Auto Europe
Car hire in Basel – Touring Switzerland in Style
One of the most precious jewels in Switzerland's glittering tourism crown, Basel is one of the prettiest and most historically interesting places in all of central Europe. With its picture-book Old Town and numerous masterpieces of contemporary architecture, it is a stylish city bursting with fascinating contrasts and many interesting touring itineraries both inside and outside its perimeter.
Located at the precise point where the three countries of France, Germany and Switzerland converge, its attractive location on the Rhine provides plenty of add-on appeal for visitors, such as relaxing river cruises out into the city's environs. And with some forty museums depicting a wide variety of themes, including the internationally-renowned Basel Art Museum, the cultural life in Basel is unequalled for a city of its relatively small size.
Travelling to this wonderful city couldn't be easier. Several major international airlines fly to Basel Airport, which is located just fifteen minutes from the centre, plus Basel also has three centrally-located train stations that provide travellers with excellent connections to many other European destinations. Visitors with a car hire in Basel are spoilt for choice with Zurich, the capital, just over an hour's drive away, for instance.
Auto Europe is an international car rental company with almost 70 years' experience in the heart of the travel industry. Besides offering the lowest rates on the market, we currently have more than 28,000 convenient pick-up and drop-off points in over 190 popular destinations, including Basel. You can book online now or contact our rental specialists and they will be happy to find you the best deal. For added peace of mind, please take a look at the comments posted by previous Auto Europe customers on our Basel car hire reviews page.
For more information on renting a vehicle in Basel, click on the car hire related topics listed below:
| Suppliers | Car Hire FAQs | Travel Guide |
Where to pick up a car hire in Basel
By working with all the world's top car hire providers, Auto Europe can provide you with an excellent choice of locations in and around Basel, meaning that you can pick up your vehicle in the city centre and be on your way in a few minutes. Besides the many car hire companies operating at Basel Airport and SBB Train Station, there are several conveniently-located suppliers' offices in other parts of the city, most of which are in close proximity to Basel's top tourist attractions. To help you make the right choice, our state-of-the-art booking engine allows you to do an extensive search to find the best vehicle and the most suitable pick-up point for your trip. Once you've keyed in your dates, an interactive map will come up with all the available for cheap car hire in Basel.
Basel Airport
Conveniently situated near the borders of Germany, France and Switzerland, Basel Airport caters for millions of passengers (busiess and leisure) each year who fly to and from dozens of Europe's most popular European cities, including some in the UK. The airport serves three major cities: Basel (Switzerland) located just 6 km (3.7 miles) away, Freiburg (Germany) located 70 km (43 miles) away and Mulhouse (France) located 22 km (14 miles) away. The list of airlines currently operating at BSL includes Aegean Airlines, Air Albania, Air Algérie, Air Arabia, Air Cairo, Air France Hop, Air Transat, AnadoluJet, Austrian Airlines, British Airways (London–Heathrow), Brussels Airlines, Chair Airlines, Corendon Airlines, easyJet (Bristol, Edinburgh, London–Gatwick and Manchester), Eurowings, FlyEgypt, Helvetic Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Nouvelair, Pegasus Airlines, Ryanair (Dublin), SunExpress, TUI fly, Tunisair, Turkish Airlines, Vueling and Wizz Air. To pick up your Auto Europe car hire in Basel, just head for the suppliers' desks on the second level of the terminal (halls 1 and 4) with all your documents to had.
Basel Airport (BSL)
Website: Basel Airport
Address: Saint-Louis Cedex, F-68304, France (official address)
Telephone: +33 3 89 90 31 11
Basel SBB Train Station
Inaugurated way back in 1854, Basel SBB Train Station is a major rail and city public transportation centre located in very close proximity to the heart of the city centre. Besides a good selection of cafés, bars and restaurants, it offers passengers a large shopping centre with over fifty units right on its premises, as well as a health centre. Some international car rental suppliers like Europcar have their offices near the station entrance, with the pick-up point equally accessible in a nearby car park. When you arrive to collect your low-cost car rental in Basel, it always helps to have all your documents ready, including your passport, driving licence, car hire voucher, coverage details in order to speed up the collection process.
Basel SBB Train Station
Website: Basel SBB Train Station
Address: Centralbahnstrasse 10, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Telephone: +41 51 229 31 55
Book with the best car hire suppliers in Basel
Auto Europe is a leading international car hire company currently offering a vast selection of convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in 190 different destinations around the world. Thanks to our many years of experience dealing with all the global and local car rental companies, we can offer you the best standard of service and cheapest prices on the market.
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Should you require additional information about the car hire companies we work with or their policies, for example out of office pick up or questions regarding age restrictions, our car rental specialists are just a phone call or e-mail away and happy to assist you.
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Basel
This section features the most frequent questions asked by people booking a car hire in Basel. Scroll down for important tips relating to a wide range of essential car hire topics, such as credit cards, coverage, tolls, traffic and much more. If you need any more information, please contact our reservations team and they will be happy to help you with your reservation and assist you with your travel itinerary.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Basel?
Yes. To pick up your car rental in Basel, you will need to present a valid credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Diners or American Express) in the main driver's name along with all your other documents when you arrive at the supplier's desk. The reason for this is because the local rental company will require a deposit to be blocked on the card which they will hold against any damage done that might be done to the vehicle during the rental period. For more detailed information concerning the use of credit cards when renting a car in Basel, please take a look at our related blog post on the most important things you need to know about credit cards and deposits. When booking a premium or luxury category car, the supplier might ask for a second credit card (also in the main driver's name) due to the very high cost of such vehicles. All the credit card information you need such as the amount of the deposit and which types of card are accepted etc. can easily be accessed whilst making a quick search through the Auto Europe booking engine. All you need to do is choose your preferred car hire category and supplier before clicking on the blue and white info icon (i) where you will find all the relevant details.
What insurance do I need for my car rental in Basel?
When you make a search for cheap car rental in Basel through the Auto Europe booking engine, you'll find that all the rates in the search results include the minimum amount of legally-required liability coverage as well as Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Protection (TP), either with or without excess, depending on your chosen car hire supplier. One thing to bear in mind is the fact that not all parts of the car are covered, which could mean high costs for you should anything unexpected happen on the road. For that reason we strongly advise paying a little more for Auto Europe’s Full Damage & Theft Protection product which includes cover for any damage occurring to the vehicle's tyres, glass, wing mirrors, under-carriage, interior, etc. If you are making a search on the Auto Europe website and would like to know exactly what is covered in the car hire rate, all you need to do is click on the blue and white-coloured info icon (i) and all the coverage details you need will pop up, such as the amount of CDW, Theft Insurance etc. You will also find the same information included in the Terms and Conditions when making an enquiry or confirming your booking.
Please note that it's not uncommon for drivers to arrive at their destination to pick up their car only to be offered extra coverage by the staff of the local car hire supplier, including (but not restricted to) PAI (Personal Accident Insurance), PEC (Personal Effects Coverage), Super CDW, Seguro Relax Insurance, Road Assistance etc. It's important to note that Auto Europe cannot offer a refund the cost of any locally-purchased insurance even if it is found to be unnecessary once the car has been returned at the end of the rental period. You can get the lowdown on car hire coverage by reading our page on the subject which includes information on all the different types of offers available, such as Auto Europe's very popular Full Damage & Theft Protection product.
How is the traffic in Basel?
Switzerland ranks as a country with superb roads and a civilised driving culture. Whenever you choose to rent a car in Basel, stay alert for trams as they have the right of way. It is always a good idea to park your car rental on the outskirts rather than drive into or near the city centre. With one-way streets, finding your bearings in Basel downtown could get quite complicated. Purchasing a vignette is mandatory for using the vast network of Swiss motorways. Vignettes can be obtained at all petrol stations, post and tourism offices as well as a number of other shops. Do not forget to switch on your lights while driving your car hire in Switzerland even at daytime. Using running lights or dipped headlights during the drive has been compulsory since 2014. Auto Europe has prepared a guide to driving in Switzerland to help you prepare for the trip.
Where can I park my car hire in Basel?
Over 4,000 available spaces in several car parks in Basel are on offer throughout the city. In addition, paid on-street parking is also allowed in certain parts of the city. Do not forget to buy a ticket from the machine and place it on your window or a dashboard. For parking the car hire in a blue zone, you will need to buy a parking disc at a post office, set the time of your arrival and place it in the window. Here you can park for free up to 1.5 hours. A good alternative is parking your car rental in one of the Park & Ride lots, which are situated quite conveniently near bus, tram and train stations. Day and even monthly passes are available for these parking lots.
Do I need to pay tolls when driving my car hire in Basel?
Yes. There are a few toll-roads in close proximity to the city, such as the A1 which heads south-west to Bern, the A2 (the main route from Basel to Lucerne), the A3 running east to the Swiss capital Zurich, the A35 which goes north-west in the direction of Mulhouse in France and the A5 which heads north towards Freiburg in Germany. The purchase of a motorway vignette is mandatory for vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes on all motorways in the Basel area and all other parts of the country. Most car rental companies in Basel supply one but it’s always best to check that one is in place (and valid) before you leave the pick-up point to avoid receiving a hefty fine. You can purchase a toll vignette online or purchase one at border crossings and petrol stations all over country. Besides the motorways in the Basel area, please note that tolls are also charged for driving through the Great Saint Bernard tunnel in the south of the country.
Do I need extra equipment for my car hire in Basel during winter?
Yes. When booking a car hire in Basel during the winter months, it’s important to take into account that although winter tyres and snow chains are not generally mandatory, you will require them to drive in Switzerland's more remote and mountainous areas. Whenever you see the road sign ‘Ketten Obligatorisch’ (which means that tyre chains are obligatory), you’ll need to have the chains fitted before proceeding or you'll risk being stopped and fined by the Swiss authorities. Follow the links to find out what kind of winter driving equipment is necessary for driving a cheap car rental in Basel and to learn all about winter tyre regulations in general. You can save money on your next car rental in Basel with Auto Europe's free winter tyres offer on our website. Before you embark on your journey, it's important to pay close attention to the weather forecast because it can snow a lot at higher altitudes, even during the summer, which can lead to roads being closed over some passes for security reasons for a few hours or even days, so make sure you find out what the weather conditions are like in the area you are headed.
Can I drive my car hire in Basel into France and Germany?
Yes, travel is permitted with all suppliers into France and Germany. Note that an additional fee might apply and the names of all the countries in which you intend to travel must be noted at the time of booking your low-cost car hire in Basel.
Basel Travel Guide
There's much to admire about Basel as a modern tourist destination; it has a lovely medieval Old Town, a lively (and world-famous) annual carnival and numerous galleries and art museums built by top architects of the calibre of Mario Botta, Renzo Piano and Herzog & De Meuron. The city is also a key gateway to the Jura Mountains and nearby cities of Lucerne and Zurich, not to mention the idyllic region of Alsace a short drive away in France and Germany's scenic Black Forest, thus making it the ideal place for a city break followed by an extended road-trip in one of the most beautiful regions of central Europe.
Best day trips with my car rental in Basel
Linking the two 4,000-metre-plus peaks Jungfrau and MönchJungfraujoch, Jungfraujoch is a prominent sight in the Bernese Alps and visitors will always been drawn to the mountains once all the city sightseeing is done. Nevertheless, there are lots of pretty little towns and villages to explore just a few miles away from the centre of Basel, most notably Rheinfelden just over the German frontier. For clients wishing to explore further than the city of Basel, it is also possible to undertake a road trip and return the car rental in another city, a so called one-way car hire, plus they can share the driving with one of our special Free Additional Driver offers running throughout the year.
Rheinfelden
Just 15 km east of Basel across the border in Germany, the traditional spa town of Rheinfelden is popular for its narrow, winding alleyways and very pleasant atmosphere right through the year. Located in the northern part of the Jura, it has an almost Mediterranean climate and visitors can dine in one of its many upmarket restaurants before discovering its museums and galleries.
Augusta Raurica
Less than 20 kilometres to the east of Basel stands one of the best-preserved Roman sites in the whole of central Europe. Named after the Celtic Rauriker tribe and the Roman Emperor Augustus, this wonderful 2,000-year-old settlement boasts a prime location on the south bank of the Rhine. There's much to see, including some amazing pieces of silver dating from Late Antiquity, a Roman domestic animal park with many ancient species and some rare architectural remnants on display at the site's museum portraying the daily lives of the people who lived there around the time of Jesus Christ.
The Ermitage
The Ermitage in Arlesheim is a peaceful haven with a long and colourful history spanning more than 200 years. Opened in 1785, it is the largest landscaped English garden in Switzerland and features ponds, caves, winding paths and other natural attractions for visitors enjoying a relaxing stroll along its many pathways.
Belchenflue
Located on the border between the Swiss cantons of Basel-Landschaft and Solothurn, Belchenflue Mountain is a great place for a day out at the height of summer. The highest point on the Belchenflue reaches 1,099 metres above sea level and offers incomparable views over the Black Forest, the Vosges and the Alps. Some of the lovely little mountain villages en route are the perfect place to stop for an al fresco lunch before heading for the peak.
What to do in Basel
Visitors to the country's second city are spoilt for choice when it comes to tourist attractions with around forty different museums dotted around the city centre. Chief among these is the world-famous Kunstmuseum (one of Switzerland's finest), while the Fondation Beyeler showcases some of the finest pieces of art in central Europe. Don't miss the Botanical Gardens which are very centrally located and the perfect place for a picnic on a hot summer's day.
- Kunstmuseum: Generally considered to be Switzerland’s finest art museum, the Kunstmuseum was established way back in 1661, making it one of the oldest cultural attractions in Europe. With more than 300,000 pieces on display representing eight centuries, it is a must for visitors looking for the crème de la crème of the country's art collections, with works by Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt, Jan Brueghel the Elder and many other master painters..
- Basel Cathedral: Known locally as the Münster, the city’s massive 1,000-year-old cathedral is the region's most prominent landmark. Late Romanesque-Gothic in style, it boasts a promiment position high above the Rhine and its more energetic visitors can climb up the two massive towers to enjoy head-spinning views of the city and its pastoral environs from the top.
- Fondation Beyeler: Featuring a fine mix of modern and traditional art, the excellent Fondation Beyeler is the most visited of all Switzerland's art museums. Opened in 1997, it has more than twenty Picasso paintings on display as well as a fine collection of works by a variety of other renowned artists, from Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne and Vincent van Gogh to Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Francis Bacon.
- Botanical Gardens: The history of the botanical garden of the University of Basel goes as far back as the 16th century, making it one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. Located in the heart of the city centre, it also offers an exciting variety of plants in a well-maintained area of peace and quiet offering visitors the perfect environment for a summer picnic.