Get to Basel

Swiss train - Photo by Uwe Conrad on Unsplash

Basel is called “The Heart of Europe” for a reason. Located at the crossroad of three countries – Switzerland, France, and Germany – Basel is exceptionally accessible by various means of transportation. The city’s well-connected airport, efficient Swiss, German and French train networks, and cross-border roads make it an easy destination for travelers from across Europe and beyond.

Basel on Google Maps

Basel is a major international railroad junction at the heart of Europe, with excellent rail connections (see below) that make it easy to travel to and from neighboring countries, including direct high speed train connections by ICE from Germany and by TGV from France.

For air travelers (see below), the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is a unique international airport that serves Switzerland, France and Germany. This makes it a convenient gateway for travelers coming from various parts of the world. The airport is well-connected to major European cities and offers a wide range of flights, making it a convenient option for travelers from all corners of the globe. Basel is also serviced by the Zurich airport.

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

From cityRailRoadAir
Amsterdam6 hrs 457 hrs1 hr 20
Barcelona9 hrs 159 hrs 201 hr 50
Berlin 7 hrs 108 hrs1 hr 30
Bern1 hr1 hr 10No direct flight
Brussels6 hrs5 hrs 301 hr 10
Copenhagen12 hrs 5011 hrs 401 hr 50
Frankfurt2 hrs 453 hrs1 hr 10
Geneva2 hrs 452 hrs 40No direct flight
London8 hrs 009 hrs 201 hr 30
Madrid13 hrs 3014 hrs 302 hrs 20
Milan4 hrs4 hrsNo direct flight
Munich5 hrs 304 hrs 101 hr
Paris3 hrs5 hrs 101 hr 10
Rome8 hrs9 hrs1 hr 30
Stockholm21 hrs19 hrs2 hrs 50
Vienna10 hrs8 hrs 151 hr 40
Zurich55 min1 hrsNo direct flight

Rail

Favorite sustainable transport, the main SBB station 20 minutes walk from the venue, see the “Getting around in Basel” page. Furthermore, the ICE trains from Germany also stop at Basel Bad Bahnhof, close to the Congress Center.

The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) network connects Basel with major European cities like Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, and Zurich, making it a convenient destination for international travelers. The Basel SBB railway station, located in the heart of the city, is a bustling transportation hub with frequent train services that provide a seamless and efficient way to explore the region.

  • Frankfurt by ICE: 2h 45min
  • Paris by TGV: 3h 00min
  • Milan Central by SBB: 4h 06min

www.sbb.ch 

Car

Connected to motorway in Switzerland, France and Germany network

By air

EuroAirport – Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg

This tri-national airport (Switzerland/France/Germany) is located 8 km northwest from Basel city. The airport shuttle buses take you to the train station Basel SBB and the venue Messe & Congress Center Basel in about 20 minutes. It has flight connections with over 90 international cities, amongst the hubs London Heathrow, Paris CdG, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Madrid.

More info: euroairport.com

Zurich Airport

  • Switzerland’s international hub is located about 1h 15min from Basel. Around 170 destinations are served from Zurich.
  • There are direct trains from Zurich Airport to Basel SBB train station as well as trains with changing once at Zurich HB (Zurich main train station). 

More info: zurich-airport.com 

How you get from Zurich Airport to Basel SBB train station: