Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date
On the DB Bahn booking site look for journeys that have:
- 0 in the Chg. column
- ICE (and only ICE) in the Products column.
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.
A step-by-step guide to booking train tickets on the DB (German national railways) website is available HERE.
There's also a guide to booking with an independent ticket agent.
If you're new to booking tickets for train journeys in Germany, we also recommend taking a look at our guide to German train tickets - it should help you save time and money and confusion.
Reservations:
Book 1st class ticket journey tickets on 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 a long journey such as this one, at busy times you'll be fortunate to be able to remain in the same seat all the way from Hamburg to Basel if you don't reserve.
A choice of stations in Basel:
These trains call first at Basel Bad Bf station before going on to terminate at Basel SBB station.
If you want to travel to Basel Bad Bf - the city centre station, then select it from the station options in the 'To' Box.
If you want to travel to Basel SBB, select this station in the 'To' box.
However, tickets booked to Basel Bad Bahnhof are not valid to Basel SBB, so work out which of the two main stations in Basel suits your needs BEFORE you buy a ticket.
And because DB categorises the journey on to Basel SBB as an international journey, tickets can be more expensive if you book to Basel SBB.
In contrast, despite its location in Switzerland, DB applies the same fare rules for journeys to Basel Bad Bf as it does to other journeys wholly within Germany - hence tickets to Basel Bad Bf being cheaper.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
DB Bahn | from €17.90 | |
Omio | from €17.90 | |
SaveATrain | from €17.90 | |
Happyrail | from €17.90 | |
Happyrail | from €19.90 |
Final Destination: Zurich or Chur or Interlaken
All trains also call at: Karlsruhe; Baden-Baden; Freiburg
A choice of stations in Hamburg:
Most of these trains commence their journeys at Hamburg-Altona station and call at Hamburg-Dammtor BEFORE they arrive at Hamburg Hbf.
A choice of stations in Basel:
The train will also call at two stations in Basel - but if you're heading for the city centre, the quickest option is to leave the train at the first of these two stations, Basel Bad Bahnhof.
Stay on the train to the second station - Basel SBB, if your final destination is to the south of the city centre, or if you'll be making connections in Basel to reach other destinations across Switzerland by train.
However, tickets booked to Basel Bad Bahnhof (Basel Bad bf) are not valid to Basel SBB - so work out which of the two main stations in Basel suits your needs BEFORE you buy a ticket.
Tickets to Basel Bad bf tend to be (much) cheaper than tickets to Basel SBB.
The train journey from Hamburg to Basel:
The new ICE 4 trains are now operating some departures on this route
You'll have a pleasant, but not particularly scintillating journey on a comparatively comfortable train.
But this is a journey without any scenic wow moments - so having something to watch or read with you is highly recommended.
The only thrills to be had come when the trains travel on the high speed lines between:
(1) Hannover - Fulda
(2) Baden Baden - Offenburg
These trains reverse direction on departure from Frankfurt (Main).
If you are new to travelling by train in Germany, we recommend taking a look at our German Train Travel Guide.
It is packed with info and useful links to help ensure you’ll have a stress-free trip.
The alternative overnight trains:
The first of these ICE trains is usually due to arrive in Basel at around 11:30.
If you need to be there sooner, there are two overnight train services available on the Hamburg to Basel route:
(1) A Nightjet train - which conveys sleeping cabins and couchettes as well as seats.
(2) An IC train - which only conveys seats
Final Destination: Zurich or Chur or Interlaken
All trains also call at: Karlsruhe; Baden-Baden; Freiburg
A choice of stations in Hamburg:
Most of these trains commence their journeys at Hamburg-Altona station and call at Hamburg-Dammtor BEFORE they arrive at Hamburg Hbf.
A choice of stations in Basel:
The train will also call at two stations in Basel - but if you're heading for the city centre, the quickest option is to leave the train at the first of these two stations, Basel Bad Bahnhof.
Stay on the train to the second station - Basel SBB, if your final destination is to the south of the city centre, or if you'll be making connections in Basel to reach other destinations across Switzerland by train.
However, tickets booked to Basel Bad Bahnhof (Basel Bad bf) are not valid to Basel SBB - so work out which of the two main stations in Basel suits your needs BEFORE you buy a ticket.
Tickets to Basel Bad bf tend to be (much) cheaper than tickets to Basel SBB.
The train journey from Hamburg to Basel:
The new ICE 4 trains are now operating some departures on this route
You'll have a pleasant, but not particularly scintillating journey on a comparatively comfortable train.
But this is a journey without any scenic wow moments - so having something to watch or read with you is highly recommended.
The only thrills to be had come when the trains travel on the high speed lines between:
(1) Hannover - Fulda
(2) Baden Baden - Offenburg
These trains reverse direction on departure from Frankfurt (Main).
If you are new to travelling by train in Germany, we recommend taking a look at our German Train Travel Guide.
It is packed with info and useful links to help ensure you’ll have a stress-free trip.
The alternative overnight trains:
The first of these ICE trains is usually due to arrive in Basel at around 11:30.
If you need to be there sooner, there are two overnight train services available on the Hamburg to Basel route:
(1) A Nightjet train - which conveys sleeping cabins and couchettes as well as seats.
(2) An IC train - which only conveys seats
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date
When making an online booking, check that you’re looking at booking info for this direct overnight train.
On the DB booking site look for the journey that:
- departs Hamburg Hbf at around 19:46
- has 0 in the Chg. column,
- IC (and only IC) in the Products column.
Rail Pass users willing to forsake comfort over cost, should take this train and not the OBB Nightjet train.
Reservations are optional, so all additional reservation fees can be avoided.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
DB | from €24.90 | |
Trainline | from €24 |
This train is usually a cheaper alternative to the OBB Nightjet train which also travels between Hamburg and Basel.
However, it is an ordinary daytime IC train that happens to run overnight.
It does not have any couchette sleeping berths or sleeping cabins.
It also isn't as swish as the ICE trains which provide the daytime train journeys from Hamburg to Basel.
Final Destination: Basel SBB
These trains also call at: Basel SBB*
*If you're heading to Basel city centre, the quickest journey is usually to leave this train at Basel Bad bf.
There are easy tram connections from Basel Bad bf station to the city centre.
After the train departs from Basel Bad Bf it will go on to call at Basel SBB station.
Remain on the train until it arrives at Basel SBB if your final destination is to the south of the city centre, or if you will be connecting into trains to other destinations in Switzerland - including Brig, Luzern, Interlaken and Visp.
This train is usually a cheaper alternative to the OBB Nightjet train which also travels between Hamburg and Basel.
However, it is an ordinary daytime IC train that happens to run overnight.
It does not have any couchette sleeping berths or sleeping cabins.
It also isn't as swish as the ICE trains which provide the daytime train journeys from Hamburg to Basel.
Final Destination: Basel SBB
These trains also call at: Basel SBB*
*If you're heading to Basel city centre, the quickest journey is usually to leave this train at Basel Bad bf.
There are easy tram connections from Basel Bad bf station to the city centre.
After the train departs from Basel Bad Bf it will go on to call at Basel SBB station.
Remain on the train until it arrives at Basel SBB if your final destination is to the south of the city centre, or if you will be connecting into trains to other destinations in Switzerland - including Brig, Luzern, Interlaken and Visp.
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
Our guide to booking night train tickets on the OBB (Austrian national railways) website is available HERE.
Our guide to booking night train tickets on the DB (German national railways) website is available HERE.
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 (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 button above 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.
Or you can avoid the booking fees by arranging the reservations when you arrive in Germany, by purchasing them at a Reisezentrum travel desk, which you will find in any hauptbahnhof.
Though it's best to do this at the first hauptbahnhof (city centre station) that you will arrive at, the later you leave booking your accommodation, the more likely it is that your preferences will be sold out.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
OBB | * | |
DB Bahn | * |
This train is usually scheduled to depart from Hamburg Hbf at 21:02 and arrive in Basel Bad Bf* at 07:06
Before arriving in Hamburg Hbf, the train will have commenced its journey at Hamburg-Altona - and will have also called at Hamburg-Dammtor.
Final Destination: Zurich
The train also calls at: Hannover**; Basel SBB***
*If you're heading to Basel city centre, the quickest journey is usually to leave this train at Basel Bad bf.
There are easy tram connections from Basel Bad bf station to the city centre.
After the train departs from Basel Bad Bf it will go on to call at Basel SBB station.
Remain on the train until it arrives at Basel SBB if your final destination is to the south of the city centre, or if you will be connecting into trains to other destinations in Switzerland - including Brig, Luzern, Interlaken and Visp.
Our general guide to travelling on European overnight trains is available HERE.
The alternative journey options:
(1) If you are happy to forsake the comfort of the sleeping cabins and couchettes on this Nightjet train - an alternative to travelling on the seats on this train, is the overnight IC train.
(2) If you can travel by day, take the ICE trains.
This train is usually scheduled to depart from Hamburg Hbf at 21:02 and arrive in Basel Bad Bf* at 07:06
Before arriving in Hamburg Hbf, the train will have commenced its journey at Hamburg-Altona - and will have also called at Hamburg-Dammtor.
Final Destination: Zurich
The train also calls at: Hannover**; Basel SBB***
*If you're heading to Basel city centre, the quickest journey is usually to leave this train at Basel Bad bf.
There are easy tram connections from Basel Bad bf station to the city centre.
After the train departs from Basel Bad Bf it will go on to call at Basel SBB station.
Remain on the train until it arrives at Basel SBB if your final destination is to the south of the city centre, or if you will be connecting into trains to other destinations in Switzerland - including Brig, Luzern, Interlaken and Visp.
Our general guide to travelling on European overnight trains is available HERE.
The alternative journey options:
(1) If you are happy to forsake the comfort of the sleeping cabins and couchettes on this Nightjet train - an alternative to travelling on the seats on this train, is the overnight IC train.
(2) If you can travel by day, take the ICE trains.
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This is one of more than 1000 journey 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.