Ski resorts near Basel by train
Basel pays for sitting on the Rhine bend. Not a single ski area is under 90 minutes away, and the fastest, Klewenalp-StockhĂĽtte, takes 1 h 42. The median is 3 h 06.
Almost every journey runs via Lucerne or Bern, and that first hour gains no altitude at all. Planning a day trip from Basel means checking the return before the outbound: for the more distant areas, the last usable train becomes the real end of the ski day.
On the other hand the step from day trip to weekend is smaller here than elsewhere. If you are travelling two hours anyway, the same time gets you to Valais, where the areas are bigger and more snow-sure.
90 minutes to 2.5 hours (16)
Still a day trip, but it fills the day. This is where a weekend starts to make more sense.
| Ski area | Journey | Changes | Alight at | Canton | Km of piste | Day pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klewenalp-StockhĂĽtte | 1 h 42 | 2 | Beckenried, Post | Nidwalden | 40 | CHF 55 |
| Engelberg-Titlis | 1 h 49 | 1 | Engelberg | Obwalden | 82 | CHF 78 |
| Sattel-Hochstuckli | 2 h 00 | 1 | Sattel | Schwyz | 14 | CHF 44 |
| Marbach – Marbachegg | 2 h 03 | 2 | Marbach LU, Bergkäserei | Lucerne | 15 | CHF 40 |
| Pizol | 2 h 09 | 1 | Wangs, Pizolbahn | St. Gallen | 43 | CHF 68 |
| Melchsee-Frutt | 2 h 15 | 2 | Melchtal Stöckalp (Talstation) | Obwalden | 32 | CHF 56 |
| Amden – Arvenbüel | 2 h 21 | 2 | Amden, Hinterstein | St. Gallen | 20 | CHF 46 |
| Mythenregion | 2 h 22 | 2 | Schwyz, Weidhuobli | Schwyz | 45 | CHF 54 |
| Charmey | 2 h 22 | 2 | Charmey (Gruyère), Corbettaz | Fribourg | 30 | CHF 45 |
| Sörenberg | 2 h 23 | 2 | Sörenberg, Post | Lucerne | 50 | CHF 58 |
| Schwarzsee – Kaiseregg | 2 h 23 | 2 | Schwarzsee, Hostellerie | Fribourg | 28 | CHF 44 |
| La Robella – Val-de-Travers | 2 h 25 | 3 | St-Sulpice NE, Terminus | Neuchâtel | 30 | CHF 40 |
| Visperterminen – Giw | 2 h 25 | 1 | Visperterminen, Dorfeingang | Valais | 20 | CHF 53 |
| Flumserberg | 2 h 26 | 2 | Flumserberg Tannenboden | St. Gallen | 65 | CHF 74 |
| Hoch-Ybrig | 2 h 29 | 3 | Hoch-Ybrig, Talst. Weglosen | Schwyz | 50 | CHF 62 |
| Wiriehorn – Diemtigtal | 2 h 29 | 3 | Diemtigen Nüegg | Bern | 20 | CHF 46 |
2.5 to 4 hours (60)
Too far for a single day. These are weekend or holiday destinations.
| Ski area | Journey | Changes | Alight at | Canton | Km of piste | Day pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelboden-Lenk | 2 h 32 | 2 | Adelboden, Post | Bern | 210 | CHF 80 |
| Aletsch Arena | 2 h 33 | 1 | Bettmeralp Talstation | Valais | 104 | CHF 77 |
| GrĂĽsch Danusa | 2 h 34 | 1 | GrĂĽsch, Danusa | Grisons | 30 | CHF 55 |
| Meiringen-Hasliberg | 2 h 35 | 1 | Meiringen | Bern | 60 | CHF 65 |
| Jaun | 2 h 36 | 2 | Jaun, Dorf | Fribourg | 30 | CHF 42 |
| Grindelwald-Wengen | 2 h 40 | 2 | Grindelwald, Bahnhof | Bern | 102 | CHF 79 |
| Grindelwald – First | 2 h 40 | 2 | Grindelwald | Bern | 50 | CHF 79 |
| Stoos | 2 h 40 | 3 | Stoos SZ | Schwyz | 35 | CHF 60 |
| Elm im Sernftal | 2 h 43 | 3 | Elm, Dorf | Glarus | 40 | CHF 55 |
| Moléson | 2 h 46 | 2 | Moléson-sur-Gruyères | Fribourg | 30 | CHF 44 |
| Saas-Grund – Hohsaas | 2 h 47 | 1 | Saas-Grund, Unter dem Berg | Valais | 34 | CHF 60 |
| LAAX (Flims Laax Falera) | 2 h 49 | 1 | Flims Dorf, Post | Grisons | 224 | CHF 92 |
| Brambrüesch – Chur | 2 h 49 | 3 | Brambrüesch | Grisons | 15 | CHF 45 |
| Lauchernalp – Lötschental | 2 h 50 | 3 | Lauchernalp | Valais | 40 | CHF 70 |
| MĂĽrren-Schilthorn | 2 h 55 | 4 | MĂĽrren (Schilthornbahn) | Bern | 50 | CHF 79 |
| Braunwald | 2 h 55 | 3 | Braunwald | Glarus | 26 | CHF 58 |
| Elsigenalp – Frutigen | 2 h 56 | 4 | Elsigenalp | Bern | 30 | CHF 50 |
| Tschiertschen | 2 h 57 | 1 | Tschiertschen, Dorf | Grisons | 30 | CHF 55 |
| Rosswald | 2 h 57 | 2 | Rosswald | Valais | 20 | CHF 42 |
| Gstaad (inkl. Zweisimmen und Glacier 3000) | 2 h 59 | 1 | Gstaad | Bern / Vaud | 200 | CHF 82 |
| Airolo – Pesciüm | 2 h 59 | 1 | Airolo | Ticino | 30 | CHF 52 |
| Andermatt-Sedrun | 3 h 00 | 2 | Andermatt | Uri / Grisons | 120 | CHF 89 |
| Belalp – Blatten | 3 h 00 | 2 | Belalp | Valais | 44.8 | up to CHF 77 |
| Crans-Montana | 3 h 02 | 2 | Crans-Montana, gare | Valais | 140 | CHF 85 |
| Grächen | 3 h 04 | 3 | Grächen, Zentrum | Valais | 44 | CHF 64 |
| Bellwald | 3 h 05 | 2 | Fieschertal, Dorfplatz | Valais | 30 | CHF 52 |
| Leukerbad – Torrent | 3 h 06 | 2 | Leukerbad, Busterminal | Valais | 50 | CHF 68 |
| Moosalp – Bürchen/Törbel | 3 h 09 | 1 | Moosalp | Valais | 25 | CHF 53 |
| Wildhaus – Gamserrugg | 3 h 09 | 4 | Wildhaus Oberdorf | St. Gallen | 23 | CHF 57 |
| Splügen – Tambo | 3 h 15 | 1 | Splügen, Bergbahnen | Grisons | 30 | CHF 61 |
| Nax – Mont-Noble | 3 h 15 | 2 | Nax, centre | Valais | 20 | CHF 44 |
| Zermatt – Matterhorn | 3 h 19 | 1 | Zermatt | Valais | 360 | CHF 92 |
| Saas-Fee | 3 h 19 | 1 | Saas-Fee Chalbermatten | Valais | 100 | CHF 87 |
| Leysin | 3 h 21 | 4 | Leysin-Feydey | Vaud | 60 | CHF 62 |
| Les Bugnenets-Savagnières | 3 h 23 | 1 | Les Bugnenets | Neuchâtel / Bern | 30 | CHF 42 |
| Davos Klosters | 3 h 24 | 2 | Davos Dorf, Schiaweg | Grisons | 300 | CHF 92 |
| Villars-Gryon-Diablerets | 3 h 25 | 4 | Villars-sur-Ollon, gare | Vaud | 125 | CHF 65 |
| Savognin | 3 h 27 | 2 | Savognin, posta | Grisons | 80 | from CHF 54 |
| Brigels | 3 h 28 | 3 | Breil/Brigels, Palius | Grisons | 40 | CHF 60 |
| Arosa Lenzerheide | 3 h 29 | 1 | Arosa | Grisons | 225 | CHF 89 |
| Anzère | 3 h 29 | 2 | Anzère (télécabine) | Valais | 58 | CHF 59 |
| Villars-Gryon (nur CH-Teil) | 3 h 29 | 4 | Villars-sur-Ollon, HĂ´tels | Vaud | 44 | CHF 65 |
| Saint-Luc / Chandolin | 3 h 30 | 3 | St-Luc, poste | Valais | 75 | CHF 62 |
| Evolène | 3 h 31 | 2 | Evolène, Office du Tourisme | Valais | 42 | CHF 48 |
| Obersaxen Mundaun | 3 h 33 | 2 | Obersaxen, Meierhof Post | Grisons | 120 | CHF 58 |
| Nara – Leontica | 3 h 35 | 3 | Ponto Valentino, Fontana | Ticino | 30 | CHF 46 |
| Les Marécottes | 3 h 35 | 2 | Les Marécottes | Valais | 25 | CHF 48 |
| Vercorin | 3 h 38 | 2 | Vercorin, poste | Valais | 35 | CHF 52 |
| Vals – Dachberg | 3 h 38 | 2 | Vals, Post | Grisons | 20 | CHF 44 |
| Bergün – Darlux | 3 h 39 | 1 | Bergün/Bravuogn | Grisons | 25 | CHF 46 |
| Grimentz-Zinal | 3 h 40 | 4 | Grimentz, télécabine | Valais | 106 | CHF 66 |
| Disentis 3000 | 3 h 40 | 3 | Disentis/Mustér, Raveras | Grisons | 60 | CHF 62 |
| Zuoz – Pizzet/Albanas | 3 h 41 | 1 | Zuoz | Grisons | 15 | CHF 49 |
| Scuol – Motta Naluns | 3 h 42 | 1 | Scuol-Tarasp | Grisons | 70 | CHF 66 |
| Chäserrugg / Toggenburg | 3 h 44 | 5 | Chäserrugg | St. Gallen | 50 | CHF 62, dynamic |
| San Bernardino | 3 h 45 | 1 | S. Bernardino, Funivia | Grisons | 35 | CHF 52 |
| Les Mosses / La Lécherette | 3 h 46 | 4 | Les Mosses, village | Vaud | 40 | CHF 52 |
| Ovronnaz | 3 h 49 | 2 | Ovronnaz (télésiège) | Valais | 30 | CHF 50 |
| Carì | 3 h 52 | 1 | Tengia | Ticino | 24 | CHF 45 |
| Bivio | 4 h 00 | 2 | Bivio, posta | Grisons | 30 | CHF 50 |
Over 4 hours (9)
Half a journey. There is almost always a closer area with a comparable offer in between.
| Ski area | Journey | Changes | Alight at | Canton | Km of piste | Day pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arolla | 4 h 02 | 3 | Arolla, poste | Valais | 12 | CHF 42 |
| St. Moritz – Corviglia | 4 h 05 | 1 | St. Moritz | Grisons | 155 | CHF 95 |
| Minschuns – Val Müstair | 4 h 05 | 2 | Tschierv, Süsom Tschierv | Grisons | 25 | CHF 42 |
| Champéry / Portes du Soleil (CH) | 4 h 10 | 3 | Champéry | Valais | 600 | CHF 62 |
| Verbier / 4 Vallées | 4 h 16 | 4 | Verbier, station poste | Valais | 410 | CHF 92 |
| Corvatsch-Silvaplana | 4 h 26 | 3 | Silvaplana, Baselgia | Grisons | 120 | CHF 88 |
| Diavolezza-Lagalb | 4 h 45 | 3 | Diavolezza | Grisons | 35 | CHF 88 |
| Bosco Gurin – Grossalp | 4 h 45 | 4 | Bosco/Gurin, Paese | Ticino | 30 | CHF 48 |
| Samnaun / Silvretta Arena | 5 h 12 | 2 | Samnaun-Dorf, Post | Grisons | 239 | CHF 78 |
Where these times come from
Journey times come from the open timetable interface at transport.opendata.ch, the same data the official Swiss timetable runs on. The script queries a Saturday morning and keeps the fastest of three connections, from Basel SBB to the station named in the table.
Two caveats. Winter-only services are not yet in the published timetable, so a few areas will get quicker in December; the query is repeated then. And the time ends at the valley station, not on the piste: the ski bus or the gondola up still comes on top, which is anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour.
So these are reference values for comparing areas against each other, not a timetable to travel on. Check the actual connection before you go.
Source: transport.opendata.ch