Book train tickets

Trenitalia
https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html

Milano Centrale to Basel

https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html

And the destination station is Basel SBB.

I use the Trainline App. Straight forward.

I use the Trainline App. Straight forward.

Why not use the app for the official train operator of Italy (Trenitalia) or the private high-speed train provider (ItaloTreno), rather than a third party seller?

Since Italotreno does not operate trains to Basel, I'd discount them. If you have trouble getting your credit card to go through with Trenitalia, Trainline is acceptable backup despite the small commission added.

Deutsche Bundesbahn works well too. It’s very easy to use when traveling between countries, especially for English speakers. The app is also very intuitive. Same price. https://int.bahn.de/en

An advantage to booking with Trenitalia, is you can choose your seats from the seat map. Not sure if you can do that through anyone else.

Sam, you can choose seats with Deutsche Bundesbahn. 😊

DB gives me "No price information available" when I try to get seat information for the direct EC trains on that route. I did look at purchasing a ticket, but could not see any choice of seat, unless it shows up after you make a purchase in order to do that, and I am not going to buy a ticket just to see. You can pick your seat before buying on Trenitalia.

Anyway, why buy from Deutsche Bahn, when they have nothing to do with the operation of the train. It is jointly operated by Trenitalia and SBB. SBB won't let you pick your seat, so that leaves Trenitalia, who operates the train from Milan to Domodossola, where a Swiss crew takes over.

Sam, you do choose your seat before purchase. Anyway, it’s just another option that we find works great for international travel, so I was bringing it to the attention of the OP. I’m sure the OP appreciates your opinion as well.

A disadvantage of booking with Trenitalia is that they will set the transfer time unrealistically high for Switzerland. So you end up wasting time.

The fastest route from Milano to Basel involves taking the RE80 to Switzerland, and changing to a domestic IC there. Trip time is 4:12, and you have departures every hour.

You can also take the EC, which also leaves every hour (mostly) and change in Zuerich, for a trip time of 4:16

That gives you a departure every half hour, with comparable trip durations.

Trenitalia does not find these fast connections, and makes you waste up to half an hour at transfer stations.

So book on SBB if possible, as that offers you the most options.

The OP did not share their travel date. Right now, there are a couple of EC trains direct to Basel. That may or may not be true for the actual travel date.