Until March 30th the only option for a direct journey by train from Zurich to Berlin is to travel through the night on the Nightjet service.
However, from April 1st to December 9th the ICE trains which usually head to Hamburg from Zurich, are being temporarily replaced with trains going to the German capital, due to maintenance work on the German rail network.
Final Destination: Berlin Ostbahnhof
This train also calls at: Berlin Sudkreuz
The only direct train from Zurich to Berlin is this overnight train, it is usually scheduled to depart from Zurich HB station at 19:59 and arrive in Berlin Hbf at 07:20
Making the daytime journey until March 31st:
Look up this journey on DB and hone in on the journeys which involve only one change of train.
Do so and you will have a choice of two routes:
(1) Depart Zurich in even hours and the routing will involve taking an ICE train to Hannover (the train will be heading to Hamburg) and making a 14 min connection into another ICE train on to Berlin.
(2) Depart Zurich in the odd hours and the journey will involve takin a train from Zurich to Basel and making a 20 min connection there into an ICE train on to Berlin.
Our preference would be this second option,
The overall journey time will be slightly longer, but you'll be more likely to make the connection in Basel rather than Hannover, because it's more likely that the train from Zurich to Hannover will be delayed during its journey.
1 x train per night
This is the only direct train from Zurich to Berlin and it is usually scheduled to depart from Zurich HB station at 19:59 - so target that departure time when looking up this journey.
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open:
6 months ahead of the travel date on OBB*
3 months ahead of the travel date on DB Bahn
*This train doesn't travel through Austria, but OBB manages the Nightjet trains used on this route.
The first price you will see on the OBB ticketing site will be for the compartment seats.
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 sleeping cabins (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
Click the train details for more info including the rail pass reservation fees:
Using rail passes:
Rail pass users must reserve before boarding this train.
However, these rail pass reservations can NO longer be booked online the DB website, but 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.
Avoid booking the reservation at a Swiss station, not only will you have to pay a booking fee, but your first choice of accommodation may have sold out, if you book last minute.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Nightjet | * | |
OBB | * | |
DB Bahn | * | |
SBB | * |
On departure from Zurich this train heading to Berlin will be joined to another train heading to Prag/Praha
Don't be overly concerned about this as your reservations will be in the part of the train which will be heading to Berlin.
However, if you happen to see a train departing for Prag/Praha at 19:59 on the departure screens, the info will also apply to this train heading to Berlin.
This train is in effect two trains combined into one departure:
Final Destination: Berlin Ostbahnhof
These trains also call at: Berlin Sudkreuz
From April 1st to June 8th:
4 x trains per day
From June 9th to Dec 9th:
5 x trains per day
The 11:59 will be available from June 9th
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: 6 months ahead of the travel date
On the DB Bahn booking site look for journeys that have:
Trains departing 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.
Use the earlier/later buttons to search for the cheapest ticket prices.
Reservations are recommended for this journey; book a 1st class ticket on DB Bahn and your seat will be assigned, but not in 2nd class
They can also be booked separately at a later date on the DB website.
If you will be using a rail pass reservations are optional, but if you do choose to reserve (recommended) book the reservation online on DB Bahn and avoid the booking fees you would be charged at the station in Switzerland.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
DB | * | |
Trainline | * | |
Save A Train | * | |
Happy rail | * |
The train will reverse direction on departure from three stations; Basel SBB, Frankfurt (Main) hbf and Leipzig Hbf
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