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PUBLIC TRANSPORT
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Switzerland has an incredibly reliable and efficient transport system. Find below our top tips and links to help you start navigating your way around Basel and exploring the beauty of Switzerland!
Switzerland has an incredibly reliable and efficient transport system. Find below our top tips and links to help you start navigating your way around Basel and exploring the beauty of Switzerland!
Trams & Buses
Trams & Buses
The local transport is a great way to get around the city. Depending on how much of the public transport system you think you will be using, there are various types of ticket options available.
For Occasional Journeys (Single, Multiple rides, Day tickets), check Tariffs - BLT.
For Regular Journeys, check U-Abo Information - BLT.
Children travel free till the age of 6 with a parent. From 6 -16 years you will need to purchase a Junior Card, and they can travel on all forms of public transport (including trams, buses, trains,funicular rides, boats and cable cars) free for a whole year as long as they are accompanied by a parent.
Be sure to download the TNW app. You can purchase single or multiple-ride tickets on the app. It also automatically allows you to link it to your SBB Half-Fare Travelcard so you automatically have its discount applied to your tram pass purchase.
The BVB app is also helpful to keep track of tram and bus timings to plan your travel time well. With it you can plan your trip accurately down to the last second!
Swiss Pass
Swiss Pass
The Swiss Pass offers you access to public transport and numerous partner services. Use it for your Half-Fare Travelcard as a door opener for your Mobility car or as access to ski areas and benefit from numerous special offers.
You can also download the SwissPass Mobile and can digitally display all your public transport travel cards on it. You can apply for your Swiss Pass at Bahn of SBB.
Train Travel
Train Travel
The Half-Fare Travelcard is worth the investment to tour around the country.
With this, you can travel for half price on all SBB routes and most other railways as well as on boats, buses, trams, and some mountain railways and cable cars. With the Half-Fare Travelcard, you can also take advantage of discounts on urban transport such as the Basel tram/bus system as well as attractive additional services and discounts. Your Half-Fare Travelcard comes with the SwissPass.
As mentioned above with the Junior Card and the Children’s Co-Travelcard your kids can travel free on almost all trains, buses, trams, boats, and cable cars in Switzerland. The Junior Travelcard is free from the third child onwards. You can purchase them at the SBB station.In addition to the Junior Travelcard, various other special fares and discounts apply when traveling with children. So don't forget to check the link before planning your travel here.
Independent Travel by Children
Independent Travel by Children
It would be amiss not to mention that we are all so lucky to be in a country where it is safe for young children to take public transport on their own.
Many of our ISB kids grade 3 and 4 onwards take the tram to school on their own regularly. It's usually a very exciting first taste of independence for them. You can buy half-fare tickets for the children at the tram stations for single/multiple rides or can even get them monthly or annual travel card at the SBB or BVB offices.
PRIVATE VEHICLE
PRIVATE VEHICLE
Stories of expats in Switzerland finding themselves on the wrong side of the law and paying hefty fines when it comes to driving are like folklores that travel far and wide. You may have heard of some already when you told people you were moving to Switzerland. So let's make sure we highlight some key driving rules to adhere to.
Stories of expats in Switzerland finding themselves on the wrong side of the law and paying hefty fines when it comes to driving are like folklores that travel far and wide. You may have heard of some already when you told people you were moving to Switzerland. So let's make sure we highlight some key driving rules to adhere to.
Driving Rules
Driving Rules
Speed limits are sacrosanct.
Speed limits are sacrosanct.
Please stick to it. The tricky bit is the limit keeps changing pretty quickly so make sure you are aware of the speed limit signs on the road at all times.
Parking Zones
Parking Zones
White Zone - You can park your car here for an unlimited amount of time in townships around Basel. In Basel-Stadt it is metered parking.
Blue Zone - Free for a maximum stay of 90 minutes with the use of a temporary parking disc that needs to be displayed in the windscreen. If you have a residential parking card of a particular zip code, you can park in the blue zone in that area for an unlimited period.
Metered Parking - For a stay between 30 mins to 4 hours.
Here is a link to the public car parks in Basel to help you plan your trips better. If you are going into the city, Elizabathen parking is convenient and close to many places in the city.
Mobility - Car-sharing service.
Mobility - Car-sharing service.
If you don't want to own a car, check out the services provided by mobility.ch. You can rent a car as and when you like and there are several convenient pickups and drop off spots all across Basel.
Car Maintenance
Car Maintenance
Motor Vehicle Inspection (MFK)
Motor Vehicle Inspection (MFK)
All vehicles in Switzerland are inspected every three years, subject to the age of the vehicle, to ensure high-quality maintenance. Motor vehicle inspection (MFK) is responsible for the admission of people and vehicles to road traffic in the canton of Basel-Landschaft and Basel Stadt, see the relevant links below. Services include:
The issue of control signs
The issue of learning driving and driver's licenses
The collection and collection of motor vehicle taxes
License plate changes - required if you move between cantons
A Swiss motorway vignette is required to use the national motorways
A Swiss motorway vignette is required to use the national motorways
It's a sticker you need to apply on the inside of the windshield of your car. The price is CHF 40 annually. They go on sale at some gas stations and post offices and the borders.
German Emissions Sticker
German Emissions Sticker
When driving in Germany, it’s a legal requirement for cars to feature emissions stickers (Umweltplakette) for entering the country’s major cities which detail their emissions standard. These stickers are being used to improve air quality in so-called environmental zones, which restrict access to certain areas of city centers depending on a vehicle’s emissions standard.
If you’re planning a holiday or business trip to Germany, you need to ensure your vehicle is fitted with the sticker before setting off. Required by law, they cost 6 euros for German cars, but it can vary significantly for foreign vehicles depending on where and how you buy them.
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