Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or are just quickly passing through, our Basel EuroAirport Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
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Wonderful seat….I slept there 2 times. OMG..it’s wonderful… -GdM
BSL Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Basel EuroAirport.
What to Expect
The French and Swiss governments uniquely administer the five-level airport terminal of EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg. The airport’s landside area has French and Swiss sides, and the Arrivals and Departures areas have Schengen and non-Schengen zones. The airport can be identified by three airport codes: EAP (its neutral code), MLH (its French code), and BSL (its Swiss code).
Facilities and services are limited, but there is free WiFi and an Airport Lounge that economy-class passengers can pay to access. See Airport Lounge in the guide below for locations and rates.
Sleeping in Basel EuroAirport
Many travellers who spend the night here report that most of the airport’s seats have armrests and that the area is secure, with roving security present throughout the night. An old review (November 2015) notes that airport security wakes up anyone sleeping on the floor or sprawled across chairs and benches. More recent reviews say that security mostly let them sleep even if they were sleeping on the floor. Unfortunately, you won’t be allowed airside until TSA security checkpoints open again in the morning.
Locations & Seating
At the time of our January 2024 update, we have no information regarding specific sleeping spots at Basel Airport.
For uninterrupted sleep, there are hotels near the airport. See Airport Hotels in the guide below.
Read the latest traveller airport reviews for more tips. For more airport information, scroll down to explore more in our Basel EuroAirport Guide.
To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.
Airport Hours
The airport is open 24 hours. Terminal operations run from 4:00 AM – 12:00 AM.
Rest & Relaxation Zones
There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this airport guide.
Airport Hotels
If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near EuroAirport:
- Airport Hotel Basel – Free shuttle is available between 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM. Book one day in advance. Alternatively, Bus 50 (Euro airport shuttle) stops directly outside the hotel. » Check Rates
- Ibis Mulhouse Basel Aeroport – Free airport shuttle is available. After you have picked up your luggage, call 0033 +3 89 69 06 58 and head outside to wait at the arrivals, French side, near the red zebras painted on the floor. » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Basel EuroAirport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there is a lounge that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass, or using a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge and learn how to gain access with just an economy class ticket!
- Skyview Lounge – Location: Y-Terminal, Airside. Showers are available. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs. Hours: 5:00 AM – 8:30 PM (Mon-Fri and Sun) • 5:00 AM – 7:30 PM (Sat).
Drinking Water
No information is available. Click here to update this airport guide.
Food & Drinks
Food concessions throughout the terminal operate with varying schedules. At the time of this update, there are no 24-hour dining options. Food options include:
- Landside: La Brasserie du 5 • Le Coin Bistrot • La Fourchette Suisse • La Roulotte • Paul • Trib’s • Weckman • Wellness.
- Airside: Bert’s • Columbus Cafe & Co • Monop’daily • Starbucks.
Luggage Storage & Lockers
Not available for “security reasons”. Click here to update this airport guide.
Mobile Charging
A reader (January 2019) tells us, “Mobile charging is available in the Swiss part of the airport (3rd floor, near Turkish airlines desk, around circle wooden seating) via USB and electricity plug-ins as well”.
Showers
Showers are available inside the Skyview Lounge. See Airport Lounges above for locations and information.
WiFi/Internet
Free WiFi is available at Basel EuroAirport. Connect to the “Free_EuroAirport_WiFi.”
Safety & Security
Airport staff seem to tolerate overnight sleepers. We have had no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Basel EuroAirport. However, sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s essential to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:
- Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
- Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who awoke without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
- Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.
More Airport Information
- French Sector: Public Sector, Arrivals, Level 2 • Public Sector, Departures, Level 3.
- Swiss Sector: Public Sector, Arrivals, Level 2 • Public Sector, Departures, Level 3.
Baggage Trolleys – Need a hand with your luggage? Baggage trolleys are available free of charge.
Children’s Play Area – A few small “Kid’s Corner” play areas are throughout the terminal.
Currency Exchange – There are 2 International Currency Exchange offices: International Departures (Hours: 8:00 AM –6:00 PM) • Level 3 Departures – France and Switzerland public sector. Hours: 5:30 AM – 8:30 PM (Mon, Tue) • 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Wed, Thu) • 5:30 AM – 8:30 PM (Fri, Sun).
Drinking Water – See “Drinking Water” above.
Duty-Free & Shopping – Several stores offer a variety of goods. The airport has four Dufry duty-free shopping locations:
- Dufry Main Shop: Location: Departures Area, Airside, Level 4. Hours: first flight – last flight.
- Dufry Fashion: Location: Departures Area, Airside, Level 4. Hours: 5:30 AM – last flight.
- Dufry Gates Sud: Departures, Airside, Level 3. Hours: first flight – last flight.
- Durfry Arrival Shop: Arrivals, Airside, Level 2. Hours: first flight – last flight.
Food & Drinks – See “Food/Drinks” above.
Hotels – See “Airport Hotels” above.
Information Desk – Location: Level 2, landside. Hours: 5:30 AM – 12:00 AM.
Lounges – See “Airport Lounges” above.
Luggage Storage & Lockers – See “Luggage Storage/Lockers” above.
Mobile Charging – See “Mobile Charging” above.
Rest Zones – See “Rest & Relaxation Zones” above.
Showers – See “Showers” above.
SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
Bus
Basel Airport is well connected to the bus system. Whether you are looking for a local bus to the Basel city centre or a connection to a train station for onward travel, the airport provides many options. For information on fares, routes and schedules, visit the Basel EuroAirport website.
Car Rentals
The following car rental agencies have rental desks in both the French sector (Hall 1, Level 2) and Swiss sector (Hall 4, Level 2) of the airport terminal: Avis/Budget • Enterprise • Europcar • Hertz • Sixt.
Hotel Shuttles
A few area hotels provide airport shuttle service: Airport Hotel Basel • Hotel Ibis Aeroport Bale Mulhouse.
See also Airport Hotels above.
Taxis
Taxis are available in the ground transportation areas of the airport’s French and Swiss sectors. All taxis are metered, and reservations are not required. At the time of this update, the following estimated one-way fares were current: From the French sector, taxis can be taken to Mulhouse (€50 – 60) or Freiburg (€125 – 160), and from the Swiss sector, taxis can be taken to Basel (50 CHF) or Freiburg (340 CHF).
Train
Basel Airport is not linked directly to the railway system, but there are public transport connections to the railway stations in Basel, where you can then connect to Switzerland, France, and Germany. For information on fares, routes and schedules, visit the Basel EuroAirport website.
Last updated: 2024-08-26
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.