Basel to Bern
from 53 min
Bern suits a day out from Basel for anyone who wants the arcaded old town and its markets on Münsterplatz and Waisenhausplatz. SBB runs direct long-distance trains on the line, and the old town starts at the station's front door.
Photo Oleksandr Dede · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
See the line from Basel to Bern
See how the trains run in December 2026
| Date | Basel to Bern | Bern to Basel | Fastest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 Dec | 35 trains, 05:24 to 22:28 | 34 trains, 06:04 to 23:36 | 56 min |
| Sat 5 Dec | 35 trains, 05:24 to 22:28 | 34 trains, 06:04 to 23:36 | 56 min |
| Thu 24 Dec | 35 trains, 05:24 to 22:28 | 34 trains, 06:04 to 23:36 | 56 min |
| Fri 25 Dec | 35 trains, 05:24 to 22:28 | 34 trains, 06:04 to 23:36 | 56 min |
| Thu 31 Dec | 35 trains, 05:24 to 22:28 | 34 trains, 06:04 to 23:36 | 56 min |
We worked these figures out from the published GTFS timetables listed below. For each date we count every train that stops at the first station and later at the second, in both directions, leaving between 04:00 and 04:00 the next morning, and take the fastest and the median journey time. On a date with no direct train we search for connections with one change on the same timetable, using its own minimum change times and allowing up to an hour's wait. We drop a connection whenever another one leaves later and still arrives sooner. The figures were computed on Sun 11 Oct 2026, and a timetable change can move them, so check the operator's planner before you travel.
- Timetable data: opentransportdata.swiss. Swiss timetable 2026 (GTFS), covering Sun 14 Dec 2025 to Sat 12 Dec 2026.
- Timetable data: opentransportdata.swiss. Swiss timetable 2027 (GTFS), covering Sun 13 Dec 2026 to Sat 11 Dec 2027.
Quick answers about Basel to Bern
How long is the train from Basel to Bern?
The fastest train from Basel to Bern takes 53 min, and a typical one on a December weekday takes 58 min. Every train counted runs direct. These times are computed from the published timetable.
What time does the last service back from Bern to Basel leave?
The last train from Bern back to Basel leaves at 23:36 on a December weekday, computed from the timetable. Check the day you travel, since weekends and holidays run differently.
Can you get from Basel to Bern by rail on Christmas Day?
Yes. 35 trains run from Basel to Bern on 25 December 2026, from 05:24 to 22:28, computed from the timetable.
In the journal
