Around twenty minutes from Basel by train and about an hour from Freiburg im Breisgau, Mulhouse makes an easy day trip: big technical museums, a compact historic centre, a covered market and, in winter, a renowned Christmas market. Here is how to get there, what to know before you go and our plan for a successful day.
The essentials: from Basel, a direct TER train in 22 minutes, up to two trains an hour. From Freiburg, about an hour with a change in Müllheim. The best days: Wednesday to Saturday, when the city-centre museums and the crêperie are all open.
By train from Basel
- The journey: direct TER regional train from Basel SBB to Mulhouse-Ville in 22 minutes, around 30 return services a day and up to two trains an hour (usually leaving Basel at :21 and :51).
- At Basel station: trains to Alsace leave from the French section of the station, platforms 30 to 35, after the border crossing inside the station.
- On arrival: Place de la Réunion is about a ten-minute walk from Mulhouse station. The tram also serves the Porte Jeune stop, right in the centre.
By train from Freiburg im Breisgau
- The journey: Deutsche Bahn train from Freiburg Hbf to Müllheim, then the TER from Müllheim to Mulhouse-Ville in 24 minutes, across the Rhine bridge at Neuenburg. Allow just over an hour, with a TER roughly every two hours.
- On Sundays: a direct Freiburg–Mulhouse train runs in the morning (arriving around 10:20).
- Coming back: the last train towards Müllheim leaves Mulhouse around 18:30; a coach replaces it in the evening.
- Tickets: with a Deutschlandticket or a RegioKarte, VCD Südbaden recommends buying a single ticket from Neuenburg to Mulhouse, available on SNCF Connect.
These times are valid until the timetable change in mid-December 2026: please check them before you set off.
By car or by plane
- From Basel, the A35 motorway takes you straight to Mulhouse; from Freiburg, take the A5 then the A36, which crosses the Rhine near Neuenburg. Motorways in Alsace are toll-free.
- Parking: the P+Tram park-and-ride car parks (Nouveau Bassin and Université) cost €2 per car per day, including a return tram journey for everyone in the car. They are closed on Sundays, but street parking is free that day. All the details are in our guide to parking in Mulhouse.
- From EuroAirport, about 30 km away: shuttle bus 11 to Saint-Louis station (10 to 15 minutes), then a direct TER to Mulhouse, every 30 minutes.
Good to know before you go
- Currency: you pay in euros. At the crêperie, cash and bank cards are accepted. On the tram, the ticket (€1.60) can also be paid by bank card on board.
- On Sundays, most shops are closed, and so is the crêperie.
- Public holidays: in Alsace, Good Friday and 26 December are public holidays, on top of the French national holidays.
- Opening days: check them before choosing your date.
| Place | Open |
|---|---|
| Cité de l'Automobile and Cité du Train | Every day except 25 December |
| Musée historique and Musée des Beaux-Arts (free) | Every day except Tuesdays and public holidays |
| Musée de l'Impression sur Étoffes | Wednesday to Sunday, 13:00–18:00 (also Tuesdays in December) |
| Electropolis | Tuesday to Sunday, closed in January |
| Marché du Canal Couvert | Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday |
| Crêperie Crampous Mad | Tuesday to Saturday, open all day |
Our one-day itinerary
10:00 – A big museum. Either the Cité de l'Automobile and its more than 450 cars (tram 1, "Musée de l'Auto" stop, allow about 2 hours), or the Cité du Train, which you can combine with Electropolis next door (tram 3 or tram-train, "Musées" stop). Both open at 10:00 (in January, the Cité de l'Automobile only opens at 13:00 on weekdays).
12:30 – Lunch at the crêperie. Take the tram back to Porte Jeune, then walk a few minutes to 14 rue des Tondeurs. A 100% buckwheat, gluten-free galette such as La Complète (€10.50), a glass of Val de Rance brut cider (€3.10) and, to finish, a Spéciale du Faouët crêpe with salted-butter caramel (€6.60). We serve all day long, so a 14:00 lunch is no problem.
14:00 – The historic centre. Place de la Réunion and the old town hall with its trompe-l'œil painted façades, home to the Musée historique (free). On the same square, the Temple Saint-Étienne and its stained-glass windows, free entry.
15:30 – Fabrics or shopping. The Musée de l'Impression sur Étoffes, near the station, tells the story of the printed textiles that made Mulhouse rich. Or stroll through the pedestrian streets of the centre. On Saturdays, keep the Marché du Canal Couvert for the morning.
17:00 – A snack before the train. A hot chocolate (€3.80) or a Breizh café (€8) at the crêperie, then back to the station.
In winter: the Christmas market
From 20 November to 27 December 2026 (closed on 25 December), the chalets are set up around the Temple Saint-Étienne on Place de la Réunion: 11:00–20:00 Monday to Thursday, 10:00–21:00 Friday to Sunday. The Musée historique then stays open until 19:00. The full programme is in our article on the Mulhouse Christmas market.
Book your table
The crêperie is open Tuesday to Thursday from 11:30 to 21:00 and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 to 21:30, and closed on Sundays and Mondays. Discover our menu, book your table or call +33 3 89 45 79 43. For more sightseeing ideas, see what to do in Mulhouse.
Information checked in October 2026 on the websites of TER Grand Est, EuroAirport, the Mulhouse tourist office, Soléa and the museums, and from VCD Südbaden timetable no. 40 (Freiburg–Mulhouse). Times valid until the December 2026 timetable change: please check them before you set off.