Basel

EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg

EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg is the only binational airport in the world. Built entirely on French soil in Saint-Louis, it is jointly operated by France and Switzerland. The airport connects Basel, Mulhouse, and Freiburg im Breisgau. For skiers, it is a practical northern gateway to the Alps, especially if you are heading to the Bernese Oberland, central Switzerland, or the French Vosges.

The airport handled 9.6 million passengers in 2025. Because of its location, you can exit the arrivals hall directly into either France or Switzerland. It has one main terminal building, which makes it easier to navigate than larger European hubs.

Cross-border layout

The airport sits in the French department of Haut-Rhin, but a 1949 treaty gives Switzerland joint operating rights. A fenced customs road connects the Swiss sector directly to Basel, so you can travel between the airport and Switzerland without clearing French customs.

The terminal used to be split down the middle. When Switzerland joined the Schengen Area in 2008, the airport merged the airside departure lounge. The landside arrivals hall is still divided. After collecting your bags, you choose between two exits. One leads to France and Germany, and the other goes into the Swiss customs corridor.

Because of this setup, the airport has three IATA codes: BSL for Basel, MLH for Mulhouse, and EAP as a neutral code. You need to read the overhead signs in the baggage hall to make sure you walk out into the right country.

Terminals & passenger flow

The airport uses a single main terminal. The ground floor has four check-in halls, numbered 1 through 4. Departures are on the upper levels, and a Y-shaped dock holds the boarding gates.

After check-in, everyone goes through a central security area into the shared departure lounge. The airport started modernising the Gates South boarding area in 2026 to add more seating.

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All arriving flights use the same baggage reclaim hall. Once you have your skis or suitcases, the route splits. The Swiss exit takes you to the Basel bus stops and Swiss taxis. The French exit takes you to the buses for Mulhouse and Freiburg.

Winter airlines & connectivity

EasyJet Switzerland uses EuroAirport as a major base and operates most of the flights here. In winter, the schedule adapts to bring skiers into the Alps. More than 30 airlines fly to about 100 destinations.

Low-cost airlines handle most of the European flights. British Airways, Air France, KLM, and Lufthansa also fly here, connecting Basel to hubs in London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt.

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The airport added several new routes in 2025 and 2026. On winter weekends, airlines schedule extra flights to match the Saturday changeover days at ski resorts.

Into Basel, Mulhouse & Freiburg

EuroAirport does not have a train station at the terminal. A rail link is planned, but for now, you have to take a bus to reach the local train networks.

If you are heading to Basel, take the BVB bus line 50 from the Swiss exit. It runs every 10 to 15 minutes and takes about 15 minutes to reach Basel SBB railway station. From there, you can catch Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) trains to Interlaken, Chur, or Visp.

For Mulhouse, take the Distribus line 11 from the French exit. It takes 10 minutes to reach Saint-Louis railway station, where you can catch regional TER trains to Mulhouse and Strasbourg.

For Freiburg, the Freiburger Reisedienst bus leaves from the French exit and drives straight to the Freiburg central bus station. The trip takes about 55 minutes.

Baggage, skis & special items

The airport handles a lot of ski equipment in winter. When you depart, you check in at the normal desks or kiosks to get your bag tags. You then have to carry your ski or snowboard bags to the oversized baggage counters, usually marked “Bulky Baggage” or “Bagages Hors Format” at the ends of the check-in halls.

When you arrive, your skis will not come out on the normal luggage carousels. The ground staff deliver them to a separate oversized belt or door in the reclaim hall. On busy winter weekends, you might wait longer for your skis than for your normal bags.

Airlines flying into Basel usually use narrow-body aircraft with limited cargo space. You should pre-book your ski bags when you buy your ticket so the airline knows they are coming.

Parking & airside facilities

The parking areas are split between the French and Swiss sides. You need to take the correct approach road for the sector you want. Both sides have short-term parking in front of the terminal and long-term car parks further out.

The departure lounge has a duty-free shop, cafes, and bars. The airport also has the Skyview Lounge, an independent space with food, drinks, and views of the runway.

The airport is replacing its main runway in 2026. From April 15 to May 20, the main runway will close completely. Flights will use the shorter secondary runway, which means airlines will operate a reduced schedule. If you are flying during these five weeks, check your flight times.

Alpine destinations within reach

Basel is the closest international airport to the French Vosges and the German Black Forest. For the Alps, skiers usually fly into Geneva for France or Zurich for eastern Switzerland. Basel works best if you are going to the Bernese Oberland, the Jungfrau region, or central Switzerland.

In clear traffic, you can drive to Engelberg in about 1½–2 hours, to Grindelwald in 2–2½ hours, and to Andermatt in just under 2 hours.

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Written by the Alps2Alps editorial team.

This guide is published by Alps2Alps for general information only. It is not affiliated with Wikipedia or any resort, airport, or lift operator. Facts were accurate at the time of writing; always check official sources before travel.