- Must visit
MASI Lugano - LAC
Lugano’s leading art museum inside the LAC cultural center, with modern and contemporary exhibitions and a strong program of temporary shows.
Cheapest price
$132
Average price
$133
Fastest journey
2 h 59 m
Average duration
3 h 1 m
Trains per day
44
Distance
202 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Basel to Lugano is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Basel to Lugano will cost around $133 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $132.
Of the 44 trains that leave Basel for Lugano on Fri, Jun 19, 1 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Fri, Jun 19 the direct trains cover the 202 km distance in an average of 3 h 1 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 2 h 59 m .
On Fri, Jun 19 the slowest trains will take 3 h 5 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
IC 6 963 | 963 · IC 21 667 | 667
IC 61 965 | 965 · IR 26 2319 | 2319 · IC 2 869 | 869
IR 37 2265 | 2265 · IC 2 869 | 869
IC 3 563 | 563 · EC 15 | 15
IR 36 1965 | 1965 · EC 153 | 153
IC 3 563 | 563 · EC 15 | 15
IC 3 559 | 559 · EC 13 | 13
IC 3 561 | 561 · EC 31 | 31
IC 6 963 | 963 · IC 21 667 | 667
IC 61 965 | 965 · IR 26 2319 | 2319 · IC 2 869 | 869Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Basel to Lugano among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $37. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 3h 3m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.2kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $37, and a flight costs an average of $87.
Distance: 125 miles (202 km)
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$107 Average price | $53 Average price Cheapest | $424 Average price | $113 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 33m Average total duration Fastest 3h 3m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 34m Average total duration 4h 4m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 13h 1m Average total duration 10h 1m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 3h 18m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.2 - 0.5kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Basel to Lugano:
A bus is $54 (€44) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Basel to Lugano costing on average $107 (€88).
A bus is $370 (€304) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Basel to Lugano costing on average $424 (€347).
Other travel options to Lugano take longer:
Bus takes on average 4h 4m.
Flight takes on average 10h 1m.
The journey is about 15m faster (3h 3m by train vs 3h 18m by car) and roughly $5 (€4) cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls ($107 (€88) vs $113 (€92)). You'll also arrive in the city centre rather than hunting for parking, and you can work, read, or watch the landscape go by instead of concentrating on the road.
Direct services run with SBB, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS).
Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Basel to Lugano trains for tomorrow, Friday, June 19. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IC 3 559 | 559 · EC 13 | 13 | 6:29 AM Basel SBB | 2h59 | 9:28 AM Lugano, Stazione | 1 transfer | |
IC 3 559 | 559 · EC 13 | 13 · B 5 5087 | 5087 | 6:29 AM Basel SBB | 3h10 | 9:39 AM Lugano | 2 transfers | |
IC 6 959 | 959 · IC 21 663 | 663 | 6:53 AM Basel SBB | 3h05 | 9:58 AM Lugano, Stazione | 1 transfer | |
IC 6 959 | 959 · IC 21 663 | 663 · B 5 5099 | 5099 | 6:53 AM Basel SBB | 3h16 | 10:09 AM Lugano | 2 transfers | |
IC 3 561 | 561 · EC 31 | 31 | 7:29 AM Basel SBB | 2h59 | 10:28 AM Lugano, Stazione | 1 transfer | |
IC 3 561 | 561 · EC 31 | 31 · B 5 5111 | 5111 | 7:29 AM Basel SBB | 3h10 | 10:39 AM Lugano | 2 transfers | |
IR 37 2261 | 2261 · IC 2 865 | 865 | 7:43 AM Basel SBB | 3h15 | 10:58 AM Lugano, Stazione | 1 transfer | |
IR 37 2261 | 2261 · IC 2 865 | 865 · B 5 5123 | 5123 | 7:43 AM Basel SBB | 3h26 | 11:09 AM Lugano | 2 transfers | |
ICE 271 | 271 · IR 26 2315 | 2315 · IC 2 865 | 865 | 7:53 AM Basel SBB | 3h05 | 10:58 AM Lugano, Stazione | 2 transfers | |
ICE 271 | 271 · IR 26 2315 | 2315 · IC 2 865 | 865 · B 5 5123 | 5123 | 7:53 AM Basel SBB | 3h16 | 11:09 AM Lugano | 3 transfers | |
IC 3 563 | 563 · EC 15 | 15 | 8:29 AM Basel SBB | 2h59 | 11:28 AM Lugano, Stazione | 1 transfer | |
IC 3 563 | 563 · EC 15 | 15 · B 5 5135 | 5135 | 8:29 AM Basel SBB | 3h10 | 11:39 AM Lugano | 2 transfers | |
IC 6 963 | 963 · IC 21 667 | 667 | 8:53 AM Basel SBB | 3h05 | 11:58 AM Lugano, Stazione | 1 transfer | |
IC 6 963 | 963 · IC 21 667 | 667 · B 5 5147 | 5147 | 8:53 AM Basel SBB | 3h16 | 12:09 PM Lugano | 2 transfers | |
IR 36 1965 | 1965 · EC 153 | 153 | 9:07 AM Basel SBB | 3h21 | 12:28 PM Lugano, Stazione | 1 transfer | |
IR 36 1965 | 1965 · EC 153 | 153 · B 5 5159 | 5159 | 9:07 AM Basel SBB | 3h32 | 12:39 PM Lugano | 2 transfers | |
IR 27 2465 | 2465+ IR VAE 2021 | 2021+ EC 153 | 153 | 9:13 AM Basel SBB | 3h15 | 12:28 PM Lugano, Stazione | 2 transfers | |
IR 27 2465 | 2465+ IR VAE 2021 | 2021+ EC 153 | 153 · B 5 5159 | 5159 | 9:13 AM Basel SBB | 3h26 | 12:39 PM Lugano | 3 transfers | |
IR 37 2265 | 2265 · IC 2 869 | 869 | 9:43 AM Basel SBB | 3h15 | 12:58 PM Lugano, Stazione | 1 transfer | |
IR 37 2265 | 2265 · IC 2 869 | 869 · B 5 5171 | 5171 | 9:43 AM Basel SBB | 3h26 | 1:09 PM Lugano | 2 transfers | |
IC 61 965 | 965 · IR 26 2319 | 2319 · IC 2 869 | 869 | 9:53 AM Basel SBB | 3h05 | 12:58 PM Lugano, Stazione | 2 transfers | |
IC 61 965 | 965 · IR 26 2319 | 2319 · IC 2 869 | 869 · B 5 5171 | 5171 | 9:53 AM Basel SBB | 3h16 | 1:09 PM Lugano | 3 transfers | |
IR 36 1967 | 1967 · EC 19 | 19 | 10:07 AM Basel SBB | 3h21 | 1:28 PM Lugano, Stazione | 1 transfer | |
IR 36 1967 | 1967 · EC 19 | 19 · B 5 5183 | 5183 | 10:07 AM Basel SBB | 3h32 | 1:39 PM Lugano | 2 transfers | |
IR 27 2467 | 2467+ IR VAE 2023 | 2023+ EC 19 | 19 | 10:13 AM Basel SBB | 3h15 | 1:28 PM Lugano, Stazione | 2 transfers | |
IR 27 2467 | 2467+ IR VAE 2023 | 2023+ EC 19 | 19 · B 5 5183 | 5183 | 10:13 AM Basel SBB | 3h26 | 1:39 PM Lugano | 3 transfers | |
ICE 101 | 101 · IC 21 671 | 671 | 10:53 AM Basel SBB | 3h05 | 1:58 PM Lugano, Stazione | 1 transfer | |
ICE 101 | 101 · IC 21 671 | 671 · B 5 5195 | 5195 | 10:53 AM Basel SBB | 3h16 | 2:09 PM Lugano | 2 transfers | |
EC 151 | 151 | 11:04 AM Basel SBB | 3h24 | 2:28 PM Lugano, Stazione | 0 transfersDirect | |
EC 151 | 151 · B 5 5207 | 5207 | 11:04 AM Basel SBB | 3h35 | 2:39 PM Lugano | 1 transfer | |
IR 36 1969 | 1969 · EC 151 | 151 | 11:07 AM Basel SBB | 3h21 | 2:28 PM Lugano, Stazione | 1 transfer | |
IR 36 1969 | 1969 · EC 151 | 151 · B 5 5207 | 5207 | 11:07 AM Basel SBB | 3h32 | 2:39 PM Lugano | 2 transfers | |
IR 27 2469 | 2469+ IR VAE 2025 | 2025+ EC 151 | 151 | 11:13 AM Basel SBB | 3h15 | 2:28 PM Lugano, Stazione | 2 transfers | |
IR 27 2469 | 2469+ IR VAE 2025 | 2025+ EC 151 | 151 · B 5 5207 | 5207 | 11:13 AM Basel SBB | 3h26 | 2:39 PM Lugano | 3 transfers | |
ICE 277 | 277 · EC 21 | 21 | 12:07 PM Basel SBB | 3h21 | 3:28 PM Lugano, Stazione | 1 transfer | |
ICE 277 | 277 · EC 21 | 21 · B 5 5231 | 5231 | 12:07 PM Basel SBB | 3h32 | 3:39 PM Lugano | 2 transfers | |
IR 27 2471 | 2471+ IR VAE 2027 | 2027+ EC 21 | 21 | 12:13 PM Basel SBB | 3h15 | 3:28 PM Lugano, Stazione | 2 transfers | |
IR 27 2471 | 2471+ IR VAE 2027 | 2027+ EC 21 | 21 · B 5 5231 | 5231 | 12:13 PM Basel SBB | 3h26 | 3:39 PM Lugano | 3 transfers | |
IC 6 971 | 971 · IC 21 675 | 675 | 12:53 PM Basel SBB | 3h05 | 3:58 PM Lugano, Stazione | 1 transfer | |
IC 6 971 | 971 · IC 21 675 | 675 · B 5 5243 | 5243 | 12:53 PM Basel SBB | 3h16 | 4:09 PM Lugano | 2 transfers | |
IR 36 1973 | 1973 · EC 37 | 37 | 1:07 PM Basel SBB | 3h21 | 4:28 PM Lugano, Stazione | 1 transfer | |
IR 36 1973 | 1973 · EC 37 | 37 · B 3 3275 | 3275 | 1:07 PM Basel SBB | 3h33 | 4:40 PM Lugano | 2 transfers | |
IR 27 2473 | 2473+ IR VAE 2029 | 2029+ EC 37 | 37 | 1:13 PM Basel SBB | 3h15 | 4:28 PM Lugano, Stazione | 2 transfers | |
IR 27 2473 | 2473+ IR VAE 2029 | 2029+ EC 37 | 37 · B 3 3275 | 3275 | 1:13 PM Basel SBB | 3h27 | 4:40 PM Lugano | 3 transfers | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare bus, train, and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from Basel to Lugano run on average 12 times per day, taking around 3h 3m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $68 (€56) but you can travel from only $37 (€30) by bus.
There are 2 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:37, the last at 23:05. The fastest train covers the 125 miles (202 km) distance in 2h 54m.
Distance 125 miles (202 km) |
Average train duration 3h 3m |
Cheapest ticket price $68 (€56) |
Trains per day 12 |
Direct trains 2 |
Fastest train 2h 54m |
First train 12:37 AM |
Last train 11:05 PM |
Cheapest Month Nov |
Cheapest Day Sun |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Wed |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Best time to book 35 days |
Discover the best of Lugano — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Lugano trip today.
Lugano’s leading art museum inside the LAC cultural center, with modern and contemporary exhibitions and a strong program of temporary shows.
Historic branch of MASI in the old town, hosting rotating exhibitions in a palazzo setting close to other central sights.
Museum focused on extra-European art and ethnographic collections, especially known for African, Asian, and Oceanian works in Villa Malpensata.
Lugano’s signature lakeside park, loved for waterfront paths, mature trees, flowerbeds, and classic views over the lake and mountains.
The main square of Lugano, lined with pastel buildings and arcades, central to city life and a natural base for exploring the old town.
The lakeside promenade offers classic city-and-lake views, easy strolling, and some of the most recognizable scenes in Lugano.
A staple in Ticino made from slowly cooked cornmeal, often served creamy or sliced and grilled with cheese, mushrooms, or braised meats.
Creamy risotto prepared in the Lombard-Ticino style, often with local wine, butter, and cheese, reflecting the strong Italian influence of the region.
Slow-braised beef, commonly cooked with red wine, served with polenta. It is a classic hearty Ticinese comfort dish.
An established fine dining restaurant known for refined Italian cuisine, elegant presentation, and a polished atmosphere in central Lugano.
A classic hillside grotto outside the center, appreciated for traditional regional dishes, wine, and a charming old-fashioned ambiance.
A well-known traditional grotto serving Ticinese classics in a relaxed, rustic setting popular with locals and visitors.
Prices are high by European standards, especially for hotels and dining. Budget options exist, but everyday costs are still steep for most travelers.
Service is usually included in prices. Tipping is not required, but rounding up or leaving 5-10% for excellent service is appreciated. Round up taxi fares.
Official public transport app
Lugano Railway Station, Lugano -> Piazza della Riforma, Lugano
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Basel to Lugano by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Lugano, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Basel to Lugano trains use the Basel SBB to Lugano, Stazione station pair, with some services arriving at Lugano-Paradiso. Use this guide to compare Basel and Lugano train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Basel SBB is 1 km from Basel city centre. Public transport options include:
Basel SBB has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental, Information Desk, and Luggage Carts.
Food options include: Restaurant Da Roberto, Brasserie Bahnhof Basel
Free. ATMs are available in the train station.
Ticket office support is available at Basel SBB. Information desks are located in the main hall.
Luggage storage is available at Basel SBB. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Basel SBB: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Basel SBB: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Basel SBB: Elevators, ramps, restrooms.
Nearby hotels include Hotel Victoria, Hotel Schweizerhof Basel, GAIA Hotel.
Basel Bad Bhf is 2 km from Basel city centre. Public transport options include:
Basel Bad Bhf has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Car Rental, Information Desk, and Luggage Carts.
Food options include: Restaurant Les Gareçons, Restaurant Bahn Kantine
Free. ATMs are available in the train station.
Ticket office support is available at Basel Bad Bhf. Information desks are located in the main hall.
Luggage storage is available at Basel Bad Bhf. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Basel Bad Bhf: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Basel Bad Bhf: Bike Parking, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Basel Bad Bhf: Elevators, ramps, restrooms.
Nearby hotels include Hotel Alexander, Hotel Wettstein, Hotel Balade.
Lugano, Stazione has practical services for this route, including Accessibility.
Accessibility facilities are available at Lugano, Stazione.
Lugano-Paradiso is 1 km from Lugano city centre. Public transport options include:
Lugano-Paradiso has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, ATM, WC, Hotel, and Bike Rental.
Food and drink options are available at Lugano-Paradiso.
ATMs are available at Lugano-Paradiso.
Available at Lugano-Paradiso: Parking, WC.
Available at Lugano-Paradiso: Bike Rental.
Lugano Città (funicolare) has practical services for this route, including Accessibility.
Accessibility facilities are available at Lugano Città (funicolare).
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need