Side trip into Germany from Zurich – tickets, railpass?
Danielsan is planning a 21-night trip in Switzerland with a quick two-night detour to Stuttgart, Germany. They are looking for advice on whether to buy rail passes for Germany or to just get point-to-point tickets, as well as information about transfers in the cities they are visiting.
- If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, it's valid for some trains to Germany, especially from Zurich to Schaffhausen.
- For a smooth travel experience, consider using a staffed booking office to buy your tickets.
- Direct trains from Zurich to Stuttgart run hourly, but book early to secure cheaper fares, especially during events like Oktoberfest.
- Stuttgart's public transport is mostly underground—look for U-Bahn signs to get around easily.
- If train prices are too high, check Flixbus as a budget alternative for your trip.
AI-generated summary-
Hello forum folks,
I fully realize this is the Swiss forum, but I am traveling for 21 nights in Switzerland. I am also spending two nights in Germany, departing on the third day back into Switzerland. Am going from Zurich to Stuttgart, and back to Zurich. I have looked on the internet to see if there are rail passes in Germany and am confused. There’s lots of info, but I can’t seem to see any prices, and am wondering if I should just go point to point and be done with it. My hotel is just far enough from the main station, that I will need to transfer to the smaller ‘street trams’. Am wondering if anyone has had experience with a short excursion into Germany and can advise me. Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Danielsan
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On one occasion I have been staying in Zurich but had a DAY TRIP to Stuttgart. I had a Swiss Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/). I therefore got the BOOKING OFFICE at Zurich Hauptbahnhof to sell me a SCHAFFHAUSEN to Stuttgart return ticket.
If you have got an STP, do as I did. Nowadays fast trains Zurich to Stuttgart run hourly. They are usually DB (German Railways) trains, but the STP will be valid on those trains from Zurich to Schaffhausen, which is the last stop in Switzerland.
If you have not got an STP, or you have got a ‘Flex’ STP (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass-flex/) and do not want to waste two days on what is a short journey, get the booking office to sell you a Zurich to Stuttgart return.
(As an aside, I am a very experienced traveller, but if a situation is complicated I will always use a staffed booking office. It is worth it for the peace of mind.)
For local travel in Stuttgart go to http://www.vvs.de. Note that there are no on-street trams in the centre of Stuttgart. They are all underground!. Follow the sign for the U-Bahn! Note also that Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof is currently under extensive reconstruction. (VVS stands for Vekehrs und Tarifverbund Stuttgart.)
Regards
Roger
Further to my previous reply, when I take a holiday in Switzerland I always base myself in Zurich for 10-12 days. I always buy a first class Swiss Travel Pass. All my trips are in effect day excursions from Zurich. If the weather forecast for Switzerland is bad, I would consider going into an adjoining country, paying the normal fares for the section beyond the boarder. For example I have actually done a return journey to Milan, paying the fares for the Chiasso to Milano section!
When are you travelling? If it is in the next few days I would rule out a side trip to Stuttgart! Why? The direct route from Zurich is badly disrupted by engineering work. I hope that that work is completed by the time you make your ‘side trip’.
Regards
Roger
Hi Danielsan,
You can find information about tickets and travel to Germany from Switzerland here: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/germany-switzerland/
SBB offers direct connections from Zurich HB to Stuttgart from as little as CHF28 if you book in advance. Please check the official website for details.
Regards,
Anna
Hello Roger Sexton and Anna,
Sorry for the delay in your responses to me on 30 July. Thank you for them.
I will be going to Stuttgart, leaving on 01 Oct, (for Oktober Fest) and returning to Zurich on 03 Oct. I have looked at the SBB, and see the best route with the least changes, is through Zurich. Once in Zurich, it looks to be no more changes (with many stops, which is fine) into Stuttgart. Does the Swiss train go to Stuttgart? Are we switching to a German train in Zurich? Or is there a charge for the German part of the journey? That’s the part I am curious about. (I am aware that it’s just about an hour from Lucerne to Zurich.)
Thank you very much.
Regards,
Danielsan
Hi Danielsan.
I have just been to the Swiss Electronic timetable and have been looking at Zurich to Stuttgart trains in early October. Hooray! The service is back to normal. As you will have seen, trains between Zurich and Stuttgart run approximately every hour. There are a lot of intermediate stops, but there is no need to change trains. Note that at Singen (Hohentwiel) the train changes direction.
The trains themselves are, I believe, German owned ‘KIss’ double-deckers built by the Swiss manufacturers Stadlers. Again hooray! Sit upstairs for the best views!
And a third somewhat muffled cheer on the fares/tickets point. What Anna and I were saying in our previous replies remain valid. But as there is a big Beer Festival in Stuttgart between 1st and 3rd October, cheap advanced booked fares may be in short supply.
Kind regards
Roger.
Hi Danielsan,
Should the train tickets to Stuttgart be a little excessive, there is the other option of traveling with the Flixbus (Zurich – Stuttgart). I have not personally traveled with them.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
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