The cheapest and fastest trains from Zurich to Basel
Cheapest price
£18
Average price
£32
Fastest journey
52 m
Average duration
52 m
Trains per day
71
Distance
76 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Zurich to Basel is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Zurich to Basel will cost around £32 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £18.
Of the 71 trains that leave Zurich for Basel every day 31 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct trains cover the 76 km distance in an average of 52 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 52 m .
The slowest trains will take 53 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.
IR 36 2064 | 2064
IR 36 2082 | 2082
IR 36 1962 | 1962
IR 35 2354 | 2354 · IC 61 956 | 956
IR 36 2064 | 2064
IC 3 556 | 556
IC 3 560 | 560
TGV 9234 | 9234
IC 3 558 | 558
ICE 272 | 272Travel Information
Compare train and coach 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 coach with prices starting from £8. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 1h 0m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.0 - 0.1kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £8, and a train costs an average of £17.
Distance: 76 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Coach |
|---|---|
£28 Average Price | £10 Average Price Cheapest |
1h 30m Average total duration Fastest 1h 0m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 48m Average total duration 1h 18m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
Zurich to Basel train times
The table below shows live departures for Zurich to Basel trains for today, Sunday 14 December. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9218+ 96121 | On time 10:34 Zurich HB | 2h11 | 12:45 Basel St. Johann | 1 change | |
9218+ 96121 | On time 10:34 Zurich HB | 2h16 | 12:50 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
9222+ 96125 | On time 12:34 Zurich HB | 2h11 | 14:45 Basel St. Johann | 1 change | |
9222+ 96125 | On time 12:34 Zurich HB | 2h16 | 14:50 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
9226+ 96137 | On time 14:34 Zurich HB | 3h11 | 17:45 Basel St. Johann | 1 change | |
9226+ 96227 | On time 14:34 Zurich HB | 2h04 | 16:38 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
9234+ 96247 | On time 17:34 Zurich HB | 2h04 | 19:38 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
| Monday 15 December | |||||
S 14 19416 | 19416 · IC 1 704 | 704 · IR 27 2456 | 2456 | 04:07 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h37 | 05:44 Basel SBB | 2 changes | |
S 9 18919 | 18919 · IC 3 758 | 758 | 04:46 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h06 | 05:52 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
S 5 18519 | 18519 · IC 3 758 | 758 | 04:46 Zurich Altstetten | 1h06 | 05:52 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
IR 35 2354 | 2354 · IC 61 956 | 956 | 04:59 Zurich Altstetten | 1h01 | 06:00 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
IR 36 2058 | 2058 | 05:02 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h28 | 06:30 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 37 2254 | 2254 | 05:08 Zurich HB | 1h08 | 06:16 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 36 2058 | 2058 | 05:10 Zurich HB | 1h20 | 06:30 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 36 2058 | 2058 | 05:15 Zurich Altstetten | 1h15 | 06:30 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
S 5 18521 | 18521 · IC 3 556 | 556 | 05:16 Zurich Altstetten | 1h10 | 06:26 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
S 9 18921 | 18921 · IC 3 556 | 556 | 05:16 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h10 | 06:26 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
IC 3 556 | 556 | 05:34 Zurich HB | 0h52 | 06:26 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 36 1958 | 1958 | 05:36 Zurich HB | 1h16 | 06:52 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
S 9 18923 | 18923 · TGV 9206 | 9206 | 05:46 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h06 | 06:52 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
S 5 18523 | 18523 · TGV 9206 | 9206 | 05:46 Zurich Altstetten | 1h06 | 06:52 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
S 6 18623 | 18623 · IR 37 2256 | 2256 | 05:51 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h25 | 07:16 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
TGV 9206 | 9206 | 05:59 Zurich HB | 0h53 | 06:52 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 35 2356 | 2356 · ICE 374 | 374 | 05:59 Zurich Altstetten | 1h01 | 07:00 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
9206+ 96115 | On time 05:59 Zurich HB | 2h46 | 08:45 Basel St. Johann | 1 change | |
9206+ 96211 | On time 05:59 Zurich HB | 2h39 | 08:38 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
IR 36 2060 | 2060 | 06:02 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h21 | 07:23 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 37 2256 | 2256 | 06:08 Zurich HB | 1h08 | 07:16 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 36 2060 | 2060 | 06:10 Zurich HB | 1h13 | 07:23 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 36 2060 | 2060 | 06:15 Zurich Altstetten | 1h08 | 07:23 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
S 9 18925 | 18925 · IC 3 558 | 558 | 06:16 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h10 | 07:26 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
S 5 18525 | 18525 · IC 3 558 | 558 | 06:16 Zurich Altstetten | 1h10 | 07:26 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
IC 3 558 | 558 | 06:34 Zurich HB | 0h52 | 07:26 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 36 1960 | 1960 | 06:36 Zurich HB | 1h16 | 07:52 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
S 5 18527 | 18527 · ICE 200 | 200 | 06:46 Zurich Altstetten | 1h06 | 07:52 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
S 9 18927 | 18927 · ICE 200 | 200 | 06:46 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h06 | 07:52 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
S 6 18627 | 18627 · IR 37 2258 | 2258 | 06:51 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h25 | 08:16 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
ICE 200 | 200 | 06:59 Zurich HB | 0h53 | 07:52 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 35 2358 | 2358 · IC 6 960 | 960 | 06:59 Zurich Altstetten | 1h01 | 08:00 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
IR 36 2062 | 2062 | 07:02 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h21 | 08:23 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 37 2258 | 2258 | 07:08 Zurich HB | 1h08 | 08:16 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 36 2062 | 2062 | 07:10 Zurich HB | 1h13 | 08:23 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 36 2062 | 2062 | 07:15 Zurich Altstetten | 1h08 | 08:23 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
S 9 18929 | 18929 · IC 3 560 | 560 | 07:16 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h10 | 08:26 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
S 5 18529 | 18529 · IC 3 560 | 560 | 07:16 Zurich Altstetten | 1h10 | 08:26 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
IC 3 560 | 560 | 07:34 Zurich HB | 0h52 | 08:26 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 36 1962 | 1962 | 07:36 Zurich HB | 1h16 | 08:52 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 13 3258 | 3258 · IC 3 794 | 794 | 07:45 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h07 | 08:52 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
S 5 18531 | 18531 · IC 3 794 | 794 | 07:46 Zurich Altstetten | 1h06 | 08:52 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
S 6 18631 | 18631 · IR 37 2260 | 2260 | 07:51 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h25 | 09:16 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
IC 3 794 | 794 | 07:59 Zurich HB | 0h53 | 08:52 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 35 2360 | 2360 · ICE 372 | 372 | 07:59 Zurich Altstetten | 1h01 | 09:00 Basel SBB | 1 change | |
IR 36 2064 | 2064 | 08:02 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h21 | 09:23 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 36 2064 | 2064 | 08:15 Zurich Altstetten | 1h08 | 09:23 Basel SBB | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
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Journey information
Overview: Train from Zurich to Basel
Trains from Zurich to Basel run on average 22 times per day, taking around 1h 0m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £17 but you can travel from only £8 by coach.
There are 9 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:01, the last at 23:56. The fastest train covers the 76 km distance in 54m.
Distance 76 km |
Average train duration 1h 0m |
Cheapest ticket price £17 |
Trains per day 22 |
Direct trains 9 |
Fastest train 54m |
First train 00:01 |
Last train 23:56 |
Train companies: SBB, SNCF | TGV Lyria, Swiss Railways (SBB/CFF/FFS), Südostbahn from Zurich to Basel trainsSBB, SNCF | TGV Lyria, Swiss Railways (SBB/CFF/FFS), Südostbahn trains will get you between Zurich and Basel from £8. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
SBB
SNCF | TGV Lyria
Swiss Railways (SBB/CFF/FFS)
Südostbahn
Trains from Zurich to Basel
There are frequent daily direct trains from Zurich to Basel, with most services taking around one hour and 20 minutes. Direct trains make the trip west to Basel from Zurich Oerlikon station and Zurich central station roughly three times every hour from the early morning to late evening. Some additional indirect services require a change at Olten.
Zurich to Basel train time: daily departures
The daily timetable offers frequent direct trains to Basel from Zurich seven days a week. Hourly direct services originate at Zurich Oerlikon station, while three to four trains an hour start from the central station in Zurich. Some indirect services in the evening require a change at Olten. Schedules offer departures from very early in the morning throughout the day and evening until just before midnight.
How long is the journey by train from Zurich to Basel?
The fastest train from Zurich to Basel completes the 54-mile trip west in one hour and seven minutes. Most direct and indirect connections take between one hour and 19 minutes and one hour 31 minutes. Due to the frequency of services on this line, connections between trains on indirect journeys are usually very short.
What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Zurich to Basel?
Departure station: Zurich Oerlikon station is located about two miles north of the city centre, connected by buses and local trains taking around 15-20 minutes. The central Zurich station is located in the heart of Zurich. Both stations have luggage storage facilities, coffee-bars, food mini-markets, newsagents, cash points and WiFi.
Arrival station: Basel station is situated on the south-east side of the city, about 20 minutes' walk from the centre, with numerous local tram connections and S-Bahn trains making the trip downtown in about 10 minutes. Station facilities include cafes, bakeries, a food supermarket, car rental desks and luggage storage lockers.
Which train companies travel from Zurich to Basel?
Swiss Federal Railways, abbreviated to SBB in German, CFF in French, and FFS in Italian, operates all the direct and indirect trains on this route from Zurich to Basel. SBB services on this route include InterCity express trains, Interregional local services, and some international express departures en route to German destinations.
Swiss Federal Railways: Zurich to Basel
Swiss Federal Railways trains from Zurich to Basel are mostly a mix of InterRegional and InterCity services but also include some ICE or EC international departures. Schedules offer a frequent direct service from early morning to late at night, with three to four trains an hour to Basel throughout the day and evening. Timings for the journey range from one hour and seven minutes to one hour 31 minutes.
Zurich to Basel trains: services on board
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) operates InterCity and InterRegional trains from Zurich to Basel with a choice of first or second-class seating. InterCity trains have a cafe-bistro and a family zone. SBB trains have low-floor access for wheelchair users and dedicated wheelchair spaces. Cyclists can take their bike on board but must purchase a bike ticket. Dogs can travel with their owners for the cost of half the second-class fare. Small pets in carriers travel for free. For passengers with a lot of luggage there is a door-to-door or station-to-station check-in service for a small charge.
How to find cheap train tickets from Zurich to Basel
As this route to Basel is one of the most popular journeys within Switzerland, it is advisable to book in advance if timing is crucial. The frequency of services between the two cities does mean that if the traveller is willing to be a little flexible about departure times, it is usually easy to find the best-priced tickets. Tickets for InterRegional services are usually the most economical option.
FAQs: Zurich to Basel train
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Zurich to Basel 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 Basel, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Important Stations and Airports in Zurich and Basel
- 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- Parking is available 24/7 with access from the main road.
- Restaurant Markthalle
- Restaurant LaSalle
- Outside the main entrance.
- Elevators.
- CHF 1
- Placid Hotel Zurich
- Best Western Hotel Spirgarten
- H+ Hotel Zürich
- Located in the main hall
- 240 places, covered
- Europcar
- Hertz
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, platforms 1-5 for S-Bahn and regional trains
- Hall 2: ticket office and waiting area
- S-Bahn: Lines S3, S9, S12, S15
- Tram: Line 4
- Bus: Several lines available
- 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- The car park is open 7 days a week. Access is available from Mühlebachstrasse.
- Outback Lodge
- Tibits
- Outside the main entrance.
- Ramps, restrooms.
- CHF 2
- Hotel Opera Zurich
- Small Luxury Hotel Ambassador Zurich
- Hotel Seehof
- Located in the main hall
- 1000 places, covered
- Europcar
- Hertz
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, platform 1-3 for S-Bahn trains
- Hall 2: platform 4 for regional trains
- Tram: Line 11, Line 15
- Bus: Several lines available
- S-Bahn: Lines S3, S5, S6, S7, S9, S12, S16
- 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- The car park is open 7 days a week. Access via Schwarzwaldallee.
- Restaurant Les Gareçons
- Restaurant Bahn Kantine
- Outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps, restrooms.
- CHF 1
- Hotel Alexander
- Hotel Wettstein
- Hotel Balade
- Located in the main hall
- 330 places, covered
- Avis
- Europcar
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, platforms 1-4 for trains to Germany
- Hall 2: platforms 5-8 for regional trains within Switzerland
- Tram: Line 2, Line 6
- Bus: Several lines available
- 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- The car park is open 7 days a week, accessible via Centralbahnstrasse.
- Restaurant Da Roberto
- Brasserie Bahnhof Basel
- Outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps, restrooms.
- CHF 2
- Hotel Victoria
- Hotel Schweizerhof Basel
- GAIA Hotel
- Located in the main hall
- Located in the main hall
- 800 places, covered
- Avis
- Europcar
- Hertz
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, platform 1-5 for Swiss domestic trains
- Hall 2: platform 6-10 for international trains
- Hall 3: shopping and services area
- Tram: Line 1, Line 2, Line 8, Line 10, Line 11
- Bus: Several lines available
Most popular train connections from Zurich
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