How do I get from Zurich airport to Basel?

Q: How do I get from Zurich airport to Basel?

IR36 to Basel SBB: CHF 41 for one traveler, 87–94 min. It leaves you at Basel SBB, the main station, in 1 h 27; via Zürich HB (11 min), Baden (32), Brugg, Frick and Rheinfelden. The IR36 leaves at :56 every hour from 05:56 to 20:56, reaching Basel SBB in 1 h 27 via Zürich HB, Baden, Brugg, Frick and Rheinfelden. The fare is SBB's point-to-point ticket, not ZVV: CHF 41.00 an adult, CHF 20.50 for a child 6 to 15 or Half-Fare card, under-6s free, valid all day on any train — after 20:56 change at Zürich HB on the same ticket. Supersaver tickets are cheaper but yield-priced and not shown here. No direct train runs on 21 and 22 November 2026.

Home / Zurich / Zurich Airport / Basel

Zurich airporttoBasel

Airport to another city · One way · All prices are totals for 1 adult · All service hours

2 ways to Basel

For Zurich generally we recommend the SBB train to Zürich HB; for Basel the answer changes.

Recommended

The cheapest way in. The Private transfer to Basel is 27 minutes quicker for CHF 135 more, which is not worth it at this party size.

IR36 to Basel SBB

IR36 · SBB, on a point-to-point ticket

87–94 min rideEvery 60 min05:56–20:56

Zürich Flughafen railway stationBasel SBB

Luggage space

CHF 41total for 1 adultCHF 41 eachBuy ticket2 places to buy

Pickup, hours & luggage

Boards at. Zürich Flughafen railway station, platforms 1 to 4 — the InterRegio showing Basel SBB

SBB's point-to-point fare, not a ZVV ticket: CHF 41.00 an adult in 2nd class (CHF 70.00 in 1st; CHF 82.00 return), 122 km via Zurich. Children 6 to 15 and Half-Fare holders pay exactly half, CHF 20.50; under-6s ride free. Valid one day on any train along the route — the IR36, or any train to Zürich HB and a change. Supersaver tickets are yield-priced and not shown here; the group tariff starts at ten people.

Luggage. Mainline Swiss trains: racks and standing space by the doors.

Hours. The IR36 leaves at :56 every hour from 05:56 to 20:56 (05:54/20:54 on a few days), 16 departures a day, reaching Basel SBB at :23 — 87 minutes on nine trips in ten, 89 or 94 on the rest. No direct train on 7–22 February, 7–15 March, 28–29 March or 21–22 November 2026. After 20:56, change at Zürich HB.

Price for every party size · Fare source

Pre-booked

Private transfer to Basel

Driver meets you in arrivals

60 min rideTraffic dependent

Driver meets you in arrivals with a name boardAny address in Basel

Non-stopPer vehiclePre-book

€191total for 1 adult€191 each · about CHF 176 in allBook transferPartner link · through Kiwitaxi

Pickup, hours & luggage

Boards at. Driver meets you in arrivals with a name board

Charged in euros: €191 for the sedan, €230 for the minibus. Converted at the European Central Bank's reference rate of 30 October 2026 only to compare it with the local fares; your card's rate will differ a little.

Price for every party size · Fare source (partner link)

The IR36 leaves at :56 every hour from 05:56 to 20:56, reaching Basel SBB in 1 h 27 via Zürich HB, Baden, Brugg, Frick and Rheinfelden. The fare is SBB's point-to-point ticket, not ZVV: CHF 41.00 an adult, CHF 20.50 for a child 6 to 15 or Half-Fare card, under-6s free, valid all day on any train — after 20:56 change at Zürich HB on the same ticket. Supersaver tickets are cheaper but yield-priced and not shown here. No direct train runs on 21 and 22 November 2026.

Ride times exclude walking and waiting. Every way from Zurich Airport into Zurich

Your destination

Straight there.

Basel is a different city at the far end of the Zürich–Basel line, 122 km from the airport. One InterRegio an hour runs there without a change in 1 h 27, via Zürich HB, and leaves you at Basel SBB, on the edge of the old town.

Zurich Airport

Follow the signs

Zürich Flughafen railway station

IR36 to Basel SBB · 87–94 min

Basel

IR36 to Basel SBB serves Basel. SBB train to Zürich HB does not.

Basel has its own airport. Basel airport to Basel city center

Arriving late?

Not everything runs around the clock: the IR36 to Basel SBB runs 05:56–20:56. Outside those hours nothing on this board runs to the center, and taxis are not priced on it. and the board keeps only what is running.

From arrivals to Basel

Find the stop

Zürich Flughafen railway station. Follow the signs from arrivals.

Choose IR36 to Basel SBB

Check the destination and departure board before boarding.

Arrive at Basel

87–94 min. Continue to your accommodation or follow signs for onward transport.

A few things for the rest of your trip

Partner offers

Not transport options · Affiliate links

Data in SwitzerlandAiralo

An eSIM for Switzerland, installed before you fly, works in the arrivals hall: tickets, maps, the driver's messages.

Choose an eSIM

Bags in ZurichBounce

Bounce keeps bags in shops and hotels around Zurich: 20 places by its own count, booked by the day for the hours before check-in.

Find a bag drop

A late flight?AirHelp

A flight three or more hours late, or cancelled at short notice, can be owed up to €600 a passenger under EU and UK rules, depending on the flight. AirHelp charges only if the claim succeeds.

Check your flight

These links pay us a commission. They never change which transfer we rank first.

Continuing by public transport?

Follow the station signs for your onward connection.

Walking to your stay?

Check the address and choose the nearest exit.

Before you travel

Does the SBB train to Zürich HB stop at Basel?

No. It runs to Zürich HB.

Does the VBZ tram 10 stop at Basel?

No. It runs to Zürich.

What if my flight arrives late?

Not everything runs around the clock: the IR36 to Basel SBB runs 05:56–20:56. Outside those hours nothing on this board runs to the center, and taxis are not priced on it.

Is Basel in Zurich?

Compare every way from Zurich Airport