By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 26 February 2025 | Updated: 3rd January 2026
There are a number of ways to get from Basel to Lucerne, however some options are much quicker, cheaper and easier than others. So here is our guide on how to get from Basel to Lucerne, or vice versa:
Getting Around Switzerland
When planning a trip to Switzerland, one of the best ways to get around is via public transport. We’ve lived here for a little while now and still opt for the train over driving most places!
For most tourists 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 need to print it out and keep it with you; there is no need to book trains in advance unless they are dedicated excursions (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 Lucerne
There are tow main transportation options to get between Basel and Lucerne: renting a car and taking the Basel to Lucerne train.
Basel To Lucerne By Car
It takes around 1 hour 5 minutes to drive direct between Basel and Lucerne via the A2. This is the quickest route via Sursee and is approximately 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 2 hours 30 minutes and 140km:
Olten
Aarburg
UNESCO Biosphare Entlebuch
Car Hire
You can rent a vehicle at Basel EuroAirport through Rentalcars.com as they have a great comparison tool, and plenty of rental options from different companies, (we have used them both in Switzerland as well as other locations across Europe and they have always been great with some of the best rental deals).
Basel To Lucerne By Train
🚄 From Lucerne to Basel – around 55 trains per day, taking around 1 hour, prices from CHF 9 if you book in advance.
How long does the train ride take from Basel SBB to Lucerne?
Trains take from 1 hour 2 minutes, (which is the direct so no stops), up to around 1 hour 30 minutes, which can be direct or with one stopover, generally in Zurich or Olten.
How much does a train ride between Basel SBB and Lucerne cost?
If you book in advance it can cost from as little as CHF 10, but if you book on the day it can be anything from CHF 11 up to CHF 24.80.
How many trains run from Basel SBB to Lucerne each day?
Around 55 trains run between Basel SBB and Lucerne 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, around midday and the evening ‘rush hour’. On the weekends they can be discounted all day, other than the odd train here and there.
Rail Passes / Train Tickets
There are a number of different train tickets that you can use to get between Basel and Lucerne. 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 Lucerne 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, Lucerne 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 Lucerne 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 Lucerne By Flight
There isn’t an airport at Lucerne so therefore flying is not an option.
How to get from Basel EuroAirport to Lucerne
To get from Basel EuroAirport to Lucerne you will need to catch the number 50 bus into Basel before switching on to a train bound for Lucerne at Basel SBB. From the airport to Lucerne should take around 1 hour 40 minutes at most.
Basel to Lucerne Tours
There are a few tours between Basel and Lucerne however they are most often than not a few hundred CHF per person which is really expensive!
Instead we recommend taking the train between the two cities and opting for dedicated city tours at each location instead. These are our favourites:
Best Tours in Lucerne
📍Swiss Museum of Transport Ticket
Best Tours in Basel
📍Jakob’s Basler Leckerly Bakery Tour
Now you have all the details about how to get between Basel and Lucerne, 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
📍Is Lucerne Worth Visiting & When
📍The Lucerne Tell Pass – Map, price & full details
Where To Stay In Lucerne & Basel
Where to stay in Lucerne
🏨 Budget – ibis budget Hotel Luzern City
🏨 Mid Range – Hotel Astoria
🏨 Luxury – Grand Hotel National Luzern
Where to stay in Basel
🏨 Budget – Central City Hotel Rochat
🏨 Mid-range – East West Hotel Basel
🏨 Luxury – Grand Hotel LES TROIS ROIS
Basel To Lucerne FAQs
How long is the train from Basel to Lucerne?
The train between Basel and Lucerne takes on average just over 1 hour.
Is Basel to Lucerne scenic?
Both the driving route and train ride from Basel to Lucerne are scenic, taking in not only some smaller towns and cities, but also farmland, Sempachersee and the edge of the Naturpark Thal.
Which is better to visit Basel or Lucerne?
Basel and Lucerne are very different cities, so are both worth visiting. We love Basel for its more laidback vibe, and much smaller city to explore, whereas Lucerne is much larger, has its own lake to discover via ferry and both modern and is much more of a tourist hub.
Is it better to go to Zurich or Lucerne?
If you only have time for one, we would suggest Lucerne over Zurich, that being said both cities are wonderful to explore with plenty of attractions and beautiful old town areas to visit. Zurich has the Lindt Factory, whereas Lucerne has the Swiss Transport Museum, both of which are great!
Conclusion: How To Get From Basel to Lucerne (Or Vice Versa)
There is our guide to all the best ways to get from Basel to Lucerne. Although you can easily get between the two cities via car or public transport, taking the train is by far the best, often cheapest and our preferred option.
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.