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ZRH → Zurich · head to head

SBB train to Zürich HBorIR36 to Basel SBB?

The short answer

These do not go to the same place, so price is not the comparison. The SBB train to Zürich HB reaches Zürich HB, the main station; the IR36 to Basel SBB does not. Runs on through Zürich HB to Basel, on an SBB point-to-point fare rather than the ZVV ticket.

The SBB train to Zürich HB is quicker: 11 min against 1 h 27. The IR36 to Basel SBB varies between 87 and 94 minutes.

SBB train to Zürich HB: 05:00–00:42. IR36 to Basel SBB: 05:56–20:56.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares
What each costs for the whole party, in CHF. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
TravelersSBB train to Zürich HBIR36 to Basel SBBDifference
1CHF 7.20CHF 41CHF 33.80
2CHF 14.40CHF 82CHF 67.60
3CHF 21.60CHF 123CHF 101.40
4CHF 28.80CHF 164CHF 135.20
5CHF 36CHF 205CHF 169
6CHF 41CHF 246CHF 205
7CHF 48.20CHF 287CHF 238.80
8CHF 55.40CHF 328CHF 272.60

Side by side

Where each one leaves you
regional · SBB, on a ZVV zone ticketSBB train to Zürich HB
From
Zürich Flughafen railway station, platforms 1 to 4 — follow the train signs from arrivals
To
Zürich HB, the main station, in 9 to 13 minutes; every train calls at Zürich Oerlikon on the way
Luggage
Mainline Swiss trains: racks and standing space by the doors.
Runs
05:00–00:42
Journey
9–13 min

Take whichever train comes first. The S2, S16, S24, InterCity and InterRegio all reach Zürich HB in 9 to 13 minutes on the same CHF 7.20 ticket; there is no premium service and no supplement.

The last train toward the city is at 00:42, the first at 05:00. Between them no train runs, on any night of the week.

Buy a three-zone ticket, not a two-zone one. The city zone counts double, so airport to anywhere in Zurich is three zones; a cheaper ticket is not valid on arrival.

Coming back the same day? Buy the CHF 14.40 24-hour ticket instead of two singles. It costs the same and covers everything in the city in between.

Six or more of you: one CHF 41.00 Multikarte covers six rides and the tariff lets a group share it — CHF 2.20 less than six singles, and the only party-size saving Zurich has.

The airport says the ride takes 15 minutes and trains run every 10; the timetable says 9 to 13 minutes and 12 or 13 trains an hour. The airport's figure is the safe one for a connection.

The single is valid for one hour and the last journey must be finished inside it; the train plus a tram across town fits, a long wait does not.

SBB train to Zürich HB: price for every party size →

See ZVV single tickets
regional · SBB, on a point-to-point ticketIR36 to Basel SBB
From
Zürich Flughafen railway station, platforms 1 to 4 — the InterRegio showing Basel SBB
To
Basel SBB, the main station, in 1 h 27; via Zürich HB (11 min), Baden (32), Brugg, Frick and Rheinfelden
Luggage
Mainline Swiss trains: racks and standing space by the doors.
Runs
05:56–20:56
Journey
87–94 min

The ticket is SBB's, not ZVV's. Ask for Zürich Flughafen to Basel SBB: CHF 41.00 an adult, CHF 20.50 for a child of 6 to 15 or with a Half-Fare card, under-6s free. A ZVV zone ticket stops being valid at the last ZVV station.

One an hour, at :56, from 05:56 to 20:56. After that take any train to Zürich HB and change; the ticket is valid all day on any train along the route.

The full fare is fixed; the "Supersaver" for one named train is not. It is cheaper, sold only in advance, priced by demand and refused on any other train — so it is not priced here.

The same train calls at Baden after 32 minutes: 45 tariff kilometres, CHF 18.40 on the same tariff.

No direct train on 21 and 22 November 2026 in SBB's published timetable; earlier closures this year ran 7 to 22 February and 7 to 15 March.

IR36 to Basel SBB: price for every party size →

See the fare on sbb.ch

This compares two of 6 options. See all of them ranked for your party size →

The other comparisons at Zurich Airport