There are many trains between Germany and Switzerland. Major cities in both countries are well-connected by high-speed trains multiple times each day, regional trains and overnight trains. The list includes most important passengers services – I am not sure that the list is complete.
Last updated: 02.06.2024
Railway border crossings between Germany and Switzerland:
Konstanz DB – Kreuzlingen SBB / Kreuzlingen Hafen SBB
Bietingen DB – Thayngen SBB
Erzingen (Baden) DB – Trasadingen DB
Jestetten SBB – Neuhausen SBB
Waldshut DB – Koblenz SBB
Grenzach DB – Basel Badischer Bf DB
Lörrach-Stetten DB – Riehen DB
Weil am Rhein DB – Basel Badischer Bf DB
The Rielasingen DB – Ramsen SBB border crossing is used for heritage trains and draisines. Vintage trains run seasonally.
Trains between Germany and Switzerland- useful websites
Deutsche Bahn – journey planner and online shop
Swiss Railways – journey planner and online shop
Nightjet – official website and online shop
Train travel in Germany – a comprehensive guide
Train travel in Switzerland – a comprehensive guide
Trains between Germany and Switzerland – promotional tickets
Deutsche Bahn offers Super saver fare for low-cost travel between Germany and Switzerland. Promotional tickets are called in German Super Sparpreis Europa. You can book tickets up to six months (180 days) before you journey until shortly before a train is due to depart. Super saver fare tickets are excluded from exchange and cancellation. You may only travel on long-distance trains (IC/EC) and on the days indicated on the ticket.
Most flexible are Saver fare promotional tickets – there is a cancellation fee. Deutsche Bahn offers also Group Saver tickets for groups of under six passengers.
If you want to travel around Constance Lake, there is a Boden-See Ticket (a description at the end of the article).
IC and ICE trains between Switzerland and Germany
Long-distance trains from Germany to Basel and Zurich run almost every hour. Some of them run between Basel and Frankfurt am Main, but many are extended to another major cities in Germany, for example to Hamburg via Cologne, Dusseldorf and Bremen or to Berlin.
The trains provide access to many important cities in Western Germany and in Frankfurt am Main you can change train and continue your journey to Belgium and the Netherlands. From Hamburg you can continue your journey to Denmark and Sweden and from Berlin to Poland.
Trains between Basel or Zurich and Germany are comprised of ICE2, ICE3 and ICE4 trainsets. Intercity Express trains (ICE) are modern and comfortable German trainsets with open-plan 1st and second class carriages and bistro car. Personally, I hate seats at a table but generally I like all of these trainsets, although ICE 2 in my opinion is most comfortable.
Once a day ICE train runs from Berlin to Interlaken via Basel. There is also an ICE train from Frankfurt am Main to Interlaken.
Eurocity train Zurich – Munich
Eurocity trains from Zurich to Munich pass through Austrian territory, stopping in Bregenz. The route is served by SBB ETR 610 (Astoro) trainsets. There are first and second class carriages, restaurant car, family zone, wheelchair-accessible toilet, baby-changing table, cycle storage spaces, pram storage spaces and luggage storage space. Trains are air-conditioned.
IC trains Stuttgart and Zurich
Deutsche Bahn runs Intercity trains between Stuttgart and Zurich via Singen and Schaffhausen. When I wrote the article, trains were shortened to Schaffhausen. I couldn’t find information about the reasons.
IC trains between Stuttgart and Zurich (or Schaffhausen) are comprised of German double-decker IC2 push-pull trainsets Stadler Kiss.
Some trains run on the section from Zurich to Singen. These trains are comprised of Swiss push-pull trainsets with 1st and 2nd class open-plan carriages.
Nightjet trains between Germany and Switzerland
Nightjet trains between both countries currently run on the following routes:
Hamburg – Zurich
Berlin – Zurich
Basel – Hamburg
Nightjet trains from Zurich and Basel to Amsterdam pass through Germany.
Nightjet trains are comprised of seating carriages with compartmens, couchette cars and sleeping cars. Passengers can choose between standard sleeping cars and deluxe sleeping cars with a private shower in compartment.
Ticket prices for Nightjet train start at:
seating carriage – 29.90 EUR
6-berth couchette – 49.90 EUR
4-berth couchette – 59.90 EUR
3-bed sleeping car – 89.90 EUR
2-bed sleeping car – 109.90 EUR
1-bed sleeping car – 159.90 EUR
3-bed sleeping car with shower – 99.90 EUR
2-bed sleeping car with shower – 139.90 EUR
1-bed sleeping car with shower – 189.90 EUR
In fact, available tickets are much expensive. Book well in advance for the cheapest prices.
Alternatively, there is an overnight ICE train from Hamburg to Zurich via Berlin, Leipzig, Frankfurt am Main and Basel. Only seating carriages are available.
Cross-border trains between Germany and Switzerland
Regional, Regional Express and IRE trains daily connect border regions of Germany and Switzerland.
Cross-border trains from Singen and Waldshut to Basel terminate at Basel Bad station in Basel. Main railway station in Basel is located 2,5 km from the Basel Bad station. The stations are connected by tram no 2.
Regional trains from Basel run also to Karlsruhe, Offenburg and to Zell (Wiesental) via Lörrach Hbf.
Swiss regional trains from Zurich to Schaffhausen pass through Germany. The section between Eglisau and Neuhausen passes through German territory with two intermediate stations in Germany, Lottstetten and Jestetten.
I have no information about trains between Waldshut and Koblenz, Switzerland.
These are certainly not all the trains that run between the two countries. Let me know if you notice any errors, especially about cross-border trains.
Boden-See Ticket
If you want to travel around Lake Constance, you can consider to buy Boden-See ticket. It is a attractive cross-border network ticket that allows you to visit the countries bordering Lake Constance: Austria, Germany and Switzerland. It is a joint offer from the regional authorities of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland located around Lake Constance.
With the Bodensee Ticket, you are free to travel for a whole day or three days within all the designated zones – wherever you want and as often as you like. There are three zones: East, West and South. You can buy ticket valid in one zone, in two zones or in all three zones. There are discounts for children and small groups and discount card holders.
In Germany, the ticket is valid only on regional trains (IRE, RE, RB), while in Austria and Switzerland, it is also valid on EC and IC trains within the ticket’s area of validity. The Bodensee Ticket also offers discounts on entry tickets to selected tourist attractions. Children under the age of 6 travel free.
Ticket is not cheap, but is a perfect option for those, who want to visit beautiful towns and cities around Lake Constance, for example Lindau, chaffhausen, Stein am Rhein, Constance, Lindau, St. Gallen, Feldkirch and Bregenz. The railway routes along the lake are scenic.
Boden-See Ticket – official website
