Basel and Freiburg

[Clarettintedlense]

Anyone been to either? Flying to Basel Mulhouse on Friday and have saturday and sunday in freiburg.

Firstly need the best option to get to Freiburg. Is it best on train, taxi or bus? There is a group of 5 of us although previous experience of getting taxis from switzerland into France and Germany has been very expensive.

Next bit I have a full free day on the monday in Freiburg and undecided on plans that day. Is it worth instead going to Basel or will there be insufficient time to be worthwhile? Looks close enough to the airport.

Thanks in advance.

[Paul Waine]

Anyone been to either? Flying to Basel Mulhouse on Friday and have saturday and sunday in freiburg.

Firstly need the best option to get to Freiburg. Is it best on train, taxi or bus? There is a group of 5 of us although previous experience of getting taxis from switzerland into France and Germany has been very expensive.

Next bit I have a full free day on the monday in Freiburg and undecided on plans that day. Is it worth instead going to Basel or will there be insufficient time to be worthwhile? Looks close enough to the airport.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Ctl, I can't speak for Freiburg. I've been to Basel a couple of times. It's worth a day there - or a few hours in the city from the airport.

Trains in Switzerland are very good (but they aren't always as accurate with their timekeeping as their claims). You should be prepared (I'm sure you are) for how little GBP buys in CHF terms.

Enjoy.

[todclaret]

It's a couple of years since I was there, but I think the airport spans the borders and has different exits into Switzerland & France. Not sure whether there's one into Germany.

The airport website has more info http://www.euroairport.com/en/passengers/access/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Clarettintedlense]

Yeah we have to exit on the french side to head to freiburg. Expect basel to be expensive. Geneva is as expensive a place ive been.

But worthwhile going there before the airport? We fly monday evening so figured may be worth a day therr rather than a day in freiburg?

[minnieclaret]

Don't make the mistake I made.
After holidaying regularly in Austria at 24As/£. We went to Switzerland at 2.4CHf/£. On crossing the motorway border from Freiburg I went into the bank and got £2000 instead of £200, on a credit card. Realised within 2 hours but too late to correct. A never to be repeated expensive mistake.

[Clarettintedlense]

Yeah. Forunately having done plenty of backpacking around europe in and out of different currency zones its always at the forefront of my mind. Switzerlands bloody expensive regardless

[john'sroseyspecs]

My grandpa went there. Was a few years ago though. Only saw it from 18000 feet

[Clarettintedlense]

Did he have johns rosey specs on?

[john'sroseyspecs]

No, he hit the centre of Frieburg and then came home for his bacon and eggs. Had his bomb aiming specs on

[Clarettintedlense]

Heres me thinking he was a mountaneer

[john'sroseyspecs]

He went on a cruise in the Med in the 70's. Got talking to some Germans of his own age who asked' so have you ever been to Germany ? ' Well.....yes...

[Walton]

My best mate lives in Basel so I've got to know the place quite well.

It isn't actually that expensive in my opinion, no more than a city over here.

The trams are great for getting around, and there's plenty to see, places to eat/drink, and the people are friendly. The local accent is pretty hard to understand though - their version of German is similar to a Glaswegian's version of English.

[Rarosdiablo]

Also have a friend who lives there and have been a few times. Basel is beautiful, the river and it's bridges are breathtaking so worth a walk round just for those, the old city is worth a visit if you like history and the museum is good.
Plenty of places to eat with a range of prices but nothing I would call cheap, people are friendly and most speak at least a little English.