Luxembourg to Basel, Zurich and Switzerland by train: three routes

Basel is just over three hours from Luxembourg on the best connections — or six hours on a cheaper through ticket via Germany. Here are the three routes to Switzerland, how long they take and how to book them.

Updated · 4 min read

The Grund quarter of Luxembourg City along the Alzette
Photo: Marcin Szala (Pudelek), CC BY-SA 3.0, resized.
RouteTime to BaselHow to book
Via Metz, Strasbourg and Mulhouse (TGV to Mulhouse, TER to Basel)about 3h16 on the two best trains (around 07:13 and 11:15); about 4 hours otherwiseSNCF Connect or Rail Europe — book as two legs
Via Trier and Mannheim (regional train, then German ICE)about 6h15Deutsche Bahn: through fares from €37.99 (2nd) / €69.99 (1st)
Via Koblenz and the Rhine (scenic)about 7h15Deutsche Bahn, same through fares

Fastest: through France

Two good departures a day — around 07:13 and 11:15 — take a TGV to Mulhouse and a fast regional train to Basel SBB, in about 3h16. Other departures use regional trains with changes at Metz and Strasbourg and take about four hours. Booking is easiest in two parts (Luxembourg → Mulhouse or Strasbourg, then on to Basel); onward Swiss tickets are sold by SBB.

Cheapest and simplest: through Germany

Deutsche Bahn sells through tickets from Luxembourg to almost any Swiss station, with saver fares from €37.99. The quickest German route changes at Trier and Mannheim (about 6h15 to Basel); the scenic one changes at Koblenz and Mannheim and runs along the Rhine past castles and the Lorelei (about 7h15). Book on int.bahn.de up to six months ahead — and see Luxembourg to Germany by train for tips.

Geneva and Lausanne

For French-speaking Switzerland, the simplest route is the direct TGV from Luxembourg to Lyon, then a regional train along the Rhône to Geneva (about two hours, fixed fare around €34 in 2nd) — see Luxembourg to Lyon and the south of France.

Switzerland is in Schengen but not in the EU. There are customs rules for goods, and Switzerland uses the Swiss franc. Motorists need a Swiss motorway vignette — see Driving in and to Luxembourg.

Luxembourgish for the trip

A few sentences from the official dictionary, each with its native recording — the kind you will use on the platform and on the bus. More in Luxembourgish on the bus and the train.

Ech fueren d’nächst Woch an d’Schwäiz

Literally: I’m going to Switzerland next week.

Ech war schonn dräimol an der Schwäiz

Literally: I’ve already been to Switzerland three times.

Ass dës Plaz nach fräi?

Literally: Is this seat still free?

Ech hu mer e Billjee kaaft, fir mam Zuch op Léck ze fueren

Literally: I bought a ticket to go to Liège by train.

Meaning: Billjee (ticket) comes from French billet. The verb is kafen — kaaft is its past participle.

Also useful on the road, each with native audio: good morning, good evening, yes and no, nice to meet you — and the words for food, times and dates, the weather and money.

The verbs you need on any journey: fueren (to go by vehicle), huelen (to take), ukommen (to arrive), waarden (to wait), bezuelen (to pay) and reesen (to travel).

German, French, Italian and Romansh are Switzerland’s national languages — and Swiss German, like Luxembourgish, belongs to the wider German family (see is Luxembourgish a language or a dialect?).

Moving to Luxembourg, or crossing its borders every week? The country runs on Luxembourgish, French and German, and a little of each goes a long way. On Edluxio you can book 1-to-1 online lessons with independent teachers — native speakers for languages, and professionals from many fields — and practise the conversations you will actually have. Book a trial lesson; if your first lesson isn’t right for you, you get a full refund.

The sentences you need when you travel

16Word’s Travel track has 100 real situations — the train, the taxi, the hotel, the pharmacy — with 16 sentences each, in Luxembourgish, French, German, Portuguese and many more. The first situation is free.

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Frequently asked questions

How long is the train from Luxembourg to Basel?

About 3h16 on the best connections via Mulhouse; around 4 hours on other French connections; about 6h15 via Germany.

What is the cheapest train from Luxembourg to Zurich?

Usually a Deutsche Bahn through ticket via Germany, from €37.99 in 2nd class when booked early.

Is there a direct train from Luxembourg to Switzerland?

No — you change at least once (Mulhouse, Strasbourg, Mannheim or Lyon).

How do I get from Luxembourg to Geneva?

Direct TGV to Lyon, then a regional train along the Rhône to Geneva.

Do I need a vignette to drive in Switzerland?

Yes, for Swiss motorways — see our driving guide.

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Official sources

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