Basel and Colmar make a culture-rich three-day trip from Geneva Airport: the route runs north via Lausanne, about 61 km away, and the Jura foothills to Basel on the Rhine, and Colmar lies a short drive further north across the French border in Alsace. AirportsTransfers.ch can drive you from GVA to Basel, across to Colmar and along the wine route, and back to Geneva at the end.
- Route: north via Lausanne and Neuchâtel or via Bern to Basel
- Border crossing: the route crosses the border into France for Colmar
- Ideal length: three days, one night in Basel and one or two in Colmar
- Highlights: Basel Minster, Rhine ferries, Kunstmuseum, Fondation Beyeler, Petite Venise, Unterlinden Museum, Riquewihr
- Best for: art lovers, food and wine lovers, festive winter breaks
The drive north
From Geneva Airport, the motorway follows Lake Geneva to Lausanne, then turns inland. One route runs along the lakes of Neuchâtel and Biel at the foot of the Jura before cutting through the hills to Basel; the other goes via Bern. Both are comfortable motorway journeys entirely within Switzerland until Basel. A coffee stop in Neuchâtel, with its yellow sandstone old town and castle, breaks the journey pleasantly.
Basel: art city on the Rhine
Basel lies at the point where Switzerland, France and Germany meet, and the Rhine, wide and fast-flowing, divides the city into Grossbasel and Kleinbasel. Its skyline is dominated by the red sandstone Minster with twin towers and colourful roof tiles; the terrace behind it looks down on the river. Small ferries, attached to a cable and driven only by the current, cross the Rhine as they have for generations. In summer, locals swim downstream holding waterproof bags, a ritual well worth watching. Basel is one of Europe's great museum cities: the Kunstmuseum has a major collection from the Middle Ages to modern art; the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen, in a building by Renzo Piano, shows modern masters in a garden setting; and the Museum Tinguely celebrates the Swiss artist's kinetic machines. Just over the German border, the Vitra Design Museum by Frank Gehry draws architecture enthusiasts. The old town around the Marktplatz, with its red town hall, rewards an unhurried walk.
Colmar: canals and half-timbered houses
Colmar is a short drive from Basel across the French border. It is one of the best-preserved towns in Alsace, with streets of colourful half-timbered houses and flower-decked balconies. The district known as Petite Venise follows the river Lauch, where flat-bottomed boats glide between houses that lean over the water. The Unterlinden Museum, in a former convent, houses the Isenheim Altarpiece, a powerful sixteenth-century masterpiece by Grünewald, and the Bartholdi Museum honours the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty, who was born in Colmar. Alsatian cooking is hearty and distinctive: choucroute, baeckeoffe, tarte flambée and kougelhopf, accompanied by local Riesling, Gewurztraminer or Pinot Gris.
Colmar also makes a good base for exploring further afield. Strasbourg, the Alsatian capital with its soaring cathedral and the timbered Petite France quarter, is within easy reach for a day, and the Vosges mountains to the west offer forest walks and the Route des Crêtes, a scenic ridge road open in the warmer months. If you prefer to stay longer in Basel, the city makes a convenient hub for Colmar as a day trip, with the chauffeur waiting while you explore.
The Alsace wine route
From Colmar, the Route des Vins d'Alsace winds through vineyards at the foot of the Vosges. Riquewihr, ringed by medieval walls, and Eguisheim, built in concentric circles around its castle, are among the most picturesque villages in France. Kaysersberg, with its ruined castle and fortified bridge, is equally charming. On a hill above the vineyards, the restored Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg gives a vivid idea of a medieval fortress, with views across the Rhine plain to the Black Forest. Winemakers offer tastings in their cellars, and having a chauffeur means everyone can join in.
- Colmar and the wine villages are very popular during the Christmas market season; book early.
- Many small wineries close at lunchtime; plan tastings for mid-morning or afternoon.
- Bring identity documents for the border crossing.
Book your Basel and Colmar transfer
With AirportsTransfers.ch, you book online and see the fixed price per vehicle before paying by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your chauffeur meets you in Geneva Airport arrivals with your name on a sign, monitors your flight and waits if it is late. Choose an E-Class sedan for up to three passengers, an S-Class for extra comfort, or a V-Class van for up to seven people with luggage. Child seats on request, a chauffeur by the hour for the wine route, return trips and company invoices are all available. Phone or WhatsApp +41 78 346 56 77.
