Zurich to Munich by Train
Jan 21st, 2016, 08:22 AM
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Zurich to Munich by Train
Our party of three adults are landing in Zurich in the morning in May, but travelling directly to Munich from the airport.
What are the best options? We could rent a car or travel by train. I've looked at www.bahn.de but it is rather confusing to me. Also it looks like you can only get prices for 3 months in advance.
EC 197 looks to be the correct route and there appears to be a good rate (87,00 EUR for all passengers) on an offer called "Sparpreis Europa Schweiz".
Any reason not to think this is the best option?
Thanks!
What are the best options? We could rent a car or travel by train. I've looked at www.bahn.de but it is rather confusing to me. Also it looks like you can only get prices for 3 months in advance.
EC 197 looks to be the correct route and there appears to be a good rate (87,00 EUR for all passengers) on an offer called "Sparpreis Europa Schweiz".
Any reason not to think this is the best option?
Thanks!
Jan 21st, 2016, 08:52 AM
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I think the prices go with being able to buy it -- there are no prices this far out because you can't buy the tickets yet. They shouldn't change that much.
I would never rent a car when I had a good train option, and there are direct trains between those points that only take 4 hours. Besides, you can't usually leave cars in other countries without a huge fee, unless yo plan to return there, also, that would rule that out.
There are many trains, not just EC 197. But if that works for you, sounds good. I think that's one in the evening, there is a direct one in the morning (EC 193), also, and in the afternoon. I don't know what those German words mean, I use it in Englsh but there should be two rates, one more flexible than the other. That sounds like the more flexible one, the cheaper one is about 50 euro. That rate is only for one person.
I would never rent a car when I had a good train option, and there are direct trains between those points that only take 4 hours. Besides, you can't usually leave cars in other countries without a huge fee, unless yo plan to return there, also, that would rule that out.
There are many trains, not just EC 197. But if that works for you, sounds good. I think that's one in the evening, there is a direct one in the morning (EC 193), also, and in the afternoon. I don't know what those German words mean, I use it in Englsh but there should be two rates, one more flexible than the other. That sounds like the more flexible one, the cheaper one is about 50 euro. That rate is only for one person.
Jan 21st, 2016, 08:59 AM
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There appear to be trains every 2 hours from the station directly below the airport, with a transfer at the hauptbanhof, then to Milan with no changes in about 4.5 hours total.
Price will depend on when you buy the tickets. Without knowing when you arrive don't know which specific train would work for you.
Price will depend on when you buy the tickets. Without knowing when you arrive don't know which specific train would work for you.
Jan 21st, 2016, 09:04 AM
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Sorry - read Milan from the post above.
Zurich airport to Munich there are trains with no changes every 3 or 4 hours and the best fares look like 44 euros. Many other trains but most with multiple changes that I would avoid.
Assume wherever you are coming from has direct flights to zurich but not Munich - other wise flying direct to M makes more sense.
Zurich airport to Munich there are trains with no changes every 3 or 4 hours and the best fares look like 44 euros. Many other trains but most with multiple changes that I would avoid.
Assume wherever you are coming from has direct flights to zurich but not Munich - other wise flying direct to M makes more sense.
Jan 21st, 2016, 09:13 AM
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Any reason not to think this is the best option?>
No BUT:
discounted tickets like you surely are looking at are train-specific and non-changeable and subject to a hefty refund charge so if you miss the train you're out and has to buy a full-fare ticket. I mention this because you are coordinating a train when landing and you never really know when you will land and...... and get to the airport train station - so put a lot of fudge factor time in in case the plane is late - throw bags in a locker at the train station perhaps and look around central Zurich for a few hours before your train? (Zurich Hauptbahnhof or Hbf)- for lots on trains check www.seat61.com - great info on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
www.bahn.de/en is the English version of the German Railways web site you can most easily use for booking and to see what fares remain.
No BUT:
discounted tickets like you surely are looking at are train-specific and non-changeable and subject to a hefty refund charge so if you miss the train you're out and has to buy a full-fare ticket. I mention this because you are coordinating a train when landing and you never really know when you will land and...... and get to the airport train station - so put a lot of fudge factor time in in case the plane is late - throw bags in a locker at the train station perhaps and look around central Zurich for a few hours before your train? (Zurich Hauptbahnhof or Hbf)- for lots on trains check www.seat61.com - great info on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
www.bahn.de/en is the English version of the German Railways web site you can most easily use for booking and to see what fares remain.
Jan 21st, 2016, 11:13 AM
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It's as easy as booking a flight.
www.bahn.de/en - book Munich Airport to Zurich, pick a train, pick the cheap Sparpreis fare, click, click, pay, print, travel...
As PalenQ says, with the train-specific no-refunds no-changes-to-travel-plans Sparpreis fares you just need to allow loads of time for your plane to be late and there to be a long wait for immigration and baggage - plan to have a meal! Unless of course you feel like splurging on the Flexpreis, valid any train that day.
This should be an interesting and scenic ride, with a proper restaurant car too.
www.bahn.de/en - book Munich Airport to Zurich, pick a train, pick the cheap Sparpreis fare, click, click, pay, print, travel...
As PalenQ says, with the train-specific no-refunds no-changes-to-travel-plans Sparpreis fares you just need to allow loads of time for your plane to be late and there to be a long wait for immigration and baggage - plan to have a meal! Unless of course you feel like splurging on the Flexpreis, valid any train that day.
This should be an interesting and scenic ride, with a proper restaurant car too.
Jan 22nd, 2016, 12:10 AM
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Direct trains from Zurich airport to Munich: 7.21, 9.21, 13.21, 18.21; 4 hrs journey.
Standard fare (no reservation needed): 90 CHF/pax. The ticket can be bought at the airport railway station ticket counter and is valid in all trains.
Saver fare bookable in the web: 54 CHF/pax. valid for one defined train only, no refund if you miss it.
Direct buses from Zurich main station to Munich: Zurich main station bus terminal dp 6.00, 6.15, 7.45, 8.00, 10.00, 11.15, 12.00, 12.40, 14.15, 16.00, 16.15, 18.30, 18.45, 19.15, 20.25, 22.30. 3 3/4 - 4 3/4 hrs journey. Web fares start at 17 CHF
Standard fare (no reservation needed): 90 CHF/pax. The ticket can be bought at the airport railway station ticket counter and is valid in all trains.
Saver fare bookable in the web: 54 CHF/pax. valid for one defined train only, no refund if you miss it.
Direct buses from Zurich main station to Munich: Zurich main station bus terminal dp 6.00, 6.15, 7.45, 8.00, 10.00, 11.15, 12.00, 12.40, 14.15, 16.00, 16.15, 18.30, 18.45, 19.15, 20.25, 22.30. 3 3/4 - 4 3/4 hrs journey. Web fares start at 17 CHF
Jan 22nd, 2016, 07:28 AM
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"I've looked at www.bahn.de but it is rather confusing to me. Also it looks like you can only get prices for 3 months in advance."
Yes, that's right. I think it's actually 91 days.
"The "Sparpreis" (saver fare for Germany) is for sale 91 days before intended travel date up until shortly before departure." (from the DB website.)
There's a CHANCE that you'll miss your pre-booked train or bus and jeopardize your saver fare tickets. But you can minimize that chance by booking a ticket from Zurich that leaves 4-5 hours after your scheduled flight arrival time. (You will need a little time to get through security and baggage, and if you go by IC bus to grab a train into Zurich anyway.) The fare for the IC bus is €19 for tickets 3 months out.
So... if your flight were delayed 4-5 hours, you might think you'd lose €19 each on your IC bus ticket and then need to purchase regular tickets. That's actually a pretty small amount to lose, and that would be an unusual delay. However, you will not actually be forced to forfeit the full value of those saver fare tickets...
"discounted tickets like you surely are looking at are train-specific and non-changeable and subject to a hefty refund charge so if you miss the train you're out and has to buy a full-fare ticket."
"...with the train-specific no-refunds no-changes-to-travel-plans Sparpreis fares."
PalenQ and Man in Seat 61 are not being very accurate here. Even on the day of travel, if you miss your train/bus, you WILL receive some value for tickets you've pre-purchased. I've never refunded one of these, but here's how it works as I understand it.
Let's say you have a pre-purchased saver fare ticket for two passengers that cost you €58 (2 x €29) and you miss your train.
- You pay a change fee of €17.50
- You do NOT actually pay full price (€166, 2 x €83) for the new tickets. Instead, you pay the DIFFERENCE between your pre-paid ticket price (€58) and the flex-fare price (€166.) That's €108.
- You do not get an "official" refund on the original ticket. That's a cost you eat (€58.) You've also paid a fee (€17.50.) So your total costs with the new tickets (€108) is €183.50.
So... you end up paying only €17.50 above the normal flex-fare price of €166 - NOT €224 (€58 for the forfeited tickets plus €166 for the new tickets.) That means unofficially, you get a "refund" of €40.50 on the original €58 ticket.
Yes, that's right. I think it's actually 91 days.
"The "Sparpreis" (saver fare for Germany) is for sale 91 days before intended travel date up until shortly before departure." (from the DB website.)
There's a CHANCE that you'll miss your pre-booked train or bus and jeopardize your saver fare tickets. But you can minimize that chance by booking a ticket from Zurich that leaves 4-5 hours after your scheduled flight arrival time. (You will need a little time to get through security and baggage, and if you go by IC bus to grab a train into Zurich anyway.) The fare for the IC bus is €19 for tickets 3 months out.
So... if your flight were delayed 4-5 hours, you might think you'd lose €19 each on your IC bus ticket and then need to purchase regular tickets. That's actually a pretty small amount to lose, and that would be an unusual delay. However, you will not actually be forced to forfeit the full value of those saver fare tickets...
"discounted tickets like you surely are looking at are train-specific and non-changeable and subject to a hefty refund charge so if you miss the train you're out and has to buy a full-fare ticket."
"...with the train-specific no-refunds no-changes-to-travel-plans Sparpreis fares."
PalenQ and Man in Seat 61 are not being very accurate here. Even on the day of travel, if you miss your train/bus, you WILL receive some value for tickets you've pre-purchased. I've never refunded one of these, but here's how it works as I understand it.
Let's say you have a pre-purchased saver fare ticket for two passengers that cost you €58 (2 x €29) and you miss your train.
- You pay a change fee of €17.50
- You do NOT actually pay full price (€166, 2 x €83) for the new tickets. Instead, you pay the DIFFERENCE between your pre-paid ticket price (€58) and the flex-fare price (€166.) That's €108.
- You do not get an "official" refund on the original ticket. That's a cost you eat (€58.) You've also paid a fee (€17.50.) So your total costs with the new tickets (€108) is €183.50.
So... you end up paying only €17.50 above the normal flex-fare price of €166 - NOT €224 (€58 for the forfeited tickets plus €166 for the new tickets.) That means unofficially, you get a "refund" of €40.50 on the original €58 ticket.
Jan 22nd, 2016, 10:50 AM
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o-refunds no-changes->
Actually when I said that before a German rail expert said there was a 15 euro refund fee - hefty when compared to the cheapest possible ticket.>
that's about 15 euros as I said - Man in Seat 61 said no refund - I said hefty refund but will re-adjust that in light of your info I try to digest above.
Actually when I said that before a German rail expert said there was a 15 euro refund fee - hefty when compared to the cheapest possible ticket.>
that's about 15 euros as I said - Man in Seat 61 said no refund - I said hefty refund but will re-adjust that in light of your info I try to digest above.
Jan 22nd, 2016, 11:23 AM
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PalenQ: The part that I found inaccurate (and confusing) was not the €2,50 price difference but the statement that a traveler that misses the train is "subject to a hefty refund charge so if you miss the train you're out and has to buy a full-fare ticket."
So does he get a refund, or is he "out"?? It's unclear. Does he have to buy a full fare ticket? Not really because he gets credit for what he's already paid since he pays only the "difference."
So does he get a refund, or is he "out"?? It's unclear. Does he have to buy a full fare ticket? Not really because he gets credit for what he's already paid since he pays only the "difference."
Jan 22nd, 2016, 02:37 PM
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The discussion about refunds or no refunds by German Rail is somewhat futile as OP starts his journey at Zurich airport.
You CAN buy tickets from German Rail (bahn.com) in Euros for travels from Zurich to Munich.
But there are no ticket offices of German Rail at Zurich HB or Zurich airport station - just Swiss Rail (SBB), obviously.
So if you want to have a chance to change your saver fare ticket for a fully flexible ticket in case you miss the booked connection, I'd check the terms with SBB, and buy the ticket from SBB.
You CAN buy tickets from German Rail (bahn.com) in Euros for travels from Zurich to Munich.
But there are no ticket offices of German Rail at Zurich HB or Zurich airport station - just Swiss Rail (SBB), obviously.
So if you want to have a chance to change your saver fare ticket for a fully flexible ticket in case you miss the booked connection, I'd check the terms with SBB, and buy the ticket from SBB.
Jan 22nd, 2016, 03:50 PM
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"The discussion about refunds or no refunds by German Rail is somewhat futile as OP starts his journey at Zurich airport..."
From the airport, DB's saver fares for IC bus journeys to Munich are available from Zurich airport as well as from Zurich (from the airport, these journeys involve a connecting train ride into Zurich first, however.) DB saver fares for train travel are available from Zurich airport to Munich; the EC trains that leave Zurich stop at the airport.
My understanding is that refunds for DB saver fare tickets purchased online do not require personal service at a DB counter; they can be refunded online for €17.50 up to and including the day of travel. It may not be convenient to buy and print the new flex fare from DB at that point, however, unless you are able to buy a "Handy Ticket" (phone) and you may need to hit the SBB office at that point.
However, DB isn't the only source and it's certainly a good idea to look into SBB fares as well.
From the airport, DB's saver fares for IC bus journeys to Munich are available from Zurich airport as well as from Zurich (from the airport, these journeys involve a connecting train ride into Zurich first, however.) DB saver fares for train travel are available from Zurich airport to Munich; the EC trains that leave Zurich stop at the airport.
My understanding is that refunds for DB saver fare tickets purchased online do not require personal service at a DB counter; they can be refunded online for €17.50 up to and including the day of travel. It may not be convenient to buy and print the new flex fare from DB at that point, however, unless you are able to buy a "Handy Ticket" (phone) and you may need to hit the SBB office at that point.
However, DB isn't the only source and it's certainly a good idea to look into SBB fares as well.
Jan 22nd, 2016, 09:14 PM
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Actually, I was making a wrong assumption.
I was somehow obsessed with the idea that you needed a staffed desk at Zurich airport to cancel the saver fare ticket - which is obviously nonsense if you bought it online.
You will have to cancel the online/mobile ticket online as well - so OP would need some connectivity at Zurich airport if he missed the train for which his saver fare tickets are booked.
So your calculation above is valid.
Sorry about causing the confusion.
I was somehow obsessed with the idea that you needed a staffed desk at Zurich airport to cancel the saver fare ticket - which is obviously nonsense if you bought it online.
You will have to cancel the online/mobile ticket online as well - so OP would need some connectivity at Zurich airport if he missed the train for which his saver fare tickets are booked.
So your calculation above is valid.
Sorry about causing the confusion.
Jan 23rd, 2016, 07:57 AM
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It's all VERY confusing! Be sure of your time and leave lots of fudge time - maybe poke around Zurich a bit if have time to while away - Bahnhofstrasse leads right out of the Zurich Hbf and is often called the world's most expensive shopping street - also lined by fancy HQs of large Swiss banks if wanting to launder moneys.
Jan 23rd, 2016, 10:58 AM
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<no-refunds no-changes-> (ManSeat61)
Actually when I said that before a German rail expert said there was a 15 euro refund fee - hefty when compared to the cheapest possible ticket.>
That was your Doppleganger who said that
Actually when I said that before a German rail expert said there was a 15 euro refund fee - hefty when compared to the cheapest possible ticket.>
That was your Doppleganger who said that
Jan 23rd, 2016, 11:01 AM
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got posted by mistake before finishing - your Doppleganger said that and he was also an expert - just to explain where I got that from. I think it fair to say about refunds of saver fares - yes you can a lot of your discounted fare applied to the full fare price - but if miss that specific train your discounted ticket is only valid on you end up paying big bucks no matter how you figure it.
so when flying you must like Fussganger says leave 4-5 hours or end up paying big bucks to change to another train.
caveat emptor!
so when flying you must like Fussganger says leave 4-5 hours or end up paying big bucks to change to another train.
caveat emptor!
Jan 24th, 2016, 08:44 AM
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I suppose that IC bus is nice but I've never seen a probably packed bus as nice as a roomy train where you can get up easily to go to the loo, stretch feet, go to snack bar car, etc. But 19 euros is a steal if the train fare is much more - but if 29 euro or so I'd be hopping the train!
