Zürich - a key European rail hub (photo © Sborisov / dreamstime.com).

17th edition: Exploring the Rhine Valley (Route 9)

Exploring the River Rhine by train

Route introduction

This is one of Europe’s classic rail journeys, as the route south from Cologne hugs the River Rhine and then, once past Koblenz, follows the dramatic Rhine Gorge upstream. Moving over the imperceptible divide from northern into southern Germany, we leave the Rhine Valley and continue through the Black Forest into Switzerland. Once in Switzerland, at Schaffhausen, our route takes in one of Europe’s most celebrated waterfalls en route to our final destination in Zurich.

Countries covered
Germany Switzerland

MAP Double click on the map (or double tap on mobile) to zoom in. You can connect onto other routes in places shown in red. Change to a layer showing a more familiar road map view by clicking on the menu at the top right of the map. Get back to the original view by clicking on the house icon shown in the top left menu on the map.

Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide

Whether you are making a long grand tour or just planning a couple of weekend breaks, Europe by Rail is the perfect guide. The book describes 50 key routes in detail. Together, they span mainland Europe and the British Isles. Find out more about the guidebook below.

The 18th edition of the definitive guide to exploring Europe by rail will be published on 24 October 2024. With tips on ticketing, fares and accommodation, Europe by Rail has become the definitive guide to exploring Europe by train. Read here the book's word of welcome.
Europe by Rail contains all that's necessary to plan your rail journey through Europe: 50 route descriptions, a country gazetteer, rail connections, information on Eurail and Interrail passes and more.
The 18th edition of Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide will be published on 24 October 2024. Here, we list a few places which have regularly stocked the 17th edition.