey.
So if time is on your side, or if you will be travelling with a rail pass, an alternative option is to travel by the EC trains on the exceptionally scenic route through the Rhine Valley.
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Tickets
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 and Flexpreis Plus
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 and Flexpreis Plus tickets can be refunded at no additional charge.
The other key difference is that both types of Sparpreis tickets are only valid on the specific departures selected when booking, but both types of Flexpreis tickets live up to their name, as they can be used on any departure on your travel date.
Note that none of the tickets can be exchanged to a different departure.
There's no need for this to be available for 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 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.
Route Information
Option 2: the more scenic route
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
4hr 29min (approx)
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
2 x trains per day
Purchase Tickets
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).
Travel Information
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).
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
When boarding these trains at Köln Hbf, if you want to make the most of the Rhine Valley views take seats on the right when facing the direction of travel.
This will seem the wrong way round, because the valley is located to the south of Köln/Cologne, but the train will initially head north, before looping around the city to take a route along the the west/left bank of the river.
The train which typically departs at around 10:53 trains also conveys an observation car, which can be occupied by travellers using ordinary 1st class tickets, you won't have to pay a special charge.
When booking online with DB you can make use of the seating plans to book seats in this coach/car - look out for the 1st class coach which doesn't have any bicycle storage symbols - it tends to be the middle of the three 1st class coaches
If you have time on your side and have yet to experience the stunning journey through the Rhine Valley, then take these trains instead of the alternative trains ICE trains which take the high speed line.
After Bonn there are some fabulous views of the Upper Rhine Valley from the LEFT of the train.
The best of the views occur when the trains travel through The Rhine Gorge between Koblenz and Bingen.
The journey is a delight, you can't miss the endless parade of boats travelling up and down the river and look out for the multitude of castles perched on top of the hills.
Tickets
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.
Route Information
Option 3: travel through the night
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
6hr 18min
Frequency
Nightly
Travel Info
1 x train per night
Purchase Tickets
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).
Travel Information
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.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
This train is in effect two trains combined into one departure:
- A Nightjet train which conveys the sleeping cabins and couchettes
- An IC train, which uses the same types of coaches as those used on daytime services
Tickets
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
This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.
We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.
Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.
So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please consider saying thank you.
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