Getting around
Basel,without a car.
Walk the Old Town, take the tram for everything else. Here is how to arrive by train or plane and move around during your stay.
Exploring on foot
Basel’s Old Town is compact and best explored on foot. Most sights in the centre are within walking distance of each other.
The lanes around Spalenberg, the Marktplatz, the Münster and the Rhine are all part of the same historic centre. Some lanes are steep and cobbled, so comfortable shoes help. Crossing the Mittlere Brücke brings you to Kleinbasel and its riverside promenade.
A short Old Town walk links the main sights.
Trams & buses
Basel has a dense tram and bus network, run within the city mainly by BVB. It connects the Old Town with Basel SBB, Messe Basel and the outer districts.
Plan journeys with the official BVB timetable, which shows current lines, stops and any disruptions. For museums outside the centre, such as the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen, check the route on the day.
BVB: timetables and traffic informationFrom Basel SBB
Basel SBB is the city’s main railway station. From there, the Old Town is reached by tram or on foot.
Enter the station and your Old Town destination into the BVB timetable to see current connections. With luggage, a tram into the Old Town is usually easier than walking up its slopes.
Barfüsserplatz and Marktplatz are the most useful central tram stops for the Old Town.
Basel Tourism: arrival and getting aroundFrom EuroAirport
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is connected to Basel SBB by bus 50. From Basel SBB, continue to the Old Town by tram.
Check departure times for your arrival, especially for late flights. The airport sits in France, with a Swiss sector; follow the signs for the Swiss exit.
Basel Tourism: arrival and getting aroundTo Messe Basel
Messe Basel is on Messeplatz, on the Kleinbasel side of the Rhine, with its own tram stop.
For Art Basel and other fairs, check the entrance given by the organiser and allow for busy trams at opening and closing times.
Messe Basel: getting hereThe BaselCard
If you stay overnight in Basel, your hotel, hostel, B&B or apartment gives you the BaselCard, the city’s guest card.
According to Basel Tourism (checked in September 2026), it includes free public transport in Basel and the surrounding area for your whole stay, up to 30 days, and 25% off many museums and attractions, such as Basel Zoo. Your booking confirmation for a hotel or an Airbnb in Basel also counts as a ticket for the first journey from the station or EuroAirport to your accommodation. The card is not valid for trips to the Vitra Design Museum or into France. Benefits can change, so check the official page before you rely on a particular discount or journey.
Basel Tourism: BaselCard conditionsTransport information checked against the linked official sources on . Timetables change; always check current services before travelling.