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Köln / Cologne / Koeln to Zürich / Zurich by train
How to take the rail journey from Cologne/Köln to Zurich
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.
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Routes
Option 1: the direct train
Journey Summary
6hr 7min
Daily
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
1 x train per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: 6 months ahead of the travel date
Finding tickets:
When looking for tickets from Köln on DB Bahn 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 the direct EC train train that departs Koln at around 10:53.
So target that departure time.
If you'll be booking 1st class tickets and want to travel in the observation car, you can use the seating plan.
Reservations:
Book 1st class ticket journey tickets and your seat reservation is included - but they're optional when booking 2nd class tickets, or if you will be travelling with a 1st or 2nd class rail pass.
Opting to reserve is particularly recommended for this journey if you will be travelling 2nd class or want to travel in the observation car with a 1st class pass.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DB | from €35.90 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
The train will reverse direction on departure from Basel SBB.
The scenic route justifies the inclusion of an observation car in this train's formation.
This observation can be accessed by holders of 1st class tickets, it doesn't require a supplement or a mandatory reservation.
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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Option2: the faster daytime connections
Journey Summary
5hr 30min (approx)
Daily
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.
4 x optimum connections per day
Change trains in: Basel
Tickets
Online bookings usually open: 6 months ahead of the travel date
On DB Bahn look for the journeys which have '1' in the chg. column and 'ICE, TGV' or 'ICE, IC' in the Products column.
Use the earlier/later buttons to search for the cheapest ticket prices.
Connections at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day -so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
Book 1st class ticket journey tickets and your seat reservations will be included on both trains - but they're optional when booking 2nd class tickets, or if you will be travelling with a 1st or 2nd class rail pass.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DB | from €39.90 |
Train 1
Travelling On
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
Travelling On
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.
Option 3: travel through the night
Journey Summary
8hr 12min
Nightly
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*
1 x train per night
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
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| OBB | * | |
| DB | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
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
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.
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.
