My husband and I are flying into Basel next June. We want to go directly from the airport to Luzern. Stay a couple of nights, then back to Basel to start our river cruise.
Can I take a taxi or Uber from the airport to the Basel train station? And do we need to make a reservation for the train to Luzern? Or are there multiple trains all day heading from Basel to Luzern?
The bus number 50 goes from the airport to the train station (Bahnhoff SBB) in 20 minutes; it costs about $5.
https://www.basel-airport.com/bus.php
Otherwise take a taxi.
You do not need to make reservation for the train; they run all day frequently. The train schedule Basel to Luzern for next June may not be up this early but you can get an idea by searching on the official Swiss Rail website:
https://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html
Thank you. That's very helpful
Like they said, the Bus #50 takes you to the train station.
From there it's 1 hr. 15 minutes approximately into Lucerne by train.
Reservations will not be required on the train.
You've posted this in the reviews section, you'll get more answers if you post in the Switzerland section.
Basel has a very small airport, if you insist on flying to Basel your options will be limited. Flying to Zürich would give you more options and probably lower prices. As an added bonus, it's easier to get to Luzern from Zürich airport.
I don't post much, but I'll see if I can post it in the Switzerland section instead of the Reviews section.
Thx
You already have, and it might be a good idea to delete this thread.
dunno if deleting this thread is necessary, there is already good information here
How about from Zurich airport to Lucern? What train to look for?
megncraig, it will be apparent when you get to the rail station at the airport and buy a ticket. It will tell you which track and the train number. And you can always ask at the ticket office if not clear. There are many trains going that direction, some that go with a stop at Zurich Hauptbahnhof, and others that will require a change at the Hauptbahnhof.
How about from Zurich airport to Lucern? What train to look for?
You will have already checked the timetable online or on your app, or used the yellow sheets at the station, so you will know platform and departure time; the overhead display along the platform will have the destination and major stops listed (Luzern is a major stop), and many trains have a display on the front and/or next to each door with the same information.
So we are flying into Zurich and not Basel. That advice was great. Thank you.
Not sure if the flights were less money but definitely more flights to
choose from. Like I mentioned, the Viking River cruise starts from Basel. Apparently Rick doesn't really say much,
if anything, about Basel. We are only there 1 night. We'll leave Luzern in the morning, train to Basel. Hopefully
get there at noon. Check into hotel, then we're free to do what we want. The cruise leaves the following day around
2 or 3 PM. So we have 2 half days in Basel. Any suggestions would be great.
There is a really interesting museum in Basel devoted to Jean Tinguely a surrealist/dada sculptor who made lots of kinetic machines. It was super interesting and most of the machines worked by stepping on a floor button. There is also a small but interesting historic centre. We spent about five hours in Basel before our river cruise in 2018.
there is actually quite a lot to do in and around Basel.
Paper museum.
Toy Museum.
A very neat fountain with lots of moving metal mobiles in it.
The ferries which go across the Rhine with no motor using the flow of the river (very much like rafts)
Nice back streets.
A Design museum.
A salt water spa.
A modern zoo.
Great trams - should be free for your stay, ask the hotel.
just for starters
