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.
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Our 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.
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Seat 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 Zurich if you don't reserve.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
DB | from €27.90 | |
Omio | from €27.90 | |
Happyrail | from €27.90 | |
SaveATrain | from €27.90 | |
SaveATrain | from €29.90 |
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.
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The train journey from Hamburg to Zuich:
The new ICE 4 trains are now operating some of the 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 few 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) and Basel SBB stations.
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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.
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The alternative overnight train.
The first of these ICE trains is usually due to arrive in Zurich at around 14:00
If you need to arrive in the morning you can take the Nightjet train.
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.
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The train journey from Hamburg to Zuich:
The new ICE 4 trains are now operating some of the 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 few 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) and Basel SBB stations.
---------------------------------------------------------
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 train.
The first of these ICE trains is usually due to arrive in Zurich at around 14:00
If you need to arrive in the morning you can take the Nightjet train.
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 Zurich at 09:05.
The first daytime train of the day isn't due into Zurich until 14:00.
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: Basel Bad Bf and Basel SBB.
Our general guide to travelling on European overnight trains is available HERE.
This train is usually scheduled to depart from Hamburg Hbf at 21:02 and arrive in Zurich at 09:05.
The first daytime train of the day isn't due into Zurich until 14:00.
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: Basel Bad Bf and Basel SBB.
Our general guide to travelling on European overnight trains is available HERE.
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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.