By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 26 February 2025 | Updated: 3rd January 2026
There are a number of ways to get from Basel to Bern, with some options being slightly quicker than others and some much cheaper options too. So here is our guide on how to get from Basel to Bern, or vice versa:
Getting Around Switzerland
When planning a trip to Switzerland, one of the best and easiest ways to get around is via public transport. We’ve lived here for a few years now and will still opt for the train over driving if we can!
The most popular option for getting around is with the Swiss Travel Pass, an all-in-one pass which includes nearly all public transport across the country. With this pass, you simply need to print it out and keep it with you; there is no need to book trains in advance unless they are dedicated excursions or experiences (such as the Glacier Express or a trip to Jungfraujoch).
Another option is to get a Saver Day Pass for a specific date that can be used on all public transport; the prices of these go up depending on the date and how far in advance you book the ticket as well though, so they need to be booked well in advance.
How to get from Basel to Bern
There are three main transportation options to get between Basel and Bern: renting a car, taking the Basel to Bern train or flying.
Basel To Bern By Car
It takes around 1 hour 10 minutes to drive direct between Basel and Bern via the A2 and A1. This is the quickest route and is around 100km long. If you want a route with sightseeing stops we can highly recommend stopping at the following locations, which make the entire drive just over 3 hours and 165km:
Liestal
Reigoldswil / Wasserfallen
Saurierspuren Lommiswil Oberdorf
Emmentaler Schaukäserei
Car Hire
You can rent a vehicle at Basel EuroAirport, there are numerous companies to choose from but we would recommend going through Rentalcars.com as they have a great comparison tool, and plenty of rental options, (we have used them a number of times in both Switzerland as well as elsewhere in Europe and they have always been fantastic).
Basel To Bern By Train
🚄 From Bern to Basel – around 70 trains per day, taking around 1 hour, prices from CHF 10.60 if you book in advance.
How long does the train ride take from Basel SBB to Bern?
Trains take from 1 hour 6 minutes, (which is the direct route with no stops), up to around 1 hour 29 minutes, which has one stopover in Olten.
How much does a train ride between Basel SBB and Bern cost?
If you book in advance it can cost from as little as CHF 11.60, but if you book on the day it can be anything from CHF 14.80 up to CHF 21.
How many trains run from Basel SBB to Bern each day?
Around 70 trains run between Basel SBB and Bern HBF every day.
🚄 First train – 00:04 🚄 Last train – 23:31
Best prices – times of day that are often discounted
You’ll tend to find that during the week the routes can be discounted all day, other than the morning and evening Switzerland public transport ‘rush hour’. On the weekends they can be discounted all day.
Rail Passes / Train Tickets
There are a number of different train tickets that you can use to get between Basel and Bern. Remember to buy your ticket before boarding any public transport; from a ticket machine, ticket desk within a station, on the SBB Mobile App or via the Switzerland Travel Centre.
🎫 One-Way Ticket – this can cost anything from CHF 9 to CHF 18
🎫 Saver Day Pass – this allows you to take the train between Basel and Bern for free, just the cost of the pass which can vary depending on when the pass was bought, (the earlier the better!), it can be as cheap as CHF 29 for half fare card holders or CHF 52 for non holders. Only available if booked in advanced, this is the ticket we would recommend if you plan on exploring a lot, as it allows you to use all public transport in Basel, Bern and between the two for an entire day.
🎫 Swiss Half Fare Card – if you plan on spending at least a month in Switzerland then with the Swiss Half Fare Card you can get a 50% discount on any tickets between the two cities, as well as most other public transport across the country too. 1 month costs from CHF 120 – buy here.
🎫 Swiss Travel Pass – available for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days, you can have unlimited travel on most public transport, 50% discount on mountain transport and free admission to over 500 museums. Starting at CHF 244, with this pass a trip between Basel and Bern is free – buy here.
🎫 You can also get a Swiss Travel Pass Flex, which includes all of the above pass, but allowing travel for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 days across a month. Prices start from CHF 279 – buy here.
Basel To Bern By Flight
Although there is a small international airport at Bern, it only tends to connect Bern with destinations in Italy and Spain, not elsewhere in Switzerland, (unless you use a private charter), so flying is not really an option between Basel and Bern.
How to get from Basel to Bern Airport
If you want to get from Basel to Bern Airport the easiest and quickest way to do it is to drive via the A2 and A1, which takes around 1 hour 15 minutes. You can take the train from Basel SBB there too, however you will need to change at least twice, once in Bern and once at Belp. Door to door taking the train takes around 2 hours.
How to get from Basel EuroAirport to Bern
To get from Basel EuroAirport to Bern you will need to catch the number 50 bus into Basel before switching to a train to Bern at Basel SBB, this takes around 1 hour 30 minutes up to 2 hours depending on your connections, if any.
Basel to Bern Tours
Tours between Basel and Bern are few and far between unless you want to spend a fortune on a private driver, (which you really don’t need to do!). So instead, we recommend taking the train between the two cities and opting for dedicated city tours instead. These are our favourites:
Best Tours in Bern
Best Tours in Basel
📍Jakob’s Basler Leckerly Bakery Tour
Now you have all the details about how to get between Basel and Bern, be sure to check out our city guides for both cities. With 1 to 5 day itineraries, things to do in each season, best day trips and more!
📍Is Basel Worth Visiting & When
📍Bern Itinerary (coming soon)
📍Is Bern Worth Visiting & When (coming soon)
Where To Stay In Bern & Basel
Where to stay in Bern
🏨 Budget – Hotel Belle Epoque
🏨 Mid-range – Stay Koook Bern City
🏨 Luxury – Hotel Schweizerhof Bern & Spa
Where to stay in Basel
🏨 Budget – Central City Hotel Rochat
🏨 Mid-range – East West Hotel Basel
🏨 Luxury – Grand Hotel LES TROIS ROIS
Basel To Bern FAQs
How long is the train from Basel to Bern?
The train from Basel to Bern takes a minimum of 1 hour and 6 minutes.
Is Basel better or Bern?
Basel and Bern are very different cities to visit in Switzerland. Basel is much more modern than Bern with numerous museums and art galleries to visit alongside the main sights, whilst Bern is much smaller, with a stunning historic centre and surrounding shopping streets as well as city gardens and of course the local bears.
Is train from Basel to Zurich Scenic?
The train between Basel and Zurich does go through more scenic locations in the canton of Aargau, but it isn’t as scenic as trains that head further south towards the Alps.
What is the closest mountain to Basel Switzerland?
The closest mountains to Basel are actually in the Vosges in France or in Schwarzwald in Germany. However the closest mountains to Basel in Switzerland are the Jura Mountains approximately 2 hours drive to the south west.
Conclusion: How To Get From Basel to Bern (Or Vice Versa)
There is our guide to all the best ways to get from Basel to Bern or vice versa. Although you can get between the cities via public transport and car, we much prefer taking the train.
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.