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

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Zürich / Zurich to Köln / Cologne / Koeln by train

When looking up a journey by train from Zurich to Cologne/Köln on the ticket booking websites most of the travel options will involve taking two ICE trains and making a connection at a German station, but there is a daily direct train available.
It also happens to take a much more scenic route!

There is also a recently introduced overnight direct train, but this Nightjet train is on route to Amsterdam so it calls in Cologne/Köln before 06:00.

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

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?

Journey guides for travel to Zürich / Zurich Journey guides for travel from Köln / Cologne / Koeln

Route Information

Station Guides

The frontage of Zurich Hb station by the Bahnhofplatz tram stops

Zürich HB / Zurich main station Rail Station Guide

Köln/Cologne Hbf Rail Station Guide

Travel Time (approx)

6hr 7min

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

1 x direct train per day

Travel Information

Final Destination: Hamburg

This train also calls at: Mainz and Koblenz and Bonn

This is a direct journey

You will be travelling on one of these trains...

Exterior of a Swiss IC train typically used on these EC services

EC (Switzerland - Germany/Austria) Train Guide

Journey Features

Scenic - YesRiver views

Good to Know

The train will reverse direction on departure from Basel SBB station so sit on the left when boarding in Zurich if you want to experience the best of the scenery.

Journey description:

Despite being a journey that commences in Switzerland, the best views on this route comes towards journey's end; the video clips were filmed from trains travelling in the opposite direction

This is a fascinating journey of five distinct phases:

The second half of the part of the journey from Zurich to Basel is one of the most scenic parts of the trip.
After reversing direction at Basel the train will head to Offenburg, though south of Freiburg it travels through one of Germany's longest rail tunnels.
The railway between Offenburg and Karlsruhe has been re-engineered so it is classified as a high speed line, the train will be travelling at more than 250 k/mh.
From Karlsruhe until Mainz the train will pass through a series of towns.
Then around 10 mins after departure from Mainz comes the stunning highlight of the journey, on the railway through the Rhine Valley.

Sit on the right of the train when facing the direction of travel because after Mainz comes the fabulous climax to the day's travels, the stunning views of The Rhine Gorge between Bingen and Koblenz.

(the videos were taken from a train travelling in the opposite direction).

After Bingen there are some fabulous views of The Rhine Gorge from the right of the train, when facing the direction of travel.

After Boppard the train will travel right by the river for the final part of the journey all the way to Koblenz; the views of the valley aren't quite as spectacular north of Boppard, but they're still fabulous!

This part of the journey 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.

Then after Koblenz, north of Remagen there are yet more fine views of the Rhine Valley, even on a grey day!

(Though trains can be diverted to run along the east bank of the river north of Mainz, and if that does occur, the equally fabulous Rhine Valley views will be on the left).

The Swiss part of the journey has its glorious moments

The train will travel along the banks of The River Rhine after Bingen

The best of the views of the valley will be on the right

Follow the path taken by the river boat cruises

Chase the cars and boats as they travel through the valley beside the train

The general guide to Swiss rail travel Discover what's good to know about riding the trains, taking popular journeys, using the major stations, booking tickets and travelling with rail passes,

The general guide to German rail travel Discover what's good to know about riding the trains, taking popular journeys, using the major stations, booking tickets and travelling with rail passes.

Tickets

Online bookings open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date
This booking period tends to be shorter when looking up journeys between mid August and mid October.

A choice of tickets on the DB website

Three types of tickets are always available: Sparpreis and Super Sparpreis and Flexpreis.

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 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 the 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 tickets, as they aren't train departure specific.
If you book a Sparpreis 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 tickets can't be exchanged or refunded.

Seat reservations

Seat reservations are optional on ICE trains on this route - 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.
They are included within the cost of booking 1st class Flexpreis tickets and both 1st and 2nd class Flexpreis Plus tickets.
Specific seats can be selected from seating plans - you don't have to accept the seat(s) that you will be automatically offered.
One of the first class coaches is usually an observation car - on the seating plan it is the 1st class coach / car which doesn't have bike spaceds

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.

Booking on the DB website

You can find this direct train more easily by making a proactive selection of 'Direct Trains Only'.
Or to see all the combinations of trains and journey options, some of which may be cheaper, take off the 'fastest connections' default.

You will then see a swathe of other journey options, most of which are faster than taking this direct train, because they involve either taking 2* x ICE trains OR connecting into an ICE train.
Unlike this direct train, the ICE trains on to Koln will use Germany's fastest high speed line.

There is no need to take more than 2 x trains IF the timings of this direct train don't suit - so avoid any options with more than 1 x change of train.

Using rail passes

For rail pass users 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.

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