Airports in Switzerland

EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL) is 3.7 miles (6km) northwest of Basel, Switzerland. It's also 14 miles (22km) southeast of Mulhouse, France and 43 miles (70km) south of Freiburg, Germany – very much at the crossroads of these three countries. Flights to EuroAiport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg can be confusing as some airlines will list it as BSL (Basel), while flights from France will list it as MLH (Mulhouse). The airport also has a third code, EAP, although it's used less often. It can be confusing, but don't worry – all three codes really do refer to the same airport.

The airport is run jointly by France and Switzerland. Although technically in France, Swiss International Airlines has headquarters here, and all three countries access the airport without customs or border restrictions. The arrivals, departures and parking terminals are divided into two – the Swiss side is to the south and the French side to the north. On arrival you go through either Swiss or French customs.

Basel, the closest town to the airport, shares its borders with France and Germany. It is rich in medieval architecture and has several art museums, and also hosts an art fair and a world-class carnival. The airport also acts as a gateway to the Alsace region from the French side.

The airport is generally well-run and well-equipped to handle the four million passengers who arrive on flights to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg each year.

Located just 2.5 miles (4km) from the center of Geneva, Geneva Cointrin International Airport (GVA) offers excellent rail and bus connections. A quirk of its location on the French-Swiss border is the separate French and Swiss sectors of the airport, each of which maintains their own customs channel.

Queues for check-in and security are notoriously long and frustrating, especially at peak periods. Unfortunately, once you get past it there isn’t much to do, as there are only a couple of shops and restaurants.

Flights to Geneva Cointrin International Airport are easy to find from destinations all over Europe and the Middle East, including London, Glasgow, Paris, Vienna, Madrid, Moscow, Rome, Casablanca, Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bahrain, Amsterdam, Athens and Lisbon. There are also a handful of inter-continental flights to Montreal and Washington DC.

Zurich Airport (ZRH) is situated in Kluton on the outskirts of Zurich; it is sometimes called Kluton Airport and others refer to it as Zurich-Kluton, but to most international visitors it’s simply Zurich Airport. The airport is just eight miles (13km) from the city center and is easily accessible via a range of public transport options from within Zurich and across Switzerland.

There’s no shortage of things to do at Zurich Airport. Passengers with some time on their hands will find a multitude of tempting shopping opportunities ranging from fantastic Swiss chocolate to beautiful watches and timepieces. The airport also has a great range of restaurants and bars as well as a fair number of airline lounges.

Zurich Airport is a hub for Swiss International Air Lines, with its fleet of red-and-white-liveried planes,   and Edelweiss Air.

Zurich Airport is well-connected with Zurich and the rest of Switzerland. The precision and promptness with which everything is handled at this airport makes it a pleasure to use. It also makes it the perfect gateway to Switzerland, with its ski slopes, spectacular mountain scenery and cosmopolitan cities.