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How to take the rail journey from Cologne/Köln to Zurich
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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:
Looking for connections?
Route Information
Option 1: the direct train
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
6hr 7min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
1 x direct train 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
The only direct train between Koln/Cologne and Zurich is usually scheduled to depart daily at 10:53.
Final Destination: Zurich
Connect in Zurich for Swiss destinations without direct trains from Koln/Cologne including Chur, Luzern, Lugano and St. Gallen
This train also calls at: Bonn and Koblenz
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
The train will reverse direction on departure from Basel SBB.
When boarding this 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 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.
Journey description:
Ideally sit on the left of the train (when facing the direction of travel) when boarding and you can the see the stunning views of the Upper Rhine Valley between Bonn and Bingen.
This can seem illogical, but the train will briefly head north before turning south to heads towards Bonn and Koblenz.
After Bonn there are some fabulous views of the Upper Rhine Valley though the highlights of the journey are when the trains travel through The Rhine Gorge between Koblenz and Bingen.
This train ride 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.
The train will reverse direction on departure from Basel SBB.
The railway between Basel Zurich isn't particularly scenic by Swiss standards, but this part of the journey also has some lovely moments.
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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‘.
You can find this direct train more easily by making a proactive selection of 'Direct Trains Only'.
Route Information
Via stations: Basel Bad Bf and Basel SBB/Bâle CFF
Option2: the faster daytime connections
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
5hr 30min (approx)
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
4 x optimum connections per day
Change trains in: Basel
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
If the timings of the one daily direct train from Koln/Cologne to Zurich isn't convenient, or if you want to get to Zurich faster; SMTJ's preference is to change trains at Basel SBB station when taking this alternative, indirect route.
The reason being is that it won't matter which train you take from Basel to Zurich - your ticket(s) will be valid on any train between the two cities, and there are usually 2 - 3 x trains per hour between the two cities.
If you choose the alternative routings, which involve making changes of train at stations in Germany, in Mannheim or Stuttgart, the options if you miss what are relatively tightly timed connections, will be more limited.
However, to find these connections, which involve changing trains at Basel SBB, you need to extend the 'Duration of Transfer' on DB to more than 30 mins - our guide to booking tickets on DB explains how.
Then, having done so, hone in on the routing options with a journey time of around 5hr 30 min.
This journey is made up of 1 change.
Train 1
Between Köln/Cologne Hbf and Basel Bad BfYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Basel SBB
These ICE trains usually depart in even hours during the day with the final train of the day usually scheduled to depart from Koln Hbf at 16:54.
The first train of the day from Koln is usually due to arrive in Basel at around 10:45.
Though if you need to be there earlier you can take the overnight train, which is due in to Basel at 06:10.
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.
Please support ShowMeTheJourney
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 go here to say thank you.
Train 2
Between Basel SBB/Bâle CFF and Zürich HB / Zurich main stationYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Good to Know
Final Destination: Zurich or Chur
The daytime train service between Basel and Zurich is unusual because along with the Swiss IC trains, other international trains share this route.
Those international trains including, EC trains from various cities in Germany, ICE trains from Hamburg and TGV/Lyria trains from tend to be incorporated into the regular timetable, so an ICE or Lyria train takes the place of the usual Swiss IC train
What's also unusual is that it doesn't particularly matter what of these trains you travel by, the ticketing terms and conditions are generally the same; eservations aren't compulsory on the Lyria services when travelling between Basel and Zurich.
There are also additional slower IR services which also depart at least hourly from Basel.
By Swiss standards the journey between Basel and Zurich is unexceptional, but there are some fleeting views over the landscape to be enjoyed, which anywhere else in Europe would be exceptional; particularly around 20 minutes into the journey when the train has passed through Sissach.
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 tickets
Three types of tickets are available:
Two types of discounted tickets, which will be cheaper the further ahead you book - Sparpreis Europa and Super Sparpreis Europa
One type of non-discounted ticket - Flexpreis Europa.
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 Europa 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 Europa tickets, as they aren't train departure specific.
If you book a Sparpreis Europa 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 Europa tickets can't be exchanged or refunded.
The Sparpreis and Flexpreis ickets also include 'City tickets', which can be used on public transport between locations in Köln city centre and Köln Hbf.
Seat reservations
Seat reservations are optional on the ICE train and on the train between Basel and Zurich - 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.
On this journey which involves two trains on which seat reservations are available, the fees cover all trains - if reservations are added when initially booking.
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.
Though if you opt to add reservations later you will have pay the fees per train.
Booking on the DB website
When looking for tickets from Köln Hbf on the DB website type ‘K‘ or 'COLOGNE' into the ‘from‘ box and not ‘Ko‘.
Route Information
Option 3: travel through the night
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
8hr 12min
Frequency
Nightly
Travel Info
1 x train per night
Purchase Tickets
OBB Guide
OBB is the national rail operator and its booking service offers journeys by express trains within Austria, as well as international journeys which don't involve making a connection outside of Austria.
It pays off to book online, as the discounted 'Sparscheine' tickets are only ever made available on the website, and when making international journeys to and from Austria, these Sparscheine tickets tend to be cheaper.
OBB can offer particularly good value for money when travelling with children on international rail journeys, but something to watch out for when travelling between Austria and Germany on daytime trains, is that reservations are an optional extra; but if you book 1st class tickets with the Germany railways website DB, the reservations are complimentary.
OBB often takes a unique approach to its booking path, but a key thing to keep in mind is that the first price you will see for any journey is that of a Second Class seat.
The costs of upgrading to first class, a reservation, or a sleeping cabin etc, is then added to this price.
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 23:53.
Final Destination: Zurich
It is usually scheduled to arrive in Zurich at 08:05
This train also calls at: *Basel SBB*
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 berthsm
- 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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