Train Zurich to Amsterdam

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hi!

When do you want to travel?
How much time do you want to spend for the journey?

There are many options available, for instance through the Rhine Valley between Mainz and Koblenz; this is probably also the fastest option since there are regular long distance trains running on that route; you could travel here with only one change of trains in Cologne.
However there are many other options, for instance making a detour through the Mosel Valley (Trier - Koblenz) or going through Luxembourg (Luxembourg - Liege), through the Black Forest (Singen - Offenburg),...

Flo

maryna
Traveller
3 comments

Thank you, Flo. We will travel in May 2022 and we have three days to do the journey - not that we have to spend all the time on the train. As we love train trips, we just want a nice, scenic trip. Being from Africa, anything green is a bonus. At the moment the Black Forest trips sounds good, although the Rhine Valley is also a strong option. Thanx for you input.

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

If you have three days available you can easily combine both.

Possible itinerary (2021 schedule):

Day 1
Zürich 0837 - 0930 Singen
Singen 1007 - 1249 Karlsruhe (this includes the Schwarzwald railway)
Karlsruhe 1310 - 1344 Heidelberg

Alternative also including Höllentalbahn in Black Forest:
Zürich 0759 - 0947 Freiburg
Freiburg 1040 - 1220 Villingen (Höllentalbahn)
Villingen 1250 - 1449 Karlsruhe (Schwarzwaldbahn)
Karlsruhe 1458 - 1541 Heidelberg

You could also include short stopovers in Freiburg or Karlsruhe (for a quick walk through the city); or stop in Schaffhausen (before Singen) and/or visit the Rhine Falls in Neuhausen close to Schaffhausen.

Day 2
Heidelberg 0825 - 0918 Mainz
Mainz 0956 - 1210 Saarbrücken (Nahetalbahn)
Saarbrücken 1219 - 1456 Koblenz (Mosel Valley)

Maybe include a stopover in Bad Kreuznach on the Nahe Valley Railway

Day 3
Koblenz 0904 - 1049 Frankfurt/Main (Rhine Valley)
Franfkurt/Main 1127 - 1554 Amsterdam

Or, the extended train enthusiast version:
Koblenz 0852 - 1038 Mainz Kastel (East Rhine Railway or Rechte Rheinstrecke)
Mainz Kastel 1045 - 1048 Wiesbaden Ost
Wiesbaden Ost 1052 - 1101 Mainz Hbf
Mainz Hbf 1220 - 1405 Köln Hbf (West Rhine Railway or Linke Rheinstrecke)
Köln Hbf 1425 - 1430 Köln Ehrenfeld
Köln Ehrenfeld 1443 - 1754 Amsterdam

This option would take you along both sides of the river Rhine between Koblenz and Mainz (kind of a loop). But it might be a bit too complicated if you are travelling with heavy luggage etc.

There are lots of options as mentioned before...just wanted to show a possible route.

Flo

maryna
Traveller
3 comments

Thank you soooo much, Flo! Along the Rhine sounds absolutely lovely. We are travelling very light. Just one more question, please. Should I buy the ticket for the whole trip in Zurich, or should I buy from city to city? Thank you for your time.

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

No, you best/easiest/cheapest option would be to get your tickets before online.
You can either buy point to point tickets for each leg or get a rail pass like Interrail or Eurail. A rail pass could make sense in case you are going to make additional rail trips as well.
For example have a look here: https://rail.cc/train/zurich-to-heidelberg

maryna
Traveller
3 comments

Thank you again!
Kind regards.Anneke