Zurich to Stein am Rhein Train: All You Need To Know

(Last Updated On: September 20, 2023)

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With its beautiful old town, little shops, an abbey, and a castle, Stein am Rhein is one of Switzerland’s best well-preserved medieval towns. If you’re planning a trip from Zurich to Stein am Rhein by train, you’ll find all the info you need here.

Image of Stein am Rhein by TouringSwitzerland.com

Logistical concerns come up inevitably. Particularly for those who want to travel by rail in Switzerland, there are several specifics concerning train travel. What is the best way to get from point A to point B? Does it offer scenic views? So on and so forth.

This article will answer all your questions about the train journey from Zurich to Stein am Rhein

Overview: Navigating Swiss Trains

You can start by visiting the SBB website: www.sbb.ch. Using the website, you can type in your departure and arrival destinations. It will then guide you to where and when you need to be. An app is also available for iOS and Android devices.

If you wish to pay half the fare for all your train rides in Switzerland, a Half Fare Discount Card (1-month validity) is available on www.sbb.ch. This allows you to travel for half the price on all SBB routes and most other railways during the duration of your discount card.

Using the Swiss Pass, you get unlimited travel by train, bus, and boat in Switzerland. Over 500 museums are also free or discounted, and there are free or discounted excursions to mountain summits.

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Getting tickets from RailEurope is a convenient option if you’re traveling within Europe and/or visiting multiple countries. Having been in operation since the 1930s, RailEurope‘s extensive history, user-friendly website and mobile apps, flexible currency payment options, commitment to customer satisfaction, and strategic partnerships with leading rail operators, collectively establish it as a reliable and trustworthy platform for booking European train travel.

You can obtain from RailEurope the following travel passes:

  • Swiss Travel Pass – choose between continuous or flexible Swiss train passes for 3, 4, 8, or 15 days. The perks? unlimited use in over 90 Swiss cities, free admission to more than 500 museums, and discounts on mountain railways and cable cars. You also get discounts on high-speed Lyria trains between France and Switzerland as well as Nightjet trains that go through Switzerland. See RailEurope for more information.
  • Eurail Global Pass – unlimited train travel to 40,000 destinations in 33 European countries for non-EU residents
  • Interrail Global Pass – access to 40,000 destinations in 33 European countries for citizens and permanent residents of the EU

How To Get From Zurich to Stein am Rhein

Zurich Train Station
Image of Zurich Train Station by TouringSwitzerland.com

How To Get From Zurich Airport to Stein am Rhein

There are three ways to get from Zurich Airport to Stein am Rhein. These are:

  • Option 1: Take the Intercity Train to Frauenfeld. Once you arrive in Frauenfeld, transfer to the bus that heads to Stein am Rhein.
  • Option 2: Take the Interregio Train to Winterthur. Once you arrive in Winterthur, transfer to the regional train that heads to Stein am Rhein.
  • Option 3: Take the train to Schaffhausen. Once you arrive in Schaffhausen, transfer to the regional train that heads to Stein am Rhein.

How To Get From Zurich Train Station to Stein am Rhein

Image of Stein am Rhein by TouringSwitzerland.com

There are two ways to get from Zurich Train Station to Stein am Rhein. These are:

  • Option 1: Take the train to Schaffhausen. Once you arrive in Schaffhausen, transfer to the regional train that heads to Stein am Rhein.
  • Option 2: Take the train to Winterthur. Once you arrive in Winterthur, transfer to the regional train that heads to Stein am Rhein.

How Long Is the Train Ride From Zurich to Stein am Rhein?

The following table shows the train ride duration from Zurich to Stein am Rhein and the other way around (updated September 2023):

RouteDuration (fastest)
Zurich – Stein am Rhein1 hour 5 minutes
Zurich Airport – Stein am Rhein59 minutes
Stein am Rhein – Zurich1 hour 7 minutes
Stein am Rhein – Zurich Airport1 hour 1 minute
Duration of the Train Ride between Zurich and Stein am Rhein

Is the Train From Zurich to Stein am Rhein Scenic?

Unfortunately, the Interregio train from Zurich to Stein am Rhein is not the most scenic train route. These are mostly slow trains that will bring you from one city to another while passing by residential areas. If you would like to ride other scenic trains, we have listed a couple of examples below.

Other Scenic Trains

In case you would like to check out other scenic trains, then there are more scenic trains recommended below. These are the Golden Pass Linethe Glacier Expressand the Bernina Express. Another interesting train is the Historical Train that goes from Davos to Filisur.

The Bernina Express train in Bernina Pass
Image of Bernina Pass and Bernina Express by Erich Westendarp from Pixabay

Your other options in detail are the following:

  • Golden Pass – The Golden Pass departs from Lucerne. You would take a train from Zurich to Lucerne, then change to Interlaken. This is sometimes referred to as the east end of this route. The Golden Pass has panorama coaches and is scenic.
  • Glacier Express – Glacier Express is a long journey that starts from Zermatt, home of Matterhorn. It then traverses 291 bridges and 91 tunnels before stopping in St. Moritz. Both Zermatt and St. Moritz are beautiful mountain resorts worthy of a longer stay. The Glacier Express passes by several idyllic mountain villages.
  • Bernina Express – Bernina Express is another train route that begins in Chur. Chur is the oldest alpine city in Switzerland and definitely worth visiting. This train route spans 196 bridges. It goes through 55 tunnels and passes 20 beautiful villages in Switzerland. For you to go on this scenic train, you will have to go from Zurich to Chur first.
  • Historical Train Davos to Filisur – May through October, vintage carriages are pulled by the century-old crocodile locomotive from Davos Platz to Filisur. The train line covers a total length of 4,200 meters through 14 tunnels and 28 bridges. Its scenic highlights include the Wiesen Viaduct and the Zügen Gorge.

How Much Will the Train Ticket From Zurich to Stein am Rhein Cost?

Here are the train ticket prices from Zurich to Stein am Rhein (updated September 2023):

RouteFull Fare (CHF)Half Fare (CHF)
Zurich – Stein am Rhein25.4012.70
Zurich Airport – Stein am Rhein20.4010.20

Do You Need a Seat Reservation on the Train?

No, there is no need to reserve a spot on the train. But you can always add this option if that is your wish.


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Darla Uhl is the owner of TouringSwitzerland.com. She is based in the Lake Zurich region in Switzerland and has a second home in Grisons. Having lived almost 20 years in Switzerland, she's traveled extensively all over the country.

Darla's favorite regions to visit in Switzerland include Engadin, Lake Geneva, Bernese Oberland, Ticino, and Valais. She loves spending time with her family, hiking, visiting museums, and reading books.