How to travel from Zurich to Basel

Fri, Sep 04
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SNCF | TGV Lyria
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SNCF | TGV Lyria
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Trenitalia EuroCity
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Travel Information

Compare train and bus for Zurich to Basel

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Zurich to Basel among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $11 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 1h 34m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.0 - 0.1kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $11, while a train costs an average of $31.

Distance: 47 miles (76 km)

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Bus

$31

Average price

$11

Average price

Cheapest

1h 34m

Average total duration

Fastest

1h 4m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

1h 44m

Average total duration

1h 14m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

0.0 - 0.1kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

0.1 - 0.2kg

CO2 emissions

SBB

Most popular train company

BlaBlaCar

Most popular bus company

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

Travel options
from Zurich to Basel

How to get from Zurich to Basel by train, bus or flight.

Our recommendation

train

The best way to travel from Zurich to Basel is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

  • SBBS 12 19280 | 19280 · IR 36 1988 | 1988
    9:20 PM1h32
    Zurich Altstetten
    10:52 PMBasel SBB
    $261One-way
    1 transfer

Cheapest

  • SBBS 12 19280 | 19280 · IR 36 1988 | 1988
    9:20 PM1h32
    Zurich Altstetten
    10:52 PMBasel SBB
    $261One-way
    1 transfer

Fastest

  • SBBIC 3 584 | 584
    8:34 PM0h52
    Zurich HB
    9:26 PMBasel SBB
    $301One-way
    0 transfers

Other options

  • SBBIR 37 2286 | 2286
    10:08 PM1h08
    Zurich HB
    11:16 PMBasel SBB
    $261One-way
    0 transfers
  • SBBIR 36 2088 | 2088
    9:15 PM1h08
    Zurich Altstetten
    10:23 PMBasel SBB
    $261One-way
    0 transfers
  • SBBIR 36 2064 | 2064
    9:15 AM1h08
    Zurich Altstetten
    10:23 AMBasel SBB
    $271One-way
    0 transfers

Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .

Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights

Compare train and bus 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.

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Travel from Zurich to Basel: Journey Details

If you want to travel from Zurich to Basel, flying is out of the question. These two Swiss cities are a short distance apart, and there are no scheduled flights. Instead, you can take an express train straight to the heart of Basel or take an affordable bus via Basel EuroAirport. Either way, you will be at your destination in less than 2 hours, making Basel a great day trip destination if you are staying in Zurich.

Return trips from Basel to Zurich are also available.

How to get from Zürich to Basel

The Best Way According to our Users

Whether it is for business or leisure, in order to travel from Zürich to Basel, 100,00% of our customers choose the train as their preferred mode of transportation. By traveling by train on this route, you can enjoy the comfort of spacious seats, spectacular views—and in some cases free Wi-Fi—in both second and first class. Our customers have decided that the train is the best way to get from Zürich to Basel and have chosen to enjoy this fast, safe and efficient way to arrive at their destination. Taking the train also avoids long lines or potential expenses for transfers to/from the station—especially since most main railway stations are located in the city center. Train companies in Europe vary from country to country, but most of them offer high-speed train routes, therefore when you add up at the end-to-end journey time, the train is often also the fastest way to get to your destination.

Search on Omio to find cheap tickets from Zürich to Basel. It’s easy to find the most attractive prices and choose your preferred route for your journey. Book on web or app, and travel with your mobile ticket —without the stress of printing your ticket.


More than 1,000 travel companies trust us to sell their tickets all in one place.

Trenitalia
Easyjet
Deutsche Bahn
SNCF

FAQs: Travel from Zurich to Basel

Travel to Basel easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Zurich to Basel.

FAQs
There are 2 options to travel between Zurich and Basel including taking a train and bus.
The cheapest way to travel from Zurich to Basel is a bus with an average price of $11 (€9).

This is compared to other travel options from Zurich to Basel:

A bus is $20 (€16) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Zurich to Basel costing on average $31 (€25).

The fastest way to travel from Zurich to Basel is by train with an average journey time of 1h 34m.

Other travel options to Basel take longer:

Bus takes on average 1h 44m.

The distance from Zurich to Basel is approximately 47 miles (76 km).
The average frequency per day from Zurich to Basel is:
  • Around 35 trains per day.
  • Around 3 buses per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Zurich and Basel as scheduled services by train and bus can vary by season or day of the week.

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Zurich to Basel:
  • Trains mostly depart from Zurich HB and arrive in Basel SBB.
  • Buses mostly depart from Zürich, Sihlquai Bus Terminal (Carparkplatz Sihlquai) and arrive in Saint-Louis, EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg.
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Zurich to Basel, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with BlaBlaCar, BlaBlaCar Bus, Gruppo Di Maio to go to Basel by bus.
  • Travel with SBB, SNCF | TGV Lyria, Trenitalia EuroCity, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS) to go to Basel by train.
Yes, there are direct services available from Zurich to Basel with the following travel companies:
  • 3 direct buses per day with BlaBlaCar, BlaBlaCar Bus, Gruppo Di Maio.
  • 13 direct trains per day with SBB, Trenitalia EuroCity, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS).
Omio customers who travel from Zurich to Basel often also extend their vacation to go to Paris, Strasbourg, Colmar, Milan, Amsterdam. Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Basel and these popular destinations at a great price.
Most travelers need at least three days in Basel to see the main sights at a comfortable pace. If you want day trips or a slower itinerary, consider adding extra time.
In Basel, you can visit the Tinguely Museum to see kinetic sculptures by Jean Tinguely, enjoy a scenic Rhine River Cruise, and explore the charming Old Town with its medieval buildings and vibrant markets. Art enthusiasts can visit the Fondation Beyeler for modern and tribal art or attend Art Basel for contemporary artworks. Notable sights include the Gothic Basel Minster, the Kunstmuseum Basel, the playful Tinguely Fountain, Basel Zoo, and the historically significant Rathaus Basel with its red sandstone facade.
Two to three days are sufficient to explore Basel's key attractions, including its museums, old town, and the Rhine River.

Travelling from Zurich to Basel: related information

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

Return journeys from Basel to Zurich
Buses from Zurich to Basel
Trains from Zurich to Basel
Flights from Zurich to Basel
Travelling to Zurich: related information
Travelling to Basel: related information
HomeTravelTravel to SwitzerlandTravel to BaselHow to travel from Zurich to Basel

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