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Basel / Bâle to Bellinzona by train
How to take either of the two options for making the journey from Basel to Bellinzona (fast or scenic)
There are two different rail services available when taking a journey by train from Basel to Bellinzona.
No matter which train you take, you will be travelling on a lovely route, which will take you by four lakes; the Zurichsee, the Zugersee, the Lauerzersee and the Luzernsee.
Though south of Fluelen, on the shore of the Luzernsee, these two train services take different routes:
(1) The 'Traverso' (IR) trains still take the older 'classic' and much more spectacular route via Goschenen.
If you are new to Swiss rail travel, have the time available and the weather is behaving itself, taking these trains is the way to go.
(2) The express services, the IC and EC trains are faster, because they make use of the world's longest rail tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel, which by-passes the most beautiful section of that 'classic' route.
So these trains will get to Bellinzona quicker, but the journey won't be as wonderful!
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Routes
Option 1: the more scenic route
Journey Summary
3hr 57min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Locarno
These trains also call at: Goschenen (connect for the MGB trains to Andermatt and beyond);
Airolo; Faido and Biasca
7 x trains per day
These trains typically depart every other hour, in the even hours
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
These trains are operated by SOB and tickets can be booked on its website.
Tickets are also sold on the SBB, Swiss National Railways, website and on its website, journey times, departure times and prices, can be compared with the alternative, faster trains operated by SBB.
When booking on the SBB website there are two things that are worth looking out for:
(1) If you want to to specifically travel by these trains on the more scenic route, look for IR in the ‘travel with’ column and the red % button in the 'Fare' column.
(2) Cheaper ‘Supersaver’ tickets (those with a % symbol on a red button) are available on these IR trains between Basel and Bellinzona.
You’re most likely to find these Supersaver tickets if you book around 4 - 8 weeks ahead.
You may need to search through the departures to find these 'Supersaver' tickets using the ‘earlier’ and ‘later’ buttons, so try and be flexible with your departure and arrival times.
Using Eurail or InterRail Passes
These trains connect in Cadenazzo into 'Ticino' regional trains on to Milano via Como.
If you have a Eurail or InterRail pass, taking these trains and making the connection will be a much more scenic option than taking the direct EC trains between Basel and Milano AND you can also avoid the rail pass reservation fees charged on the EC trains.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| SBB | * | |
| SOB | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
These trains, which are operated by SOB and not the national operator SBB, take a slower, but much more scenic route than than the alternative express trains between Basel and Bellinzona.
Those express trains race through the world's longest railway tunnel, which diverts them from the older and most spectacular part of the older Gottardo route.
This older route is more fabulously beautiful than many of the special Swiss mountain railways which are famed for offering incredible journeys.
So if time is on your side, take these trains on a journey from Zurich to Bellinzona.
Journey description:
These trains, which are operated by SOB and not the national operator SBB, take a slower, but much more scenic route than than the alternative express trains between Basel and Bellinzona.
The most scenic part of this journey by train from Basel to Bellinzona comes to the south of Luzern.
Though to the north of Luzern there are views on the left over the Sempachersee
The train will reverse direction on departure from Luzern.
Between Luzern and Arth Goldau from the left of these these trains) there are some fabulous views over Lake Zug.
The next beautiful vista to look out for comes after departure from Arth-Goldau station, when on the right, the train will pass by the Lauerzersee.
The train then travels through a dramatic landscape to the north of Schwyz.
Just to the south of here, also look out on the right for glimpses of the Luzernsee.
Between Erstfeld and Goschenen the best of the views are on the left; this video was filmed from a train heading north,
but it doesn't matter which side of the train you are seated on, in order to enjoy the incredible views over the village of Wassen with its white church on a hilltop.
That's because the railway loops in order to climb the mountain, and as it does so, the village can be seen from both sides of the train.
After departure from Goschenen the train enters the older Gotthard Tunnel, and between that tunnel and Bellinzona there are fabulous views from both sides of the train.
The railway will loop around in order to descend the mountains to the south of Airolo station, but this is a prelude to the final highlight of the trip, which occurs as the train descends the mountain on another set of looping curves between Faido and Biasca.
The views looking down the valley with the railway tracks below are breathtaking!
Though as the video below shows, filmed from a train travelling in the opposite direction, the journey ends with a final flourish as the train train travels through the valley north of Bellinzona.
Option 2: taking the faster trains
Journey Summary
2hr 43min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Lugano or Chiasso - the IC trains; Milano or Genova or Bologna or Venezia - the EC trains
All trains also call at: Arth-Goldau
The train service between Basel and Bellinzona is split between:
1: IC trains - that are slightly slower, but also generally cheaper than
2: the EC trains that call at Bellinzona on route to Italy
3: The slower IR train services.
Note that a mix of trains is used for these express services, most common are the new Giruno trains, which on this route are used on many departures which don't cross the border to Italy.
The Swiss ICN trains used to dominate this route and they are still used for some departures, but up two one or two departures per day are now handled by the brand new Twindexx trains.
While the older types of EC train are used for the daily train which has travelled from Frankfurt.
The timetable is is arranged so that in the odd hours these express trains depart Basel for Bellinzona, but in even hours the alternative IR trains provide the direct service.
But if want to be in Bellinzona more than 44 mins before those IR trains will be due to arrive there, you can take those IR trains and make a simple connection into an IC or EC train at Arth-Goldau station.
When looking up this journey, those options with a connection can be cheaper; because the cheapest Supersaver tickets can be available for longer, they sell out faster on the direct trains.
6 x IC trains per day
2 x EC trains per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes - If you book Supersaver tickets (more info is available on the SBB ticket guide below)
You may need to search through the departures to find them using the ‘earlier’ and ‘later’ buttons; the Supersaver tickets tend to sell out particularly quickly on this route.
Online bookings open: up to two months ahead of the travel date
Try and be flexible with your departure and arrival times, book as near to 60 days ahead as possible and don't be overly concerned whether you will be taking an IC or EC train.
If you will be making a day trip to Bellinzona from Basel, be open to the possibility that Saver Day Passes are likely to be a cheaper option than booking return tickets.
Seat reservations:
Seat reservations are optional on Swiss IC trains and for the journey by EC trains as it's wholly within Switzerland, so seats won't be automatically assigned when booking online.
You can book reservations online, AFTER you have booked a ticket, by using the SBB (Swiss national railways) seat reservation service OR request and pay for a reservation when booking at a station ticket office.
Travelling with a rail pass:
Rail pass users can jump on any train, without having to make reservations, but taking the more scenic route is highly recommended.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| SBB | * | |
| Trainline | * | |
| Happy rail | * | |
| Omio | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
If you have a rail pass, or are happy to potentially save money in return for a longer journey, it's still possible to travel over the much more scenic older Gotthard Line, when taking a direct train from Basel to Bellinzona.
Take one of the IR trains that usually depart in even hours.
Journey description:
Now that these trains travel through the epic Gotthard Base Tunnel, the journey by these express trains is now less scenic than it used to be.
But this still a journey with some wow moments, from either side of the train.
These scenic highlights are all south of Luzern; where the train will reverse direction.
Between Luzern and Arth Goldau from the left of these these trains) there are some fabulous views over Lake Zug.
The next beautiful vista to look out for comes after departure from Arth-Goldau station, when on the right, the train will pass by the Lauerzersee.
The train then travels through a dramatic landscape to the north of Schwyz.
Just to the south of here, also look out on the right for glimpses of the Luzernsee.
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