Car rental Basel Airport

If driving through burrowing Alpine tunnels, winding through wondrous mountain passes and gazing down upon valleys, lakes and picture-perfect scenery sounds like your thing, you’re going to love driving in Basel and beyond.

The airport is only a four-mile drive from the city itself, and this is a town so well-connected that it’s easy to navigate to the other major Swiss cities, as well as finding your way to Germany and France. You’ll actually start your trip in France, as technically that’s where Basel Airport is located.

You’ll find that roads throughout Switzerland are in excellent condition and pleasant to drive on – heavy traffic is relatively rare, too, though the larger cities can get busy during peak travel times.

There are a number of toll roads and tunnels, and the staff at our pick-up location will be happy to guide you through how to pay them, or find alternative routes.

Road rules are similar to those in the US. You’ll be driving on the right and seat belts must be worn by everyone in the vehicle.

Speed limits vary from area to area. Some residential areas have limits as low as 30km/h (around 18mph), but once you’re out on the highways connecting cities, you can drive up to 120km/h (74mph).

If you plan on heading deeper into Switzerland, you can reach all points south, east and west from Basel. Join the A3 for the country’s east, which initially cleaves to the German border before it joins the A1 and takes you to Zurich, one of Switzerland’s finest cities.

The A2, meanwhile, passes through the 10-mile long Alpine St. Gotthard tunnel as it cuts through the south of Switzerland all the way to the Italian border.

Whichever way you choose to travel from Basel Airport, you’re sure to quickly fall in love with the natural beauty of this spectacular country.

Basel somehow finds a way to effortlessly balance two seemingly opposite identities – the old and the new. One half is represented by the old town, the Aldstadt, the other by the innovative architecture and art that peppers the city.

This marriage of tradition and forward thinking is baked into the very DNA of Basel, with numerous notable design companies headquartering here. Both sides are ripe for discovery.

The medieval market

For a sense of Basel as it has been for centuries, head for Marktplatz. Here, amid the hustle and bustle of a working market, stalls overloaded with fresh produce, you’ll see the Rathaus.

This ochre-tinted city hall has stood on site since the 16^th century, while the nearby Spalentor city gate, only a short way away, is even older.

The old town spans both the Kleinbasel and Grossbasel parts of the city, separated by the Rhine and linked by a famed bridge, the 13^th century Mittlere Brucke.

The cathedral known as the Basler Munster is another must-see, its red stone facade looming large over the city. Erasmus of Rotterdam, whose tomb lies within, was a humanist and a key part of the Reformation.

When art comes alive

Basel’s commitment to the arts isn’t restricted to museums and galleries. It pops up on the streets, with installations and public works adding color to the various cantons.

It culminates in Art Basel, the yearly festival that takes place in June and is, perhaps, the most important event of its kind in the world.

Hundreds of galleries and thousands of artists display their work here, with a heavy focus on the contemporary and modern. Founded in 1970, the event has now branched out to Hong Kong and Miami Beach, emphasizing its importance.

Can’t-miss Swiss food

Basel's border-straddling location and cosmopolitan make-up means its food scene encompasses a wide range of world cuisine. But when in Switzerland, it would be remiss not to delve into those staple classics for which the country is famous.

You’ll find fondue in many city hotspots, but both Walliser Kanne and Restaurant Elsbethenstubli have their loyal fans. At the latter, the fondue is great, as is the raclette cheese with potatoes, the wiener schnitzel, the veal cordon bleu and the rosti.

A defiantly local specialty is the roasted flour soup, a simple dish of stock, butter, flour and onion sprinkled with grated gruyere. It’s on many menus, but best sampled at the Basel Carnival, which takes place every February or March. It may not sound like the most exciting dish, but its flavors will take your breath away.

From Basel to the border

Some of Basel’s attractions spill across the border – most notably the Vitra Design Museum which you’ll have to travel a short distance into Germany to visit.

It’s well worth it, with a building designed by the famed Frank Gehry – the man behind Bilbao’s Guggenheim – and a deep focus on design trends. It also has a shop, where you can pick out a design classic such as the Eames Lounge Chair to ship back home.

A border city with a friendly attitude and the gateway not just to the center of Europe but to its own sights and sounds, car rental at Basel Airport will put you right at the heart of the action.