Car Rental at Basel Airport

Basel Airport, or to give it its full official name Euro Airport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, is located less than 4 miles or 7 km of central Basel.

Since the airport actually occupies French soil, the complex is jointly managed by Swiss and French airport authorities and the single terminal building is divided into two sectors. More than 5 million passengers used the airport in 2011 and its close proximity to both the French and German border regions make it a great base for exploration of all three countries.

Car hire at Basel Airport is located in the two different sectors of the terminal. Passengers looking to hire a car will find Avis, Europcar, Hertz, National and Sixt in the French sector in hall 1 on level 2. Car rental Basel can also be found in the Swiss sector, where car hire stations for suppliers such as Avis, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt can be found on level 2 in hall 4.

List of all car rental companies at Basel Airport:

• Alamo: +41 8 4844 5522
• Avis: +41 6 1325 2840
• Budget: +41 6 1325 2840
• Dollar: +41 6 1325 2780
• Edel And Stark Luxury Fleet: +41 6 2295 1515
• Enterprise: +41 8 4844 5522
• Europcar: +41 6 1325 2903
• Flizzr: +41 8 4888 4444
• Hertz: +41 6 1325 2780
• National: +41 8 4844 5522
• Sixt: +41 8 4888 4444
• Thrifty: +41 6 1325 2780
• Unirent: +41 6 1325 2903

The A35 motorway connects the airport with Basel and Mulhouse. The Alsace region is a popular holiday destination for hikers and people who adore the excellent white wine and cuisine of the region. Motorists can reach Saint-Louis in France in just 5 minutes and a half hour drive will take visitors to Mulhouse. The drive to Basel will only take 5 minutes by hire car.

Colmar is also a favourite with tourists, especially since it only takes 50 minutes to get there by car. Car rental companies at the Airport can supply a large variety of models and makes; from small vehicles suitable for an extended weekend trip to station wagons, SUV's or people carriers suitable for a 3-country exploration! It takes just 60 minutes to get to Berne, Zürich or Lucerne in Switzerland, where great food, excellent shopping and some fantastic tourist attractions await visitors.

The airport has only one terminal building, so it is easy to get around upon arrival and follow the signs to car rental Basel Airport. For passengers with questions about the best tourist attractions in Basel or where to stay near the airport, there is a helpful information desk on level 2, which is open from 5.30 am to midnight daily.

For refreshments and snacks passengers should to level 5, where restaurants and bars are located. These are open in the Swiss Sector from Monday to Sunday from 08.00 to 23.00 and in the French sector from Monday to Thursday from 09.00 to 23.00 and from Friday to Sunday from 08.00 to 23.00.

The city of Basel offers some wonderful tourist attractions for all the family. There is Basel Zoo or the Doll’s House Museum on Barfüsserplatz, the Swiss Architecture Museum, the gorgeous, bright red Marktplatz shopping arcade with the impressive City Hall close by, the red sandstone Basel Cathedral, not to mention picturesque Basel Old Town with its higgledy-piggledy, crooked half-timbered houses and narrow alleyways!

The best way to explore Basel and its surroundings is to purchase a BaselCard, which is a pass that allows tourists free or reduced entrance fees to a multitude of attractions and events. A 24 hour pass for adults costs from EUR 15.00 and EUR 7.50 for children (prices 2011). The pass includes a free guided tour of the city, a free ferry ride and reductions on a variety of boat trips among other things. It is also possible to get reduction on car rental with the BaselCard.