Der Zugverkehr am Abend beim Bahnhof SBB

Travelling to and getting around in Basel

Basel lies in the heart of Europe, on both banks of the Rhine. The Swiss city is the centre of the idyllic border triangle of France, Germany and Switzerland – lying between the Swiss Jura, Germany’s Black Forest and the Vosges in Alsace. Thanks to its manageable size and the excellent public transport network, it’s quick and easy to get around the city.

Travelling to Basel

If you are travelling by air, you can reach the city via EuroAirport or nearby Zurich Airport. It’s very easy to plan your journey via the three railway stations and the major motorways. Cruise ships also travel down the Rhine to Basel every day.

Arrival by train

Arrival by car

Arrival by ship 

Arrival by aeroplane

How long does it take to get from A to Basel? 

 By aeroplaneBy train
Amsterdam1 hr 25 mins6 hrs 45 mins
Barcelona1 hr 50 mins10 hrs
Berlin1 hr 35 mins8 hrs 15 mins
BernNo direct flight1 hr
Brussels1 hr 10 mins6 hrs
Copenhagen1 hr 45 mins11 hrs 20 mins
Frankfurt45 mins2 hrs 40 mins
GenevaNo direct flight2 hrs 45 mins
London1 hr 30 mins7 hrs 05 mins
Madrid2 hrs 20 mins13 hrs 30 mins
MilanNo direct flight4 hrs 05 mins
Munich1 hr5 hrs 10 mins
Paris1 hr3 hrs
Rome1 hr 30 mins8 hrs
Stockholm2 hrs 50 mins21 hrs
Vienna1 hr 40 mins9 hrs
ZurichNo direct flight55 mins

Getting around in Basel

You are sure to enjoy the fact that nothing is far away in our city. Here, you can find out more about getting from A to B in Basel – whether on foot, by tram or bus, or with a taxi. 

BaselCard | Free

Public transport

Ferries
Basel

Exploring Basel on foot

BaselCard | CHF 20

Guest Bike Basel
Das Hotel Wettstein liegt im Herzen von Basel inmitten eines schönen Wohnquartiers in unmittelbarer Nähe zum Rhein.

Taxi
Als ehemaliges Arbeiterquartier steht das St. Johann seit je her für das Zusammentreffen unterschiedlichster Kulturen. Dank dem Novartis Campus, der hier nach und nach als «Stadt in der Stadt» entsteht, erhält diese Tradition auch in jüngerer Zeit eine Fortführung. /// As a former workers’ district, St. Johann has always been a place where a wide variety of cultures come together. This tradition has continued in recent years – thanks to the Novartis Campus, which is gradually developing into a «city within the city».

Car hire
Ein Rollstuhlsymbol am Boden zeigt den stufen- und hindernisfreien Einstieg bei einer Tramhaltestelle an.

Barrier-free Basel

Good to know. 

  • Airport bus no. 50 will take you conveniently to Basel Swiss SBB railway station. From there, you can walk or take public transport to the city centre. 

    • St. Johann passenger boat terminal Steiger 1 and Steiger 2: tram no. 11 in the direction of “St. Louis Grenze”, get off at “St. Johannstor” tram stop
    • Steiger Klybeckquai and Platform 2 Klybeckquai: tram no. 8 in the direction of “Weil am Rhein”, get off at “Kleinhüningen” tram stop
    • Dreiländereck passenger boat terminal: tram no. 8 in the direction of “Weil am Rhein”, get off at “Kleinhüningen” tram stop

  • You can rent bicycles from “Rent A Bike” in Basel Swiss SBB railway station.

  • At the SBB railway station, in the main hall on the first basement level. Payment methods: coins in Swiss francs, Maestro, PostFinance Card, V Pay, Mastercard, Visa, American Express, myOne, Diners Club, JCB, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, SBB gift card.