Day trip from Basel to Besançon
Besançon lies 122 km (76 mi) west of Basel, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
At 122 km (76 mi) apart, Besançon is a realistic day trip from Basel: about 1 h 59 min each way by road.
| Basel | Besançon | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Switzerland | France |
| Population | 177,595 | 128,426 |
| Elevation | 279 m (915 ft) | 300 m (984 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+2 (Europe/Zurich) | UTC+2 (Europe/Paris) |
| Postal codes | 4000–4091 | 25000–25933 CEDEX 9 |
What changes when you arrive in Besançon
Crossing from Switzerland into France: money changes from the Franc to the Euro (EUR); sockets are Euro, Type E; the dialling code becomes +33; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648842.
What to see in Besançon
| Sight | Visitors a year | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Muséum de Besançon | 281,288 | 2017 |
| Musée de la Résistance et de la déportation de Franche-Comté | 56,260 | 2019 |
| Time museum | 38,386 | 2019 |
| Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'Archéologie de Besançon | 5,700 | 2019 |
| Departmental archives of Doubs | 518 | 2022 |
The busiest is Muséum de Besançon at 281,288 visitors in 2017. Figures are the latest each site has published, so they are not all for the same year.
Where to book tours and tickets in Besançon
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Besançon
Live rooms and prices for Besançon are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Besançon
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Besançon from Basel?
122 km (76 mi) in a straight line, west of Basel; by road roughly 149 km (92 mi).
How long does it take to get from Basel to Besançon by road?
About 1 h 59 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Basel and Besançon?
No, both are on the same offset at the moment.
What currency do I need in Besançon?
The Euro (EUR).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.