Trains in Switzerland
Climb on board Swiss trains and travel through the snow-capped Alps, alongside beautiful mountain lakes and across rolling green hills. Visit Switzerland's most famous cities, Bern, Basel, Geneva and Zurich, by rail and enjoy the breathtaking scenery from the train window along the way.
Train types in Switzerland
You can enjoy a large choice of Swiss trains, each type ready to transport you across the country as well as to and from other European countries. Switzerland's national railway company is the SBB (Schweizerische BundesBahn). Use the Interrail train timetable or SBB timetable to check times for trains in Switzerland.
Click here to download a more detailed map of the Swiss train network with all trains included (2 MB).
- Route Map
- Domestic Trains
- High-Speed trains
- Night Trains
- Scenic Trains
- Private trains
Regional trains in Switzerland
The main rail network in Switzerland is made up of the following regional and intercity trains:
RegioExpress trains link regional destinations with larger Swiss cities.
Regio trains connect local towns.
InterCity trains link major Swiss cities like Basel and Geneva.
InterRegio trains connect Zurich and Geneva with cities across the whole of Switzerland. These trains make more stops than InterCity trains.
- S-Bahn (suburban trains) is a network of trains that operate within most big cities.
- Zurich: Your Interrail Pass is valid for the S-bahn of Zurich except lines S4, S10 and S18.
- See our Timetable for more details about availability.
High-speed trains in Switzerland
International high-speed trains in Switzerland
These high-speed trains operate to and from Switzerland:
- ICE connects Switzerland with cities in Germany and the Netherlands.
- Basel – Frankfurt – Cologne – Hamburg
- Basel – Stuttgart – Munich
- Basel – Frankfurt – Cologne – Amsterdam
- Reservations are compulsory during summer season (June 1st till September 1st)
- Interlaken - Basel – Frankfurt – Berlin
- Zürich - Basel – Frankfurt – Hannover – Hamburg - Kiel
- Railjet (RJX) connects Zurich with cities in Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.
- Zürich – Salzburg – Vienna – Bratislava/Budapest
- EuroCity (EC) connects Zurich, Basel and Geneva to cities in Italy, Austria, Czechia and Germany.
- Zürich – Innsbruck – Graz
- Interlaken/Zürich – Basel – Cologne – Hamburg
- Zürich – Milan – Genova/Bologna/Verona/Venezia
- Geneva – Lausanne – Milan
- Basel – Bern/Luzern – Milan
- Zürich – Frankfurt – Dresden – Prague (Overnight)
- InterCity (IC) connects Zurich to cities in Germany and the Netherlands.
- Zürich – Stuttgart
- Zürich – Frankfurt – Hamburg (overnight)
- Zürich – Frankfurt – Amsterdam (overnight)
- Zürich – Frankfurt – Berlin (overnight)
- EuroCityExpress (ECE) connects Zurich to cities in Germany and Italy.
- Frankfurt – Basel – Milan
- Zürich – Munich (Reservations are compulsory during summer season (June 1st till September 1st)
- TGV connects Zurich, Basel, Geneva and Lausanne to Paris (France).
- Zürich – Basel – Paris
- Lausanne – Geneva – Paris
- Lausanne – Dijon – Paris
- Geneva – Lyon – Marseille (Only 01 July till 27 August)
Domestic high-speed trains in Switzerland
Domestic high-speed Swiss trains are called InterCity Neigezug (ICN). ICN trains transport passengers quickly and in comfort from one side of the country to the other.
Night trains in and between Switzerland
International night trains
The following night trains connect Switzerland with Austria, Germany, Hungary, Croatia, Czechia, Slovenia and the Netherlands:
ÖBB Nightjet:
Zurich – Basel - HamburgZurich – Basel – Düsseldorf - Amsterdam
Zurich – Basel - Berlin
Zurich - Linz – Vienna
EuroNight:
Zurich – GrazZurich – Vienna – Budapest
Zurich – Innsbruck – Prague
Zurich – Basel – Dresden – Prague
Zurich – Villach – Ljubljana – Zagreb
Scenic train routes in Switzerland
Switzerland is famous for its beautiful scenic landscapes. The following scenic train routes offer special conditions for Interrail Pass Holders:
Bernina Express: Chur – Lugano via Tirano (Italy)
Chocolate train: Montreux – Broc-Chocolat
Centovalli Railway: Locarno (Switzerland) – Domodossola (Italy)
Golden Pass: Luzern – Interlaken – Montreux
- Glacier Express: Davos/St. Moritz – Zermatt
- Gotthard Panorama Express: Luzern – Domodossola (Italy)
- Jungfrau Railways: Interlaken – Grindelwald/Lauterbrunnen – Jungfraujoch
Click here to download a more detailed map of the Swiss train network with all trains included (2 MB).
Private railway companies in Switzerland
The Swiss railway network is operated not only by the SBB, there are a lot of private railway companies as well. Some of these companies are included in your Interrail Pass while other companies offer discounted travel.
Click here to download a more detailed map of the Swiss train network with all trains included (2 MB).
Popular connections
- Domestic routes
- International routes
Route | Travel time |
---|---|
Basel to Bern | 55m |
Basel to Interlaken | 2h |
Basel to Lucerne | 1h |
Basel to Zurich | 55m |
Bern to Geneva | 1h 45m |
Bern to Interlaken | 55m |
Bern to Zurich | 55m |
Geneva to Zurich | 2h 45m |
Zurich to Lugano | 1h 55m |
Bern to Brig | 1h 05m |
Route | Which train? | Travel time | Reservations |
---|---|---|---|
Zurich to Graz / Villach (Austria) | EuroNight | 10h 55m (overnight) / 10h 05m (overnight) |
Required |
Zurich to Hamburg (Germany) | ICE / ÖBB Nightjet | 7h 35m / 11h 35m (overnight) | Optional / Required |
Zurich to Vienna (Austria) | RailJet / EuroNight | 7h 50m / 8h 55m (overnight) | Optional / Required |
Zurich / Basel / Geneva to Paris (France) | TGV Lyria | 4h / 3h / 3h | Required |
Zurich / Bern / Geneva to Milan (Italy) | EuroCity | 4h / 3h / 4h | Required |
Zürich to Amsterdam (the Netherlands) | IC + ICE / ÖBB Nightjet | 6h 45m / 12h (overnight) |
Optional (Required June 1st till September 1st) / Required |
Zürich to Prague (Czechia) | EuroNight | 13h (overnight) | Required |
Zürich to Munich (Germany) | EuroCity | 3h 30m | Optional |
Zürich to Cologne | ICE / EuroCity | 5h / 6h | Optional |
Reservations
How to make reservations for Swiss trains
Interrail reservation self-service system
Administration costs when booking through Interrail self-service
- € 2,- p.p.per train
- Additional € 9,- per order (for paper tickets)
With railway carriers
- SBB Ticket Shop: Domestic trains
- DB (German railways): International trains to Germany
- ÖBB (Austrian railways): Domestic and international trains
- SNCB (b-europe): Only Eurocity trains to Italy and TGV Lyria to France
- ÖBB Nightjet: Only Nightjet and Euro Night
- ČD (Czech railways): Domestic and international trains
- Bernina Express (Rhatische Bahn): Only Bernina express scenic trains
- Glacier express: Only Glacier Express scenic trains
Other platforms
- Rail Europe: TGV (Lyria), Eurocity to Italy, Bernina Express
By calling the SBB (Swiss railways) booking centre
- +41 0848 44 66 88 (open 24/7).
- You will get a direct connection when calling this booking centre. The Swiss SBB booking centre can deliver your reservations to all European countries. Delivery costs are CHF8 (approx. €6.50). This call centre may charge a booking fee. You can also pick up your reservations at main Swiss train stations. Just go to the ticket office with your order number. This call centre can make reservations for the majority of European high-speed and night trains.
Locally at the train station in Switzerland
An explanation of how each booking platform works can be found here: How do I book my reservations
Get your Pass for Switzerland
Interrail Global Pass
Offers you rail travel in Switzerland and 32 more European countries.
Youth, senior and family discounts available.
Prices from € 212
Tips and tricks for Switzerland
Swiss main train stations
Switzerland has several hub stations:
Basel SBB
Bern
Geneva
Lausanne
Luzern
Zürich HB
These stations have excellent facilities:
Lockers
Cash machines and a foreign exchange desk
Restaurants, cafés and shops
Tourist information
Elevators, escalators and access for disabled passengers
Spelling of city names
There might be some minor differences between the local spelling of city names and what you're used to.
- Genève = Geneva
- Luzern = Lucerne
Pass Benefits for Switzerland
Interrail Pass Holders experience boat cruises on Swiss lakes and rivers for free or at a discount.
Scenic routes
The following special scenic train routes are also discounted for Interrailers:
Bernina Express: Chur to Lugano via Tirano (Italy)
Centovalli Railway: Locarno to Domodossola (Italy)
Golden Pass: Lucerne to Interlaken then Montreux
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