After 6 nights in London and 6 nights in Paris, we made plans to take the train to Switzerland and had planned two nights (June 24-25) in Zurich as our plane leaves out of Zurich International Airport at 10 AM on June 26. Looking at the hotels in Zurich, I find it difficult to find a good quality/price value, and everytime I find something I like, it either has bad reviews in Tripadvisor, or we cannot afford it. And then the idea ocurred to me: what if we just took the train from Paris to Basel, spend two nights there (lovely and hotels much more reasonable than Zurich), and then take an early train to Zurich Int'l Airport (I saw the schedule and they have one leaving as early as 5:30 AM) and it takes one hour to get there. So provided the trains are punctual, which I've heard they are, and that we don't get lost, is it too much of a risk to leave the trip to the Zurich airport from Basel to be on the very morning we flight back to the States? Thouths?
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
If you want to stay in a Swiss city, Luzern would be a better choice. It's more scenic with better tourist attrcations. There are also direct trains from Luzern to Zurich Airport, it's also closer.... travel time is only one hour twenty minutes. Trains are very punctual, and will get you to the airport on time. http://youtu.be/NYy_maSNnco
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17432 posts
We have traveled clear across Switzerland on the day of an afternoon flight. Many people stay in Luzern (an hour from Zurich) before a morning flight, with no problems. You should be fine staying in Basel, but do allow some leeway just in case. Once you get to the Zurich main station, there are frequent trains to the airport, taking 12 minutes.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
I am also suggesting Lucerne as a possibility. You're well within range of Zurich Flughafen (airport) from Lucerne. Almost all runs will require 1 train change at Zurich HB (main station). Here's a link to what I see for the early trains out of Lucerne. http://gyazo.com/84167c5e782fe4f284c99d06fd7d00fa
Posted by
OP
Houston, Texas, USA
17 posts
Thanks so much! I booked a hotel in Lucern!
Do I need to buy the train tickets from Luzern to the Zurich airport early or can I buy them once in Lucern? How about the train tickets from Paris to Lucern?
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Alina, you can buy your tickets to the airport from Lucerne at any train station in Switzerland. You can also easily do this as you get off the train in Lucerne. As for Paris to Lucerne, there are several runs during the day. Most runs begin on a TGV departing Gare-de-lyon and arriving in Basel. At Basel, you change trains to head for Lucern. On some runs, you change trains again. On some, you won't. In general, this is a 5.0hr train journey. You can buy your train ticket from either the Swiss on www.rail.ch or from the French on www.tgv-europe.com. If you use www.tgv-europe.com, Great Britain as the country where you will receive your tickets. If you the USA, the site will switch you to RailEurope which you don't want. Don't worry. If successful with your purchase, you can print out your tickets at home. You won't be visiting Great Britain to get them. Here's a link to what I see on a typical moring on the Swiss train website. http://gyazo.com/59404e5d78ffa840f0edd69845a3e864
Posted by
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
Basel is a lovely city with a great student life. Very authentic and distances are short. To get to Zürich Kloten airport you need to change at Zürich Hbf. Train to Zürich Hbf is one hour, out to the airport another 15 minutes. But service runs frequently and is very reliable and punctual.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33842 posts
Conventional wisdom on this board is often Luzern for the airport in Zurich and until recently I would have subscribed to the same thoughts. I've recently fallen in love with Basel, so much so that last week we moved a night in Bern to another night at the Ibis in Basel. It is a really neat, compact, scenic, quiet small city, with hills, CHF 0.50 ferries across the Rhine powered only by the current, walks along the Rhine, and probably more trams than I have ever seen anywhere, per square metre. And transport is free if you are staying in the city.... The Ibis is at the intersection of 2 tram lines, the 2 and the 16. They run frequently and get to the station (2 to the front and 16 to back) in 2 stops and 3 minutes; or a 5 to 10 minute walk. Oh well, that's my slant anyway...
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17432 posts
Nigel, that is great to know. Isn't there also a great modern art museum there?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33842 posts
Yes, and neat metal water sculptures, and lots more...