As the yuletide season arrives, three Alpine nations—Germany, Austria, and Switzerland—are offering a slew of festive rail travel experiences blending Christmas charm with scenic Germanic journeys. From climate-friendly Weihnachten traditions to gemütlich winter markets and bargain rail tickets, here’s what’s happening across the tracks as German-speaking Europe gears up for the holidays.
Austria: ÖBB Nightjet delivers Christmas cheer to EU parliament
Austrian rail operator ÖBB Nightjet is spreading holiday cheer by delivering its annual Christmas tree to the European Parliament in Brussels. The nearly 4-metre-high sustainable fir tree from Lower Austria was hoisted into a special Nightjet carriage in Vienna and sent on its 1,200**-km** journey from Vienna Central Station to Belgium earlier this week.
ÖBB Nightjet is delivering Christmas cheer to Brussels. © ÖBB
The tradition is 30 years old, but of late, the VIP passenger has been taking advantage of the Nightjet direct connection from Vienna to the EU capital, which launched in 2019. As popular as it is with MEPs and the general public, the route has seen problems this year, with German works putting the service on hiatus for several months. In fact, the night trains to Brussels only started up again earlier in November.
At the time, ÖBB told RailTech that the Nightjet partners—including ÖBB, Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, France’s SNCF, and Belgium’s SNCB—had “consistently expanded the European Nightjet network in recent years,” making the temporary shutdown “all the more regrettable.”
Still, the sleeper service’s reappearance has arrived just in time for the Christmas season. “We are delighted to be the ‘Official Carrier’ for the Christmas tree with our ÖBB Nightjet for the fourth year in a row,” said ÖBB board member Sabine Stock on the company’s Brussels delivery: “this tradition underlines the important role of the railway for a climate-friendly Europe.”
As the company says, Santa Claus may bring the presents, but ÖBB brings the tree.
Switzerland: Scenic train rides to top Christmas markets
SBB has timed its festive rail offers to coincide with its top list of the country’s most picturesque Christmas markets. With RailAway discounts of up to 30 per cent on public transport, travellers can travel to Alpine-adjacent winter fairs and even a third off on a slice of raclette and a mulled wine.
SBB is offering a slow of bonuses via its RailAway offer. © SBB
Visitors riding the rail to winter destinations in Switzerland are indeed spoiled for choice: Zurich’s Christmas Village dazzles with elf workshops and fondue chalets, while Basel spreads its festivities across three sites, including Barfüsserplatz with its iconic Christmas pyramid. Locarno’s Winterland combines crafts, ice skating, and light shows, while Lucerne’s Franciscan Square boasts the largest Advent wreath in Central Switzerland. Each market is just a short walk from a train station, making Swiss Rail the ultimate gateway to a winter wonderland.
Here’s the list of SBB’s top Swiss Christmas markets and the discounts available via the RailAway offer:
Olten Advent Village (Olten): 30 per cent discount on a voucher worth 15 francs, applicable to drinks in the lounge area, Santa Bar, toboggan run, ice rink, or candle-making. Also, 30 per cent discount on round-trip travel to Olten.
Winterthur Christmas Market (Winterthur): No specific discounts mentioned.
Bern Star Market (Bern): No specific discounts mentioned.
Biel Christmas Market (Biel): No specific discounts mentioned.
Zurich Christmas Village (Zurich): 30 per cent discount on a slice of raclette and a mulled wine or non-alcoholic punch. Also, 30 per cent discount on round-trip travel to Zurich, Bellevue.
A popular place to drink mulled wine is Barfüsserplatz in Basel, with its Christmas pyramid. © SBB
Basel Christmas Market (Basel): 30 per cent discount on a “Chäsbängel” (crispy baguette filled with fondue) and a drink of your choice. Also, 30 per cent discount on round-trip travel to Basel, Barfüsserplatz.
Winterland Locarno (Locarno): 30 per cent discount on a 30-franc credit for the Winterland Card, which can be used at various attractions. Also, 30 per cent discount on round-trip travel to Locarno.
Montreux Christmas Market (Montreux): 50 per cent discount on a 2024 souvenir mug, a mulled wine or tea, and a pretzel. Also, 50 per cent discount on round-trip travel to Montreux.
Lucerne Christmas Market (Lucerne): 30 per cent discount on a Lucerne mulled wine or punch, a Tour de l’eau mug, and a slice of Christstollen. Also, 30 per cent discount on round-trip travel to Lucerne.
Lake Constance Christmas Market (Constance): 30 per cent discount on a mulled wine or punch (with a complimentary mug) and a hot dog. Also, 30 per cent discount on round-trip travel to Constance.
Still, not everything is rosy for Swiss rail as we enter the Christmas season. There are major problems with its long-term rail plan due to a funding shortfall of 14 billion francs (€15bn). According to the Swiss state rail agency, much more money will have to go into infrastructure to boost capacity following new SBB planning bases and the decision to end ‘fast curve travel’. And if the funding isn’t met, it may mean major setbacks for what is often considered “Europe’s most reliable railway”. Get the full story here.
Germany: Deutsche Bahn’s super saver yuletide deals
Deutsche Bahn (DB) is inviting holiday travellers to explore Germany’s Christmas destinations with super saver fares starting at 17.99 euros. With its largest ICE fleet ever, DB is offering 410 trains and up to 25 per cent more seating on major routes during the Christmas period running from December 19 through New Year’s.
Highlights include enhanced connections like the new Berlin-Strasbourg-Paris route, launching December 16, and additional direct trains to festive hubs like Munich and Frankfurt. Travellers can book tickets through DB’s Navigator app, which also provides capacity updates and tips for quieter, cheaper travel times. Whether it’s sipping mulled wine in Nuremberg or exploring Berlin’s twinkling markets, DB is getting in on the festive fun.
However, there’s likely to be little Christmas joy for DB’s hopeful private competitor, RegioJet, who tells RailTech that the ‘rigid’ German system is derailing plans for its long-distance expansion between the very yuletide destinations of Berlin and Prague. You can find our full report below.
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