Here’s our quick guide to your choice of north-south rail routes if you are traveling from central Europe through Switzerland to Italy.

There are just three routes to choose from: the Simplon, the Gotthard and the Bernina.

The Simplon route

Our rating: **

Used by four daily EuroCity services from Geneva to Milan and by the thrice daily EuroCity trains from Basel to Milan. Not our favorite option as the best of the scenery is missed in tunnels. The Geneva and Basel routes converge at Brig, and then run through the Simplon tunnel into Italy. The trains from Geneva do offer some super views as they skirt the northern edge of Lake Geneva. But the Basel route south through Berne is pretty but unspectacular, and then plunges through the 34km-long Lötschberg tunnel to reach Brig, where you get a breath of fresh air before diving into the Simplon tunnel.

On the plus side, there are some super views of Lake Maggiore as the train cruises through northern Italy towards Milan. Sit on the left for the views. And it is those lake views which are the redeeming factor for the Simplon route. So we give it two stars.

The Gotthard route

Our rating: **

Used each day by seven EuroCity trains from Zürich to Milan (and also one from Basel to Milan). This route is also taken by domestic Swiss services from Basel and Zürich to Locarno and Lugano. Indeed, this is the main north to south rail axis through Switzerland. The approach to the north side of the Gotthard Tunnel is classic Switzerland. Sit on the right side of the train for super lake views with range upon range of mountains edging ever closer.

With the opening of the new 57-km Gotthard Base Tunnel in 2016, the journey is now even less scenic.

The Bernina Express running right along Lake Bianco. Photo: Terry

The Bernina route

Our rating: *****

Far and away the finest of the three north-south routes from Switzerland into Italy. No ifs, no buts. The Bernina knocks spots off the competition. If you are in a rush to get into Italy, take the Simplon or Gotthard routes. But if you want to see the Alps, the Bernina is the obvious choice. This is the only route that goes over the Alps rather than tunneling through them.

The Bernina is served by Rhaetian Railway services from St Moritz (in the Swiss Engadin) to Tirano (in Italy). Local trains run hourly on this route throughout most of the day, although evening services are very limited. There are also some through trains from Chur and Davos to Tirano (branded “Bernina Express” and with a supplementary charge).

The beauty of the Bernina, particularly if you ride the local trains which stop at every tiny station, is that you have a real sense of engaging with the landscape. There are glaciers and Alpine meadows, with moments of high drama as the train drops down from high mountain terrain into serenely beautiful valleys. Beyond Tirano, the route runs south-west to Milan, skirting the east side of Lake Como for more than an hour.

The time question

So why does everyone not take the Bernina route? It seems to be really a matter of time. Sadly, most travelers are in a rush. And the lure of a direct train tempts folk to the faster Simplon and Gotthard routes. Journeys from the principal Swiss cities to Milan via the Bernina route require several changes of train. Here are some comparison journey times for Zürich to Milan:

via the Simplon route: 4 hrs 15 min
via the Gotthard route: 3 hrs 45 min
via the Bernina route: 10 hrs 05 min

The travel times speak for themselves. Yes, the Bernina journey takes more than twice as long, but it’s so very, very much better that canny travelers give the Alps the time they deserve. Indeed, there are a heap of places along the Bernina route which warrant an overnight stop, so why not spread the journey over two days?

Editor’s Note: Looking for more insider information on train travel across Europe? Pick up a copy of Europe by Rail, now in its 15th edition, it is the definitive guide for exploring the continent by train. You can also follow them on twitter at @EuropebyRail.

The post Crossing the Alps by Train: Three rail routes from Switzerland to Italy appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

It’s not, however, known for being a budget traveler’s paradise, or even a budget-friendly destination — and with good reason. That’s why we came up with this Basel budget guide.

There are several ways to make your time in Basel easier on your bank account. You’ll have to be flexible, and a little creative, but Basel on a budget is more doable than you might imagine. Especially since at the time of writing, the exchange rate of Swiss Francs (CHF) to USD is nearly 1 to 1 ($1 buys 1 Swiss Franc).

Related articles
• Recommended Zurich budget hotels under $100
• Switzerland by Train: Alternatives to the Glacier Express
• 5 Tips for finding cheap eats in Zurich

Basel budget travel guide

How to get there

Basel’s airport, EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, is a small international airport operated jointly by France and Switzerland and actually has three official airport codes: BSL, MLH and EAP. And get this: The one-building airport is located in France and connected to Basel city proper via a 1.6-mile-long customs road ceded to Switzerland by France.

At the time of writing, there are no direct transatlantic flights to Basel, so depending on your European itinerary, it may make more sense to fly into a major hub outside of Switzerland, like London, Paris, Barcelona, or Munich and then hop a budget flight on to Basel (which start at around $50 one-way).

Trains from elsewhere in Europe are slightly more expensive than flying with European low-cost carriers, and tickets start at around $60. If you’re already in Switzerland, buses and rideshares like BlaBlaCar are your cheapest option, but if your heart’s set on riding the rails you can save money on train fare by booking a super saver fare ahead of time online on the SBB website.

The tram is a fun way to get around Basel. Photo: schnitzel bank

How to get around in Basel

Once you’re in Basel, the city itself is mostly flat and quite walkable. That said if you’re staying in a hotel or a hostel, you should receive a Basel Mobility Ticket at check-in. The ticket covers all public transport in the city and surrounding areas (zones 10, 11, 13, and 15 including the airport) for the duration of your stay.

If you fly into Basel-Mulhouse that means you should be able to hop the bus from the airport to the city center from the airport for free. Just make sure to have your hotel reservation on hand, if possible printed in German to show the driver if he asks (he probably won’t, but better safe than sorry).

Why in German? Because, for whatever reason, our confirmed reservation print-out included the note about the free transportation in German, but not in English. We had to nicely ask the lady at the information desk to double-check when she told us we’d have to buy tram tickets to our hotel after quickly glancing at the English printout. When she wasn’t to keen on cooperating, we showed her the German version, and she checked everything out. Turns out we did get to ride the tram for free, and when we reached our hotel, we got our mobility passes.

Basel City Hall features exquisite frescoes. Photo: Jean

Free and Cheap Things to Do in Basel

Basel’s known the world over as a capital of culture and art. Unfortunately, many of its attractions have a price tag in line with that renown. On the plus side, there are a few different ways around paying full price for a few hours of culture.

Fondation Beyeler
At the Fondation Beyeler, visitors under 25 can see the collection of masterpieces by Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso and Warhol for free, and students under 30 for 12 CHF (instead of 28 CHF) with appropriate ID.

Kunstmuseum for free
The Kunstmuseum, home to the largest and most significant public collection of art in Switzerland, has a free “happy hour” Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 6 p.m. and is free the first Sunday of the month from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Basel Minster
A turn around the iconic red sandstone spires of Basler Münster, the city’s cathedral, can always be had free of charge. This striking building was built over the course of several centuries, and Erasmus of Rotterdam is buried there. The back courtyard is a lovely place to take in views of the Rhine and the city.

City Hall
Visitors can also take a look at the frescoes in the courtyard at the Rathaus, Basel’s 500-year old City Hall building for free.

The BaselCard (Now free!)
One final option for Cheapos who want to spend less is the BaselCard. This tourist card gives free use of public transport, 50% off admission to pretty much all of the museums in town worth seeing, the zoo, walking tours, theater, and even a free ferry ride across the Rhine. So what will the BaselCard cost you? Nothing! Every hotel guest receives this card for free when they check in. Read more about the details and perks of BaselCard here.

Carnival: Basel’s biggest street party

Basel’s carnival celebration (“Fasnacht“) is the largest in Switzerland and the most famous protest carnival in the world. It dates back to before the 14th century. It’s a three-day celebration starting the Monday after Ash Wednesday at 4 a.m. In the city’s old town, the streetlights are turned off and masked participants kick off the festival marching around with hanging lanterns to drums and piccolos.

This organized chaos is free to observe, but if you don’t want to spend a good-sized chunk of your time picking confetti out of your hair, you might want to spring for a Blaggedde carnival badge. They’re sold at kiosks around town during the festival and by participants themselves starting at for about 9 CHF ($9) and afford you some good will from local revelers as the sale of the badges helps fund the event.

It’s also important to note that for obvious reasons, accommodation during the festival will be substantially more expensive and harder to come by.

Cheap eats and drinks

Basel, as all of Switzerland, isn’t the cheapest place to eat and drink by any means. Compared to countries like Portugal and Spain, the prices seem borderline obscene. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to reduce the expense.

Grocery stores
For the most savings, travelers are best off shopping at grocery stores and cooking for themselves. Keep an eye out for the German chain ALDI which is cheaper than local chain COOP. Either one, of course, is cheaper than eating in restaurants!

Street vendors
Street vendors are always a good bet for affordable snacks (think about $5 for a hot dog) but the quantity to quality price ratio might mean you’re better off at a restaurant.

Our favorite cheap restaurants
For the best prices at restaurants, focus on informal Asian and Middle-Eastern restaurants or go out at lunchtime for a fixed price menu. Here are some cheapo prices (for Basel!)

• Kebabs and Falafels run around $8-10.

• A medium takeaway pizza will cost you about $15.

• For authentic local food, we like the open-faced sandwiches for 3.50 CHF each at the Brotli Bar (Gerbergasse 84).

• Or fill up on a plate of Indian Food for 11 CHF at Ganapathy (Mattenstrasse 50).

• A portion of Raclette (grilled/melted cheese) in a traditional restaurant like Walliser Kanne costs around 20 CHF.

Coffee culture
Coffee is particularly expensive, and pretty much everywhere I ordered one it cost $4-5, which incidentally, is the same price as a glass of house wine, or a pint of beer on tap in many establishments. Nice coffee shops will include a glass of tap water and maybe a traditional Leckerli cookie with your caffeine fix.

Tip: Skip major fast-food chains unless you’re dying to try McDonald’s “Raclette Burger” and willing to pay twice as much as you would stateside for your McMenu.

Cheap Sleeps in Basel

Very basic and centrally located accommodations in Basel with a private bathroom can be had from about 60 CHF per night.  Hostels are more wallet-friendly starting at around 25 CHF for a bunk in mixed dorms. Search budget hotels in Basel for your dates now.

Double rooms are modern and affordable at STAY@Basel SBB.

Hotel & Lounge by Hyve Basel SBB

For a very comfortable budget experience in a good location, we like the Hotel & Lounge by Hyve Basel SBB’s rooms with shared bathrooms and a fully-equipped kitchen for guests.

If your accommodations offer free breakfast or the possibility of adding breakfast for $5 or less per person, it’s probably worth it — remember a coffee will cost you about that. Even if the breakfast is just coffee and tea with cereal, toast and pastries, it’ll be well-worth it. Even better, there will probably be fruit, cheese and cold cuts, too.

Browse and book over 150 hotels in Basel

If you can’t find a reasonably-priced hotel in the city center for non-negotiable dates, don’t stress too much about booking something a little further out — you’ll still get a mobility pass, and Basel’s transit is fast, comfortable, and efficient.

Your Budget tips for Basel

Have you been to Basel? Do you have any good budget tips of your own?

The post Switzerland: A Basel budget travel guide to help you save appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.