When is the Cheapest Time to Fly to Basel-Mulhouse?
As the nearest airport to Basel is served by a lot of low-cost airlines, it is easy to find cheap flights to Basel all year. The cheapest times to visit, however, is typically during the low season from March to June when there are fewer tourists in the city. Despite this, you’ll still be able to enjoy some Basel festivals. Basel flights increase in price in the summer and in the winter during the festive period.
When is the Best Time to Book your Flight to Basel-Mulhouse?
Luckily for you, there are often last-minute flights to Basel available, because it is served by so many budget airlines. If you want to get ahead of the crowd for summer or winter trips, try to book Basel flights at least two months in advance. Being flexible with your travel dates can also help you save some money.
Flying to EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL)
EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL) is named after the three cities it is closest to: Basel in Switzerland, which is only two miles (three kilometres) away, Mulhouse in France, located 12 miles (19 kilometres) away and Freiburg in Germany, the farthest away at 29 miles (47 kilometres) away. Although the airport is physically closest to Basel, it is actually located in France.
There are a number of direct flights to Basel from the United Kingdom. EasyJet offers direct flights from Bristol, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester. Basel flights from Manchester, Gatwick and London Luton leave daily, while flights from Edinburgh depart every day except Wednesdays and Saturdays. If you’d like to leave from Bristol, you’ll have to leave on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday or Sunday. British Airways has daily Basel flights from London Heathrow. For fans of Ryanair, the airline offers direct flights from London Stansted every day except for Tuesdays and Saturdays.
On Arrival and Getting Around the Airport
There is only one terminal at BSL, but when you leave the arrivals hall, you have the option to either enter France or Switzerland; follow the signs inside the building to get to your intended destination. The arrivals hall is on the ground floor (marked as Level 2 on signage). In the arrivals hall, there are ATMs, coin dispensers and a currency exchange kiosk. The airport has free Wi-Fi, a children’s play area and a lot of food and drink shops. On the Swiss side, there is also an office for the Swiss Federal Railways if you have any questions about rail travel.
Getting to the City from EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL)
Passengers have a number of options for onward travel. There is a large selection of coach and bus providers at BSL that connect to the three main cities as well as several, other locations in Switzerland, Germany and France. The airport is not directly linked to train stations in either France or Switzerland, but shuttle buses or trams can take you to train stations in Basel, Mulhouse and Freiburg. There are taxis outside both the French and Swiss sides. Additionally, you can hire a car on both sides of the border.
Why Visit Basel-Mulhouse?
Basel, located in northern Switzerland, is a prime location for exploring the beautiful Rhine region as it sits astride the mighty river. In August, watch – or join – thousands of swimmers as they jump in for the annual Rheinschwimmen. Filled with galleries, handsome architecture and a great line-up of festivals, including February’s Fasnacht, Basel has something to offer travellers all year round. Here’s a fun fact: Basel is the home of tennis pro Roger Federer. The city also hosts an international indoor men’s tennis competition every October.
Basel’s prime location near the border means that visitors will likely have the opportunity to visit two additional countries, France and Germany, during their trip if they so desire. It’s easy to get to both Mulhouse, France and Freiburg, Germany from Basel; cars, buses and trains all are great travel options. Even if you don’t want to travel that far, you can still visit France or Germany as some of the city’s suburbs are in a different country.
Don't Forget Before you Fly
British citizens do not need a visa for travel to Switzerland, France or Germany. British passport holders don’t need a visa to travel to any country in the EU – you can stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Your passport only needs to be valid for the length of your stay; it does not need to be valid beyond the duration of your stay. The currency in Switzerland is the franc, while France and Germany both use the euro. Credit cards are widely accepted, and there are plenty of ATMs.
