Say "Hai" to Japan - get your Japan Rail Pass today! 🌸 Take a look

Business

No tickets in your basket.

Why not plan a trip?

My Bookings
Loading...
Loading...
Eurostar
SNCF

Compare prices from over 270 rail and coach companies in Europe

Icon of trainline-phone-tickets.svg

Buy your tickets with us and easily find them on your phone

Icon of trainline-safe-payments.svg

Safely pay with PayPal, Visa and all international payment cards

Switzerland this summer?

Book a ticket with unforgettable views that’ll take your breath away.

Popular in Basel SBB

Let's do this trip right

What customers say about Trainline

Read real reviews from real users

Taking the train from Zurich Airport to Basel

Go from plane to train and take all the stress out of your city to city travel. With a whopping 60 SBB trains connecting the two cities in just an hour, you need not worry about getting all your bags into a taxi and facing horrible airport traffic – just hop on a train and go straight to the centre of Basel.  

Arriving at Basel SBB station, you’ll soon find yourself in the heart of the city. Wander down to the old town or check out Basel’s impressive cathedral (both easily reachable with just a short walk).

Need to know more? Check below for more details, including train times, ticket prices and FAQs.

Zurich Airport to Basel SBB by train

First train

00:05

Last train

23:45

Departure station

Zurich Airport

Arrival station

Basel SBB

Journey time

From 1h 12m

Distance

46 miles (74 km)

Frequency

76 trains per day

Changes

Direct trains available

Train and bus operators

SBB CFF FFS

FAQs about the train journey from Zurich Airport to Basel SBB

Want to know more about your journey from Zurich Airport to Basel SBB? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.

How do you get to Basel SBB from Zurich Airport?

To travel to Basel SBB from Zurich Airport, you can take the train - on average, the journey takes around 1 hour and 31 minutes, though the fastest trains can take 1 hour and 12 minutes. Use our Journey Planner to get more information.

How long is the train ride from Zurich Airport to Basel SBB?

Trains from Zurich Airport to Basel SBB take an average of 1 hour and 31 minutes, although on the fastest services it can take just 1 hour and 12 minutes. You'll usually find 76 trains per day on this route, so use our Journey Planner to check specific dates as times may vary.

What is the quickest journey time between Zurich Airport and Basel SBB by train?

The quickest journey time between Zurich Airport and Basel SBB by train is 1 hour and 12 minutes.

Are there direct trains from Zurich Airport to Basel SBB?

Yes, there are direct trains running from Zurich Airport to Basel SBB, you’ll usually find around 16 per day travelling on this route.

Zurich Airport to Basel SBB train times

Check out the next trains departing from Zurich Airport to Basel SBB for Tuesday 6th May 2025. For the full train timetable/schedule, or to search for a later time or date, click here.
DepartsArrivesDuration
11:5613:241h 28m, direct
12:1813:301h 12m, 1 change
12:3813:571h 19m, 1 change
12:4814:181h 30m, 1 change
12:5614:241h 28m, direct
13:1514:301h 15m, 1 change
13:3814:571h 19m, 1 change
13:4815:141h 26m, 1 change
13:5615:241h 28m, direct
14:1815:301h 12m, 1 change

SBB trains from Zurich Airport to Basel SBB

You can travel from Zurich Airport to Basel SBB on SBB trains. When you search for times and tickets, we might also show you some other options with multiple connections or operators if they’re available.

The Swiss rail network is operated by SBB. SBB train ticket prices are based on travel and not on the type of trains. You will find available return tickets (standard price, one way or round trip), Multiple journey tickets (for six individual trips on a pre-determined itinerary) and the City-Ticket (including a one-day transportation pass from the city of departure or arrival).

Cheap train tickets from Zurich Airport to Basel SBB

Book in advance

Most of the train companies across Europe release their tickets around three to six months in advance, many of which can be cheaper the earlier you book. If you know the dates you want to travel, you may be able to find some cheaper train tickets from Zurich Airport to Basel SBB by booking early.§

Be flexible with your travel times

Many of the train services in Europe are also popular commuter services, lots of train companies increase ticket prices during “peak hours” (generally between 06:00 – 10:00 and 15:00 – 19:00 on weekdays). If you can, consider travelling outside of peak hours to find lower priced tickets.

Choose a slower or connecting train

On some of the busier routes, you might also have the option to take a slower or connecting train. It may take a little longer than some high-speed or direct services, but if you have a little extra time on your hands, you might find a cheaper fare. Plus, you'll have more time to enjoy the view of the countryside!

Look out for special deals

Take a look at our handy guides to find out when train operators release their special deals and offers to see if you can find cheap European train tickets for your journey.

For specific information about how to get your hands on cheap tickets, check out our European train tickets hub.

Europe’s leading train and coach app

We help customers across Europe make more than 172,000 smarter journeys every day.