LUGANO to BASEL train from £27 with SBB

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The cheapest and fastest trains from Lugano to Basel

Showing times, prices and bookable tickets for 23 Sept

Cheapest price on 23 Sept

£59

Average ticket price on 23 Sept

£75

Fastest journey on 23 Sept

2 h 53 m

Average journey duration on 23 Sept

2 h 53 m

Trains on 23 Sept

Distance

202 km

Cheap tickets

The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Lugano to Basel is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.

The average ticket from Lugano to Basel will cost around £75 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £59.

Fast trains

On Wed 23 Sept, we found 28 trains from Lugano to Basel, including 4 direct services.

These direct trains cover the 202 km distance in an average of 2 h 53 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 2 h 53 m .

The slowest trains will take 2 h 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.

IC 2 870 | 870 · IR 26 2316 | 2316
9:022h53
Lugano, Stazione
11:55Basel SBB
£591One-way
1 change
IC 21 680 | 680
14:022h53
Lugano, Stazione
16:55Basel SBB
£601One-way
0 changes
IC 2 874 | 874 · IR 26 2320 | 2320
11:022h53
Lugano, Stazione
13:55Basel SBB
£601One-way
1 change
IC 21 672 | 672 · ICE 106 | 106
10:022h58
Lugano, Stazione
13:00Basel SBB
£611One-way
1 change
B 4 4049 | 4049 · IC 2 870 | 870 · IR 26 2316 | 2316
8:473h08
Lugano
11:55Basel SBB
£611One-way
2 changes

Travel Information

Compare train, coach and flight for Lugano to Basel

Omio recommends booking the flight as it is the most popular option from Lugano to Basel among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £42 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 3h 27m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.2kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £42, while a flight costs an average of £483.

Distance: 202 km

Compare train with

Train	Most popular Flight	Coach	Driving
£81 Average Price	£483 Average Price	£42 Average Price Cheapest	£84 Average Price (fuel + tolls)
3h 27m Average total duration Fastest 2h 57m Onboard + 30m Additional time*	6h 7m Average total duration 4h 7m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time*	5h 15m Average total duration 4h 45m Onboard + 30m Additional time*	3h 24m Average total duration (door-to-door)
0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions Lowest	- CO2 emissions	0.2 - 0.5kg CO2 emissions	- CO2 emissions
Most popular train company	Most popular airline	Most popular bus company	Your own car or car rental
Direct Options	Direct Options	Direct Options	Direct Options

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

The cheapest way to travel from Lugano to Basel is a coach with an average price of £42.

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

A coach is £39 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Lugano to Basel costing on average £81.

A coach is £441 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Lugano to Basel costing on average £483.

The fastest way to travel from Lugano to Basel is by train with an average journey time of 2h 57m.

Other travel options to Basel take longer:

Flight takes on average 4h 7m.

Coach takes on average 4h 45m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 3 ways to travel between Lugano and Basel including taking a train, coach and flight.

Take the train. On this route, it beats driving on both time and money.

The journey is about 27m faster (2h 57m by train vs 3h 24m by car) and roughly £3 cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls (£81 vs £84). 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.

Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way or need a car once you arrive.

Live departures

Lugano to Basel train times

The table below shows live departures for Lugano to Basel trains for today, Tuesday 22 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.

Last updated at

Provider	Departs	Duration	Arrives	Changes
B 4 4113 \| 4113 · IC 2 878 \| 878 · IR 26 2324 \| 2324	12:47 Lugano	3h08	15:55 Basel SBB	2 changes
IC 2 878 \| 878 · IR 26 2324 \| 2324	13:02 Lugano, Stazione	2h53	15:55 Basel SBB	1 change
B 4 4121 \| 4121 · EC 30 \| 30 · TGV 9226 \| 9226	13:17 Lugano	3h09	16:26 Basel SBB	2 changes
EC 30 \| 30 · TGV 9226 \| 9226	13:30 Lugano, Stazione	2h56	16:26 Basel SBB	1 change
B 4 4129 \| 4129 · IC 21 680 \| 680	13:47 Lugano	3h08	16:55 Basel SBB	1 change
B 4 4129 \| 4129 · IC 21 680 \| 680 · IC 61 976 \| 976	13:47 Lugano	3h13	17:00 Basel SBB	2 changes
IC 21 680 \| 680 · IC 61 976 \| 976	14:02 Lugano, Stazione	2h58	17:00 Basel SBB	1 change
IC 21 680 \| 680	14:02 Lugano, Stazione	2h53	16:55 Basel SBB	0 changesdirect
Wednesday 23 September
B 4 4041 \| 4041 · EC 10 \| 10 · IC 3 564 \| 564	8:17 Lugano	3h09	11:26 Basel SBB	2 changes
EC 10 \| 10 · IC 3 564 \| 564	8:30 Lugano, Stazione	2h56	11:26 Basel SBB	1 change
B 4 4049 \| 4049 · IC 2 870 \| 870 · IR 26 2316 \| 2316	8:47 Lugano	3h08	11:55 Basel SBB	2 changes
IC 2 870 \| 870 · IR 26 2316 \| 2316	9:02 Lugano, Stazione	2h53	11:55 Basel SBB	1 change
B 4 4057 \| 4057 · EC 12 \| 12 · TGV 9218 \| 9218	9:17 Lugano	3h09	12:26 Basel SBB	2 changes
EC 12 \| 12 · TGV 9218 \| 9218	9:30 Lugano, Stazione	2h56	12:26 Basel SBB	1 change
B 4 4065 \| 4065 · IC 21 672 \| 672	9:47 Lugano	3h08	12:55 Basel SBB	1 change
B 4 4065 \| 4065 · IC 21 672 \| 672 · ICE 106 \| 106	9:47 Lugano	3h13	13:00 Basel SBB	2 changes
IC 21 672 \| 672 · ICE 106 \| 106	10:02 Lugano, Stazione	2h58	13:00 Basel SBB	1 change
IC 21 672 \| 672	10:02 Lugano, Stazione	2h53	12:55 Basel SBB	0 changesdirect
B 4 4073 \| 4073 · EC 14 \| 14 · IC 3 568 \| 568	10:17 Lugano	3h09	13:26 Basel SBB	2 changes
EC 14 \| 14 · IC 3 568 \| 568	10:30 Lugano, Stazione	2h56	13:26 Basel SBB	1 change
B 4 4081 \| 4081 · IC 2 874 \| 874 · IR 26 2320 \| 2320	10:47 Lugano	3h08	13:55 Basel SBB	2 changes
IC 2 874 \| 874 · IR 26 2320 \| 2320	11:02 Lugano, Stazione	2h53	13:55 Basel SBB	1 change
B 4 4089 \| 4089 · IC 2 1474 \| 1474 · TGV 9222 \| 9222	11:17 Lugano	3h09	14:26 Basel SBB	2 changes
IC 2 1474 \| 1474 · TGV 9222 \| 9222	11:30 Lugano, Stazione	2h56	14:26 Basel SBB	1 change
B 4 4097 \| 4097 · EC 178 \| 178	11:47 Lugano	3h08	14:55 Basel SBB	1 change
EC 178 \| 178	12:02 Lugano, Stazione	2h53	14:55 Basel SBB	0 changesdirect
B 4 4105 \| 4105 · EC 150 \| 150	12:17 Lugano	3h09	15:26 Basel SBB	1 change
EC 150 \| 150	12:30 Lugano, Stazione	2h56	15:26 Basel SBB	0 changesdirect
This is the last train of the day.

Find all the dates and times for this journey

Compare prices and tickets Lugano to Basel by train, coach or flight

Compare train, coach 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.

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Journey information

Overview: Train from Lugano to Basel

Switzerland

Trains from Lugano to Basel run on average 7 times per day, taking around 2h 57m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £47 but you can travel from only £27 by coach.

There are 1 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:37, the last at 22:05. The fastest train covers the 202 km distance in 2h 37m.

Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.

Price information

Cheapest alternative travel mode

Coach from £27

Distance

202 km

Average train duration

2h 57m

Cheapest ticket price

£47

Trains per day

Direct trains

Fastest train

2h 37m

First train

0:37

Last train

22:05

Cheapest Month

Aug

Cheapest Day

Tue

High Season

Jul - Sept

Low Season

Jan - Mar

Busiest Day

Fri

Least Busy Day

Tue

Best time to book

28 days

Price information

Cheapest alternative travel mode

Coach from £27

Train companies: SBB from Lugano to Basel trainsSBB trains will get you between Lugano and Basel from £27. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.

SBB

About

SBB is Switzerland’s national railway company, operating a wide range of train services including InterCity, InterRegio, RegioExpress, Regio, S-Bahn, and international InterCityExpress connections. InterCity trains reach speeds of up to 200 km/h for fast travel between major cities, while Regio trains provide slower, more frequent local services. Ticket options include Standard and First Class, as well as passes and discounts such as the Swiss Travel Pass, Half-Fare Card, and Super Saver tickets. Onboard amenities may feature Wi-Fi, power outlets, and restaurant cars. Popular routes include Zurich–Geneva, Basel–Bern, and Geneva–Lausanne.

Luggage & cancellation policy

Average SBB Duration

2h 37m

Cheapest SBB Price

£47

SBB frequency

6 a day

Luggage included

One piece of hand luggage and one larger piece of luggage included in ticket price

Luggage storage

Overhead racks, under seats, and designated luggage areas at ends of carriages

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation possible according to ticket type conditions

Refund

Full refund provided for canceled trains

Amenities on board the train

Wifi

Food sold onboard

Restaurant cars on long-distance trains, bistro service available. First class receives at-seat service

Seat reservation

Seat reservations optional in 2nd class for fee, included in 1st class tickets

Toilets

USB plugs

Accessibility

Wheelchair spaces, accessible toilets, and assistance services available with advance notice

Pets

Small pets in carriers travel free. Large dogs require half-price ticket. Guide dogs travel free

Quiet zone

Learn more about SBB

Complete guide to Basel

Things to do in Basel

Discover the best of Basel — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Basel trip today.

Must visit

Kunstmuseum Basel

A major art museum with works from old masters to modern art. It is essential for understanding Basel’s strong cultural scene.

View on map Visit website

Must visit

Fondation Beyeler

A leading museum for contemporary art and design. The building and collection make it a highlight for modern architecture fans.

View on map Visit website

Recommended

Museum der Kulturen Basel

This museum presents fine art from the 15th to 19th centuries in a grand setting near the cathedral and old town lanes.

View on map Visit website

Swiss franc (CHF, Fr.)

Basel is costly versus most European cities, with high hotel, dining and daily transport prices for visitors.

Average meal costs

Budget: CHF 15-25 for fast food or a simple lunch.
Mid-range: CHF 30-50 per person for a restaurant meal.
Fine dining: CHF 90+ per person for upscale restaurants.
Coffee: CHF 4.50-6 for a cappuccino.

Tipping culture

Service is usually included. Round up in restaurants and cafés or add 5-10% for great service; round up taxi fares.

FAQs: Lugano to Basel train

Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Lugano 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.

The cost of a train ticket from Lugano to Basel can vary. The cheapest tickets are usually available from £47, while the average price tends to be around £81.

The train journey from Lugano to Basel covers a distance of 202 km and takes approximately 2h 37m. Trains run 7 per day.

The train distance from Lugano to Basel is 202 km.

The first train from Lugano to Basel leaves at 0:37.

The last train from Lugano to Basel departs at 22:05.

Trains from Lugano to Basel run approximately 7 times per day.

Currently, there is no high-speed train service from Lugano to Basel.

Yes, there is a direct train between Lugano and Basel. The service operates 1 times per day, provided by SBB.

To get from Lugano to Basel, you can choose from several travel options including train, coach and flight.

There is no night train service from Lugano to Basel.

The train station in Lugano that goes to Basel is Lugano, Stazione, and it arrives at Basel SBB.

The cheapest way to get from Lugano to Basel is by coach, costing approximately £27.

Booking trains from Lugano to Basel in advance is advisable, especially during peak travel seasons or for long journeys, to ensure availability and secure better fares.

The train journey from Lugano to Basel is quite scenic, as it passes through the picturesque landscapes of Switzerland, including stunning views of the Alps and charming Swiss villages.

A day trip from Lugano to Basel is not feasible as the journey takes 2h 37m each way. However, there are 8 train trips available per day for this 202 km route.

In Basel, you can explore the Tinguely Museum, dedicated to Swiss artist Jean Tinguely, and his kinetic sculptures. Enjoy a Rhine River Cruise for scenic views of the city's architecture and landscapes. Discover the Old Town with its medieval buildings and vibrant markets. Visit the Fondation Beyeler for modern and tribal art. Attend Art Basel, an international art fair. Key sights include the Basel Minster, Kunstmuseum Basel, Tinguely Fountain, Basel Zoo, and Rathaus Basel.

To fully experience Basel's rich cultural scene, historic architecture, and vibrant art museums, a stay of 2 to 3 days is recommended.

Yes, you can take the train from Lugano to Basel.

popular train stations

Important Stations and Airports in Lugano and Basel

Most Lugano to Basel trains use the Lugano, Stazione to Basel SBB station pair, with some services arriving at Basel Bad Bhf. Use this guide to compare Lugano and Basel train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.

Departure train stations in Lugano

Arrival train stations in Basel

Which Lugano station do trains to Basel leave from?

Trains from Lugano to Basel leave from Lugano, Stazione. The station is from Lugano city centre at 6900 Lugano, Switzerland.

Lugano, Stazione6900 Lugano, Switzerland Accessibility

City-centre transport

Getting to Lugano, Stazione from Lugano city centre

Bus6 · 7m · £3 · every ~10 min

6 · 10m · £3 · every ~10 min

461 · 12m · £5 · every ~5 min

Lugano, Stazione train station facilities and services

Lugano, Stazione has practical services for this route, including Accessibility.

Accessibility

Accessibility facilities are available at Lugano, Stazione.

More about Lugano, Stazione

Which Basel station do trains from Lugano arrive at?

Trains from Lugano to Basel most often arrive at Basel SBB. Some services arrive at Basel Bad Bhf, so check your ticket before travel to confirm your Basel arrival station.

Basel SBBCentralbahnstrasse 10, 4051 Basel, Switzerland+41 51 221 22 22 Wifi

City-centre transport

Getting to Basel SBB from Basel city centre

Basel SBB is 1 km from Basel city centre. Public transport options include:

TrainTer · 5m · £0.90 · every ~2 min

Bus50 · 4m · £2 · every ~15 min

Tram11 · 5m · £2

1, 3, 2 · 7m · £2 · every ~25 min

Basel SBB train station facilities and services

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 and drink

Food options include: Restaurant Da Roberto, Brasserie Bahnhof Basel

Wi-Fi and ATMs

Free. ATMs are available in the train station.

Tickets and information

Ticket office support is available at Basel SBB. Information desks are located in the main hall.

Luggage and lost property

Luggage storage is available at Basel SBB. Lost and found is available at the station.

Parking, taxis and toilets

Available at Basel SBB: Parking, Taxis, WC.

Bike and car services

Available at Basel SBB: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.