Köln / Cologne / Koeln to Zürich / Zurich by train

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

When looking up a 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.
It also takes a scenic route.

If you want or need to travel overnight there are no sleeper trains available on this route.
You will need to travel to Switzerland through the night on a train typically used for daytime services and then make a connection in Basel.

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Routes

Option 1: the direct train

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

DB Guide

DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.

It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.

A key feature of DB website worth keeping mind is that it offers 1st class ticket purchasers complimentary seat reservations on journeys both within and to/from Germany.

Seat reservations for daytime in both 1st and 2nd class can also be booked separately from tickets.

On this journey

Journey Features

Scenic - YesNot High Speed

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.

The trains chase the boats down the Middle Rhine Valley The trains chase the boats down the Middle Rhine Valley
The curves of the river banks allow for spectacular views The curves of the river banks allow for spectacular views
The highlight of the journey through the Rhine Valley is the view of Lorely The highlight of the journey through the Rhine Valley is the view of Lorely
The spectacular Middle Rhine Valley views continue until Bingen The spectacular Middle Rhine Valley views continue until Bingen

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.

Option: the faster connections

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

DB Guide

DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.

It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.

A key feature of DB website worth keeping mind is that it offers 1st class ticket purchasers complimentary seat reservations on journeys both within and to/from Germany.

Seat reservations for daytime in both 1st and 2nd class can also be booked separately from tickets.

Journey Features

Scenic - NoHigh Speed (partial)

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.

From the high speed line between Seigburg/Bonn and Frankfurt Flughafen From the high speed line between Seigburg/Bonn and Frankfurt Flughafen

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.

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.

Between Olten and Zurich Between Olten and Zurich

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.

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