Car Rental at Basel Airport

Airport travel guide

A large and historic city near both France and Germany, Basel is one of the most interesting Swiss destinations. In addition to having plenty of landmarks and architecture to marvel at, the city also offers access to the most interesting places in northwest Switzerland. With that in mind, these are six of the most notable attractions in and around Basel:

• Museums. Basel is home to a variety of high-quality museums, though there are too many to name them all separately,  The standout among them is arguably the Kunstmuseum or Fine Arts Museum which celebrated its 340th birthday in 2021 and features works by such famous masters as Rembrandt, Picasso, Gauguin, and Worhol. Other notable cultural institutions include the Basel Paper Mill, Museum of Ancient Art, Dollhouse Museum, and Museum of Cultures. Outside the city center is the futuristic Jean Tinguely Museum of kinetic art.
• Basel Zoo. The zoo, founded in 1874, is the oldest in Switzerland and one of the two most visited zoos in the country, together with the Zurich Zoo.
• Basler Münster is one of the most impressive buildings in the city. The first stone of the Gothic church was laid exactly 1,000 years ago (in 1019); later, the church was destroyed by an earthquake in 1366 but was quickly rebuilt.  After this, the southern tower was added.
• Rathaus. Located in Marktplatz, the main square of Basel, the city’s town hall is also one of its most beautiful buildings. 500 years old, it continues to fulfill its original function, but you can marvel at its maroon facade from the outside and even take a look into the courtyard. The Rathaus is near the left bank of Rhine and such landmarks as the aforementioned Kunsthaus and St. Alban’s gate.
• Freiburg im Breisgau. Located an hour’s drive north, Freiburg im Breisgau is one of the most beautiful cities in southern Germany. Located on the edge of the Black Forest, itself a fascinating destination, Freiburg is known for its abundance of notable buildings, historical atmosphere, and one of the most impressive cathedrals in Europe. Ask your rental car supplier in advance if they permit you to cross the border.
• Mulhouse. Located 35 km from Basel, the French city of Mulhouse in Alsace is famous for its rich collection of museums worth visiting. Among the most notable is the Musée de l'Automobile, which exhibits an impressive collection of old and modern cars and motorbikes and cycles. The Musée de l'Impression sur Étoffes is also very interesting, highlighting Mulhouse's history and evolution of textile printing. The Musée des Beaux-Arts offers a fine selection of European works of art from the Middle Ages to the contemporary period. The EDF Electropolis Museum, dedicated to the history of electricity, is a unique museum offering interactive and exciting exhibitions for the whole family. The Musée du Papier Peint in Rixheim houses exceptional collections of wallpapers and decorative art objects. The Zoological and Botanical Park in Mulhouse is a must-see, with more than 1,200 animals and 3,500 plant species. Finally, to the north of Mulhouse, the Écomusée d'Alsace offers an immersion into traditional rural life in Alsace, with authentic reconstructed houses and buildings, gardens and animals. Ask your rental car supplier in advance if they permit you to cross the border.

Top international routes

• London
• Amsterdam
• Pristina
• Frankfurt
• Munich
• Istanbul
• Barcelona
• Paris
• Berlin
• Budapest

Main airlines

easyJet Switzerland, TUI fly Deutschland, Wizz Air, Aigle Azur, Lufthansa, and Ryanair

Terminals

The single passenger terminal has four levels and is divided into a French sector and a Swiss sector. The crossing point between the two is the departures area on level 3.

Location

Located in the Alsace region in France, Basel-Mulhouse Airport serves locations in three different countries: Switzerland, France, and Germany. Since all three countries are members of the Schengen Area, there are no border controls between them, and you can easily cross the border between any two of them by car. The airport is located about 3.5 km (2.2 mi) northwest of Basel in Switzerland, about 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Mulhouse in France, and about 46 km (29 mi) southwest of Freiburg in Germany. Route Douanière de l'Aéroport à Bâle and Flughafenstrasse are the main roads connecting the airport to Basel. Motorway A35 and Avenue Robert Schuman connect the airport to Mulhouse. Motorways A35, A36, A5, and B31a connect the airport to Freiburg. The cities of Strasbourg, Zurich, and Bern can all be reached in 90 minutes or less by car.

Most popular types of rental car

• Small cars - from $80 per day
• SUVs - from $78 per day
• Medium cars - from $57 per day
• Station wagons - from $68 per day
• Large cars - from $94 per day
• Vans - from $105 per day
• Premium cars - from $152 per day

Car rental desks

In the French sector, the car rental desks are on level 2, in hall 1. In the Swiss sector, the car rental desks are on level 2, in hall 4. The exact location of your car rental provider's desk will be listed on your Confirmation Voucher.

Services and facilities

You’ll find snack shops, bars, fast food outlets, a restaurant, and a brasserie. The airport has many shops, including duty-free shops for passengers either traveling outside the EU or traveling into Switzerland. There are many ATMs and currency exchanges. You’ll also find a lounge, a children’s play area, a baby changing room, luggage wrapping services, a lost and found office, and a photo booth. Basel-Mulhouse Airport is equipped for passengers with reduced mobility, and wheelchairs and other types of transport are available. You can find more information on the airport's official website.

Nearest gas station

There is a gas station in the French section next to car park 6, and another one in the Swiss sector next to car park 3. There are many other gas stations near the airport, in Basel, and on the way to Mulhouse or Freiburg.

Popular one-way rentals

• Strasbourg (130 km / 81 miles)
• Freiburg (75 km / 47 miles)
• Zürich (91 km / 57 miles)
• Stuttgart (265 km / 165 miles)
• Geneva (258 km / 161 miles)
• Paris (564 km / 350 miles)
• Bern (103 km / 64 miles)
• Milan (345 km / 214 miles)