Basel-Mulhouse Travel Guide: Things to Do & Best Time to Visit

With three countries on the doorstep, the region offers art, history and riverside life in one trip.

• Basel Old Town — Wander medieval lanes to the red sandstone Basel Minster and the colourful Town Hall on Marktplatz.
• Kunstmuseum Basel — See one of the oldest public art collections in the world, from old masters to modern art.
• Fondation Beyeler — Visit this renowned modern art museum in a Renzo Piano building in Riehen, just outside Basel.
• Rhine swimming — In summer, join locals floating down the Rhine through Basel with a waterproof swim bag.
• Cité de l’Automobile, Mulhouse — Explore one of the world’s largest car museums, home to the Schlumpf collection.
• Cité du Train, Mulhouse — Discover a major railway museum with historic locomotives and carriages.
• Vitra Design Museum — Cross into Weil am Rhein, Germany, to see design exhibitions and architecture by leading architects.

The Upper Rhine has a mild continental climate. May to September is the best time to visit, with warm weather for riverside terraces, Rhine swimming in high summer and day trips into the Black Forest, the Vosges and Alsace’s wine villages. Art Basel, a major international art fair, takes place in June.

Winters are cold and often foggy, but December brings festive Christmas markets to both Basel and Mulhouse. Basel Fasnacht, the city’s famous carnival, begins at 4 am on the Monday after Ash Wednesday and lasts three days, filling the old town with lanterns, piccolos and drums.

EuroAirport is located near Saint-Louis in France, about 6 kilometres north-west of Basel and around 25 kilometres south-east of Mulhouse. It is run jointly by France and Switzerland and has separate French and Swiss sectors, so check which exit suits your onward journey.

From the Swiss sector, buses run to Basel’s main railway station (Basel SBB). From the French side, buses connect to Saint-Louis railway station, where regional trains continue to Mulhouse and Strasbourg. Taxis are available on both sides, and ride-hailing can also be used.

Choose your base depending on whether you want Swiss city life or French Alsatian charm.

• Grossbasel (Basel Old Town) — Ideal for sightseeing, museums and dining in the historic heart of Basel.
• Kleinbasel — Across the Rhine, with a relaxed riverside promenade, bars and a more local feel.
• Mulhouse city centre — Suits travellers exploring Alsace, with easy access to the museums and good-value hotels.
• Saint-Louis — A practical choice close to the airport and on the rail line between Basel and Mulhouse.

• Money: Basel uses Swiss francs and the French side uses euros; cards are widely accepted in both, and some Basel shops also accept euros.
• Getting around: Trams, buses and regional trains link the three countries easily; keep your ID handy as checks at the borders are possible.
• Airport exits: Follow signs for the Swiss or French exit depending on where you are heading.
• Etiquette: A polite greeting when entering shops, in French or German, is appreciated.
• Mobile roaming: Switzerland is not in the EU, so check your roaming plan before crossing into Basel.