Public Transportation in Basel

We never have, but we have also had the Swiss Travel Pass, which also covers local public transportation. There are more informed folks here on the Forum other than myself, so hopefully they will confirm that you don't need to buy tram passes.
You will love this beautiful area!

Yes, your hotel confirmation can be used on arrival for the trip from the airport to your hotel. You don’t have to present a ticket before boarding the bus or tram in Basel anyway, and normally the ticket checks are only done at random (and infrequently). But just in case there are random checks, as long as you have your hotel confirmation handy, you’re covered for that initial ride.

Thanks for your helpful answer, much appreciated!

that's what happens every time I stay in Basel.

Thanks for asking this question. We are going to Basel this week & I wondered how the confirmation worked. I have a follow up question. Is there more than one bus that goes to Basel from the airport ? Rome2rio shows bus#50. After traveling overnight, I want to have specific plans in order to get downtown.

We are planning to travel to Basel during 3rd week of November. We will be flying into Zurich Airport and taking a train to Basel SBB train station from Zurich Airport. After our arrival at Basel SBB, we are planning to use the local tram system for travel to our Hotel.

Regarding your question about the availability of buses from Basel/Mulhouse Euro Airport to Basel city centre, I am unfamiliar with the same as I have not flown into Basel airport before.

One of the other experienced travellers on this forum may be able to answer this question.

The #50 Bus is the best option for getting from the EuroAirport to downtown Basel. Here is the plan of departure times.

The number 50 is the one. It is (or was pre-covid) easily distinguished from the other buses because in addition to the number 50 and airport on the destination sign it is the only bus festooned with all sorts of international flags on the front.

This is bus 50, see link for images.

https://foursquare.com/v/bvb-buslinie-50/4bf4fb296a31d13a2459962e/photos

oh poo. they've changed it (according to the pic) from white faced with all the flags. not as cool

This is great info. Thanks! Are there multiple stops for bus 50? We are going to our hotel address: Barfussergasse 16

I stayed at Hotel Motel One last year and really liked it. It is well located.

Good to know. Based on google maps, it looks like we ride the bus to the Bahnhof (end of the line) & then have a short walk.

The 50 bus runs from the airport to the Basel SBB train station, with various local stops along the way. It's the only public bus from the airport, so you can't get on the wrong one. To reach the Motel One at Barfüsserplatz, you can indeed walk from the SBB train station in about 10-15 mins (via Elisabethenstrasse). It won't save much time, but if you prefer not to walk or the weather isn't great, you can also continue on a tram from the train station (the #8 direction Kleinhüningen/Weil am Rhein or #11 direction Saint-Louis Grenze to Barfüsserplatz, about 6-8 mins ride). The hotel is more or less directly in front of this tram stop, up a few steps and across a small cobblestone plaza.

Another thing to mention if you are arriving at Basel Euroairport - make sure you follow the Swiss flags from baggage claim and leave via the Switzerland exit, not the French one! Everything is clearly marked, but if you are tired and/or not paying attention, you can end up exiting into France by mistake.