Approaching the end of the journey

Köln / Cologne / Koeln to Interlaken by train

How to take the rail journey from Cologne/Köln to beautiful Interlaken on the daily direct train

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Routes

From Köln/Cologne Hbf to Interlaken Ost

Travel Information

This daily direct train is usually scheduled to depart from Koln/Cologne at 08:53,

Final Destination: Interlaken Ost

Leave the train (and book tickets to) Interlaken West if your final destination is in Interlaken town centre.

This train also calls at: Olten, Bern, Thun and Spiez

1 x direct train per day

Tickets

When looking for tickets from Köln Hbf on DB Bahn type ‘K‘ into the ‘from‘ box and not ‘Ko‘.

This daily direct train is usually scheduled to depart from Koln/Cologne at 08:53, so target that time when looking up this journey
However, due to the length of the journey, this train departure is particularly susceptible to cancellation or alteration due to works on the line. 
If you can't see a journey with '0 changes' on your travel date it means that this direct train is not running that day, so you will need to choose from one of the other options.

Reservations:

Reservations are highly recommended for this journey if you'll be travelling 2nd class or with a rail pass* - it's worth it to ensure that you have an assigned seat for the entire trip.
*If you book 1st class tickets - reservations are now included!

But this is a journey when travelling 1st class can pay off, you'll have greater opportunities to switch sides across the coach on the train, to ensure that you're always seeing the best of the views.
Also some of the First Class seats are within an observation car, which offers enhanced views and doesn't incur any additional charges.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
DB Bahn from €35.90

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.

Trainline from €35.90

Trainline Guide

On this journey

Journey Features

Scenic - YesRiver viewsLake viewsLandscape (Hills / Mountains)

Good to Know

The train will reverse direction on departure from Basel SBB and Bern.

The train includes within its formation an observation car in which some of the first class seats are located.

Journey description:

This is one of Europe's most epic train journeys!
Sit on the left on the train when facing the direction of travel. 
After Bonn there are some fabulous views of the Upper Rhine Valley from that side of the train, when facing the direction of travel.

The best of the views on this part occur when the trains travel through The Rhine Gorge between Koblenz and Bingen.

The journey also has another scenic highlight, the final 20 - 25 mins of the journey when the train travels by the beautiful Thunersee between Thun and Interlaken. these views are also on the right.

... though these videos were taken from a train travelling in the opposite direction, but they showcase how fine the views can be on a sunny day...

Then for the final 15 mins of the journey, after departure from Spiez, the train descends down to travel right by the shore of the Thunersee.

You need to be sat on the left in a backward facing seat to make the most of these views between Spiez and Interlaken

The train will reverse direction on departure from Basel SBB and Bern.

The trains chase the boats through the Middle Rhine Valley The trains chase the boats through the Middle Rhine Valley
The views of the Rhine Valley can be seen from the left of the train The views of the Rhine Valley can be seen from the left of the train
A highlight of a Rhine Valley train journey is the view of Lorely A highlight of a Rhine Valley train journey is the view of Lorely
Lake Thun can be glimpsed from the train between Thun and Spiez Lake Thun can be glimpsed from the train between Thun and Spiez
The spectacular view of the village of Faulensee which can be seen on the left The spectacular view of the village of Faulensee which can be seen on the left
The train journey to Interlaken has spectacular views over Lake Thun The train journey to Interlaken has spectacular views over Lake Thun
A long train journey to Interlaken ends with a flourish A long train journey to Interlaken ends with a flourish

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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.

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