Search Flights from San Francisco to Basel/Mulhouse

Located 21 km from the city center, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a major transit center for passengers, particularly those traveling from Asia. San Francisco International is the second busiest airport in California, following Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Every year SFO handles a significant number of both domestic and international flights. There are a variety of transportation alternatives passengers can utilize to get to and from the airport.  

San Francisco International Airport stands out for the comfortable and exceptional services it offers. The airport features services aimed at meeting your every need, from comfortable passenger lounges, to restaurants that offer a wide variety of cuisines and a vibrant array of stores where you can go shopping.

San Francisco International Airport is accessible by taxi, bus, train, rental car, and personal car as the airport contains parking lots that offer short-term and long-term parking options.

Train

There are two rail systems that you can use to get to San Francisco International Airport from the city center. The first is the rapid-rail system, the BART. The BART starts running in the early hours of the morning, providing easy and fast transportation between SFO and the northern and southern parts of the city.

The other rail system that you can use to get to SFO is the CalTrain. This train departs on the hour, every hour, every day of the week, until 10 pm. This train provides transportation between San Francisco and San Jose and SFO.

Taxi

One of the most convenient and fastest transportation alternatives to get to SFO from the city center is by taxi. Taxi fares are calculated based on the kilometers traveled. A taxi from downtown San Francisco can cost between 42 and 62 dollars and takes about 20 minutes. For more information on taxi companies and their contact information please visit San Francisco International Airport’s website.

Bus

SamTrans buses provide transportation between the San Francisco city center and the airport. These public buses are operated by San Mateo County and run between San Mateo, various parts of San Francisco and San Francisco International Airport. SamTrans lines KX, 292, 397, and 398 run directly to the airport terminals. Buses stop at the arrivals and baggage claim level of Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 and at Level 1 of the International Terminal.

Rental Car

Renting a car is another transportation alternative to get to the airport. There are many rental car companies located in the city. You can drop off your rental vehicle at the Rental Car Center before your departure. From the Rental Car Center the AirTrain Blue Line provides access to the airport terminals and it operates 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Rental car companies that you can choose from include Alamo, Dollar, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, National, Budget, Fox and Thrifty.

Bike

San Francisco International Airport contains bike assembly stations and parking areas for those who want to access the airport by bike. The BART and SamTrans rapid rail systems provide passengers with bike/transit options and the airport features marked bicycle routes. Bike lovers can easily access the airport by bicycle.   

Airport Information

San Francisco International Airport is located 21 km from the city center. The airport covers an expansive area and operates domestic and international flights out of 4 terminals, Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal. The AirTrain automated system provides free transportation between each terminal, as well as the Rental Car Center and BART station. The AirTrain Red Line links all terminals, terminal garages and the BART Station. The AirTrain Blue Line links the Rental Car Center with all terminals, terminal garages, and the BART Station. SFO also contains a variety of services and amenities to meet passengers’ pre-flight and post-flight needs.

The airport features health services in the terminals, rental car offices, banks, a lost and found, wireless internet, charging stations, clothing stores where you can go shopping, restaurants and cafes, the Aviation Museum & Library, rotating exhibitions, spa services, children’s play areas, free yoga rooms, a market, and much more. 

Euro Airport, which is located 6 kilometers north of Basel, is an international airport used for Freiburg in Germany and Mulhouse in France as well as Switzerland.

One of the most beautiful features of public transportation in Basel is the mobility ticket, which is given to all guests after check-in if you stay in a hotel during your visit. These tickets provide free transportation to the 10th, 11th, 13th and 15th regions of the city (including the airport) for up to thirty days during their stay in the city.

If you are not staying in a hotel and planning to spend more time in the city, you can buy Basel Card and you can take the advantage of the sightseeing tour, zoo tour and ferry journey free of charge; in addition to these, you can also benefit from the discounts available at some restaurants, cinemas, and stores thanks to this card.

For transportation to the city center from the airport, you can benefit from the buses and trains to the city center and railway station. If you are going to travel by your car from the airport, this is also among the options you can prefer.

In addition to car option, you can also prefer to rent a car or take a taxi to reach the city in a short time. Even if you haven't got the mobility card, you can take the advantage of free transportation with the booking confirmation if you have booked a hotel in advance.

Bus

You need to board the bus number 50 first in order to reach the city from the airport. The bus 50 departs from the airport and arrives at SBB Railway Station passing through the 10th district. In addition to changing bus through the route of the bus 50 to reach other parts of the city, you can also benefit from train and tramway transfers before arriving at SBB Railway Station.

Tramway

Basel is literally a tramway city. The tram provides transportation to the vast majority of the city. The places where tramways do not reach are supported by transfer buses. You can find a tram line every fifteen minutes at different times of the day. There are many alternative routes you can prefer depending on your destination after you board the bus number 50 from the airport. For example, you can get off the bus at Kannenfeldplatz region and get to Voltaplatz regions by taking the tramway line 1. If you want to go to the 11th region, you need to get off the bus 50 at SBB Railway Station, where you can take the tramway lines 10 or 17.

Alternatively, you can get to Barfüsserplatz and Marktplatz by taking one of the tramway lines 1, 2, 8, 10 or 11 after arriving at SBB Railway Station. Barfüsserplatz and Marktplatz serve as general transfer stations for trams. These two stations are just a few stops away from SBB Railway Station. All tram lines are connected to these two stations. So you can choose from the tram lines passing through these stations no matter which part of the city you are going.

Among the tramway lines, the tram line 1 runs between Dreirosenbrücke and SBB Railway Station; the tram line 2 runs between Binningen and Eglisee; tram line 3 runs between Burgfielden Grenze and Birsfelden Hard; tram line 6 runs between Allschwill and Riehen Grenze; tram line 8 runs between Neuweilerstrasse and Kleinhüningen; tram line 10 runs between Rodersdorf and Dornach; tram line 11 runs between St-Louis Grenze and Aesch; tram line 14 runs between Dreirosenbrücke and Pratteln; and the tram line 15 runs between Messeplatz and Bruderholz.

As additional tramway lines, the tram line 1 runs between SBB Railway Station and Badischer Train Station; the tram line 2 runs between Eglisee and Riehen Dorf; the tram line 17 runs between Schifflande/Wiesenplatz and Ettingen, the tram line E11 runs between Reinach Süd and Theater; and the tram line 21 runs between St. Johann Train Station and Badischer Train Station.

Train

Among the major railway stations in Basel are Basel Badischer Train Station, SBB Railway Station, St. Johann Train Station, Pratteln Train Station, Aesch Train Station, Dornach Train Station and Muttenz Train Station.

The international service provided in terms of air transportation also applies to railway transportation. Swiss Federal Railways (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, SBB), German Railways (Deutschebahn, DB) and French National Railways (Société nationale des chemins de fer français, SNCF) serve for railway transportation in Basel. Upon your arrival at the airport, you need to get on the bus number 50 and go to SBB Railway Station for railway transportation.

Train network in Basel is not advanced as much as tramway network. The railways surrounding the city center also provides transportation service to the opposite bank of the Rhine River and in the vicinity of the 15th region. In addition, by taking the advantage of train, you can arrive at the neighboring Swiss cities like Liestal, Sissach, Rheinfelden, and Waldshut, and French cities like Mullhouse, St. Louis, and Village-Neuf Hunninge as well as Freiburg, Kandern, Lörrach and Inzlingen regions of Germany.

Taxi

There are many taxi stands at the airport and you can easily get a taxi. Then you can easily reach anywhere in the city by taxi.

Rent a car

For more free and comfortable transportation during your stay, car rental option is also available at the car rental offices at the airport or by online booking option. It takes about five minutes from the airport to Basel city center by driving.

Transportation from Basel Airport to other cities

Mulhouse

If you are going to take public transportation to reach Mulhouse, the shuttle service 11 departing from the airport will take you to St. Louis Train Station in about 10 minutes. It is possible to reach various parts of the city from this station. Car rental and taxi options are also available for a shorter journey.

Freiburg

You can reach Freiburg from the airport by the shuttle buses provided frequently by the airport and the shuttle services provided by the Südbadenbus Company. Your journey takes about one hour. So it is also possible to shorten journey time by renting a car. Taxi is not an affordable solution because of the distance.