I will be spending a week in Basel, from April 24 to May 1st. I’ve rented an apt near the Kleines Klingental Museum and will visit many sites including: Barfüsserkirche, Kunstmuseum Basel’s Hauptbau, Fondation Beyeler, Bürgerliches Waisenhaus Basel, Rathaus, Haus zum Kirschgarten, Museum Tinguely, Vitra Design Museum, Forum Würth Arlesheim plus general wandering around the old area, doing the Rehberger-Weg, a free jazz concert at Tinguely, a lunch concert at Offene Kirche Elisabethean and a tour/walk at the University of Basel Botanical Garden. After these busy days, I will be resting my feet at night and eating in my apt. (with good bread, cheese, meats and pastries!). I’m really looking forward to exploring a place I haven’t been before and although I’ve done lots of research, I have a few questions that I’m hoping Fodorites can help with!

Train from Zurich airport to Basel SBB: I’ve researched this,but wanted to check with the Fodorite experts to be sure I interpreted it correctly! I am trying to figure out the timing of a train from Zurich airport to Basel SBB train station. My Swiss Air flight from Rome arrives at ZUR @ 16:40 on Monday, April 24th; I will have one checked suitcase which I will have to retrieve; also, I’m a US citizen who arrived in Rome via a cruise ship from Florida….so I don’t know if I will have to go through Swiss Customs/Border/Immigration in Zurich. In looking at the SBB timetables, I was trying to figure which train departure I would be able to catch but my research (from seat61) indicates that “There is one standard price between any two Swiss stations using a given route, good for any train that day. The price is fixed and availability is unlimited, so you can buy at this price at the station on the day. You sit in any seat you like on any train you like.” Is this correct? That would be very helpful. (I would buy the ticket in advance online at SBB site to have one less logistic to worry about upon arrival.)

I noticed that there is a train (InterRegional 36 departing 18:56) that doesn’t require a change of trains in Zurich which is appealing to me since the time allowed between arrival of many trains from the airport and departures of other trains to Basel SBB is usually less than 10 minutes and I’m worried that I wouldn’t make that platform change (since I will have a heavy-ish wheeled suitcase and am not familiar with platform locations, elevators, etc.). Does my idea of taking a direct train make sense or am I missing something?

Watching English soccer/football: there will be some big matches during the week of April 24th and the apt I’m renting does not have a sport channel so I looked for sports bars. Two central bars, Mr. Pickwick’s Pub and Paddy Reilly’s, are sports bars – any other ideas or anyone know if the area is safe for me to take Tram 6 back to my apt at about 21:00?

Historic area: I like to wander areas, explore lanes and look at the buildings (don’t care about shopping – other than pastry or chocolate). I was thinking about St. Alban’s area but read somewhere that Spalenberg has more of a local feeling of authenticity. I’d appreciate any comments!

I’ve read multiple forum posts and noted restaurants, etc. I enjoy taking a break by having lunch in museum restaurants/cafes, so will likely do that plus one or two “nice” lunches in restaurants with set lunches.

Thank you in advance to all the Fodorites!

Correct, when you buy an SBB ticket it's day and destination specific, but not time specific, so take whichever time you want in order to get where you're going. If you miss a train, just take the next one. And no reserved seats other than making sure that if you get a 2nd class ticket that you get on the cars marked with the big "2" on the outside.

Direct trains are nice if they are an option. If not, it's not the end of the world to have a 10 minute change over. I've done it with a bunch of luggage in about 5 minutes. You have to be prepared before your stop comes up to be near the exit doors of the train and know ahead of time which platform you're arriving at and which you're departing from (SBB app on your phone) and you can make it, you just have to be very diligent and focused with where you're going.

You will have already gone through immigration in Rome, so you won't be doing it again in Switzerland. The Zurich airport is fairly efficient and the train station is in the basement so it's not unrealistic to be getting a train 45 minutes to an hour after you land if all goes well.

Make sure when you're looking at trains you're getting the ones departing from "Zurich Flughafen" -- the airport station, not Zurich HB (city center).

kho - thank you for this info. It would be great to be getting on a train an hour after my flight arrives and if I end up getting on a train that requires transferring, I'll feel more comfortable with a 10 min window.

If you arrive from Rome, there is neither passport nor customs control at Zurich airport. I usually count about 30-40 minutes between landing of the plane and departure of the train (with checked luggage), may be 5 min more if you must get a ticket at the ticket machine. All Zurich main station (and Basel) bound trains leave from the same platform.
There are 11 trains per hour between Zurich airport and Zurich main station and 3 trains every hr between Zurich main station and Basel..
So you best walk from the baggage claim to the railway platform (all inside the airport terminal building).and board the next available Zurich bound train. Only exception: if you missed the 17.38 train, wait until 17.56 and board the direct Basel bound train..
At Zurich main station, each Basel bound train leaves from a different platform. It's nevertheless easy to change in 5-10 mkinutes as there are tons of electronic signs leading you to the right place. And if something should get wrong nevertheless, you wouldn't have to wait more than 25 minutes until the next train departure.
Warning: if you buy your ticket in the web, don't buy a supersaver ticket, because it would be non refundable and valid in the train you booked for only. Buy a standard ticket for 39 CH/OW.

Thank you - you've both put my mind at ease that I will be able to change platforms quickly if I don't get a train that goes directly to Basel from the airport. Good tip about the SBB app and buying a standard priced ticket.