How to take the rail journey from Cologne/Köln to Zurich

Share this journey with a friend...

Köln / Cologne / Koeln to Zürich / Zurich by train

When looking up a daytime Cologne/Köln to Zurich journey by train on the ticket booking websites there will be a swathe of options available, most of which involve making connections between trains.
Of these journey options, SMTJ's recommendations is to opt for the routing which involve making connections in Basel, because if the train from Germany is delayed, you will then be able to simply hop on any train on to Zurich.

However, there is usually a daily direct train available, so if the timings suit and you'd rather avoid making any connections, it's then becomes the obvious best option for making this journey by.
It also takes a scenic route.

If you want or need to travel overnight there is a newly introduced Nightjet train available which conveys sleeping cabins and couchettes.

Routes you can take to go from Köln / Cologne / Koeln to Zürich / Zurich

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:

Route Information

Option 1: the direct train

Route Information

Via stations: Basel Bad Bf and Basel SBB/Bâle CFF

Option2: the faster daytime connections

Route Information

Option 3: travel through the night
Take the stress out of your journey Everything planned to your specification, so sit back and relax… Try Concierge
hand-money

Please support ShowMeTheJourney

Help keep us advertising and paywall free!

Donate

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.

See if there’s a unique journey guide for your trip, featuring info on the trains, tickets & stations.
Leaving From
Going To
ShowMeTheJourney

This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.