The cheapest and fastest trains from Basel to Locarno
Cheapest price
£55
Average price
£88
Fastest journey
3 h 12 m
Average duration
3 h 13 m
Trains per day
7
Distance
180 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Basel to Locarno is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Basel to Locarno will cost around £88 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £55.
Of the 7 trains that leave Basel for Locarno every day 1 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct trains cover the 180 km distance in an average of 3 h 13 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 3 h 12 m .
The slowest trains will take 3 h 17 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 21 667 | 667 · S 20 25645 | 25645
IR 26 2315 | 2315
IR 26 2315 | 2315 · IC 2 865 | 865 · S 20 25641 | 25641
IC 3 565 | 565 · EC 35 | 35 · S 20 25647 | 25647
IC 3 563 | 563 · EC 13 | 13 · S 20 25643 | 25643
IC 21 667 | 667 · S 20 25645 | 25645
IR 26 2315 | 2315 · IC 2 865 | 865 · S 20 25641 | 25641
IC 3 565 | 565 · EC 35 | 35 · S 20 25647 | 25647
IC 3 563 | 563 · EC 13 | 13 · S 20 25643 | 25643
IC 3 563 | 563 · EC 13 | 13 · S 20 25643 | 25643 · B 4 4026 | 4026Travel Information
Compare coach, train and flight for Basel to Locarno
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Basel to Locarno among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from £28. For those with little time consider booking a coach which can get you there in 3h 17m. 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 coach costs an average of £28, and a flight costs an average of £45.
Distance: 180 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Coach | Flight |
|---|---|---|
£69 Average Price | £40 Average Price Cheapest | £170 Average Price |
4h 14m Average total duration 3h 44m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 47m Average total duration Fastest 3h 17m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 11h 21m Average total duration 8h 21m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.2 - 0.5kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
Basel to Locarno train times
The table below shows live departures for Basel to Locarno trains for today, Thursday 11 December. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 12:33 Basel | 3h12 | 15:45 Locarno | 0 changesdirect | |
| Friday 12 December | |||||
IR 26 2315 | 2315 | 07:03 Basel SBB | 4h24 | 11:27 Locarno station | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 26 2315 | 2315 · IC 2 865 | 865 · S 20 25641 | 25641 | 07:03 Basel SBB | 3h12 | 10:15 Locarno station | 2 changes | |
IR 26 2315 | 2315 · IC 2 865 | 865 · S 20 25641 | 25641 · B 4 4024 | 4024 | 07:03 Basel SBB | 3h17 | 10:20 Locarno | 3 changes | |
IC 3 563 | 563 · EC 13 | 13 · S 20 25643 | 25643 · B 4 4026 | 4026 | 07:33 Basel SBB | 3h17 | 10:50 Locarno | 3 changes | |
IC 3 563 | 563 · EC 13 | 13 · S 20 25643 | 25643 | 07:33 Basel SBB | 3h12 | 10:45 Locarno station | 2 changes | |
IC 21 667 | 667 · S 20 25645 | 25645 | 08:03 Basel SBB | 3h12 | 11:15 Locarno station | 1 change | |
IC 3 565 | 565 · EC 35 | 35 · S 20 25647 | 25647 | 08:33 Basel SBB | 3h12 | 11:45 Locarno station | 2 changes | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Basel to Locarno by coach, train or flight
Compare coach, 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.
12 Dec
13 Dec
14 Dec
15 Dec
16 Dec
17 Dec
18 Dec
Journey information
Overview: Train from Basel to Locarno
Trains from Basel to Locarno run on average 15 times per day, taking around 3h 44m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £34 but you can travel from only £28 by coach.
There are 1 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 04:35, the last at 21:45. The fastest train covers the 180 km distance in 3h 12m.
Distance 180 km |
Average train duration 3h 44m |
Cheapest ticket price £34 |
Trains per day 15 |
Direct trains 1 |
Fastest train 3h 12m |
First train 04:35 |
Last train 21:45 |
Train companies: SBB, Swiss Railways (SBB/CFF/FFS), Südostbahn from Basel to Locarno trainsSBB, Swiss Railways (SBB/CFF/FFS), Südostbahn trains will get you between Basel and Locarno from £28. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
SBB
Swiss Railways (SBB/CFF/FFS)
Südostbahn
FAQs: Basel to Locarno train
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Basel to Locarno 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 Locarno, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Important Stations and Airports in Basel and Locarno
- 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
- 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- The car park is open 7 days a week, accessible from Via della Stazione.
- Ristorante Sensi
- Osteria Chiara
- Outside the main entrance.
- Ramps, restrooms.
- CHF 1
- Hotel Ibis Locarno
- Hotel Belvedere Locarno
- Hotel Garni Muralto
- Located in the main hall
- 240 places, covered
- Europcar
- Hertz
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, platform 1-4 for trains to regional and international destinations
- Bus: Several lines available
- Train: Regional and international connections
Most popular train connections from Basel
More options for your journey from Basel to Locarno
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
