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One of Switzerland's underrated tourist destinations, Basel has a beautiful medieval old town centre, a fascinating carnival, and several world class art museums built by architects like Renzo Piano, Mario Botta and Herzog & De Meuron. Basel is also rich in architecture old and new, with a Romanesque Münster (cathedral), a Renaissance Rathaus (town hall), and various examples of high quality contemporary architecture, including more buildings by Herzog & De Meuron, Richard Meier, Diener & Diener, and various others.
Located in the Dreiländereck (three countries' corner), Basel is a gateway to the Swiss Jura mountains and nearby cities of Zürich and Lucerne , as well as the neighbouring French region of Alsace and the German Black Forest . There are a number of things to see and do if you have a few days to spend.
This town of almost 180,000 people (2021) lies in the north-western corner of Switzerland . The town shares borders with France and Germany and is the heart of this tri-national region - the Dreiländereck (three countries' corner). Besides its own attractions it can serve as a good entry point to the Alsace , Black Forest regions or the canton of Basel-Land .
The Rhine curves through the city and divides the town into two parts. Situated on the south and west bank is Grossbasel (Great Basel) with the medieval old town at its centre. Kleinbasel (Little Basel), featuring much of the night-life, is on the north bank.
Visiting Basel can be a holiday for your vocal cords if you plan to absorb the beautiful art in silence exhibited in the many first-rate museums. Once a year it also hosts Art | Basel (see Do ) which is the world's premier fair for modern classics and contemporary art.
Basel has one of the most amazing carnivals you're likely to see, called Fasnacht . If you're there during the "three loveliest days" of the year, prepare to be amazed, and don't expect to be able to sleep. (See Do , Festivals ).
BaselTourismus , +41 61 268 68 68, the local tourist information service, has several offices, including at the main station, Bahnhof SBB , and in the city centre, in the Stadtcasino building at Barfüsserplatz , directly across the street from McDonald's. To organize guided tours , you can also visit the office at Aeschenvorstadt 36, +41 61 268 68 32.
Basel is a cosmopolitan city because of its university and industry and its proximity to the borders of France and Germany. The official language of the city is German , but the majority of the population speaks Baseldytsch , an Alemannic dialect, as their mother tongue. German is taught in schools and fluently spoken by virtually everyone, so if you speak German and they notice that you are a foreigner, they will most likely answer you in German. Also widely spoken are English and French , both of which many people are able to communicate in comfortably enough to deal with everyday interactions and will gladly work to understand you. Borrowed French words are fairly common in everyday conversation; for example, Baslers often bid each other farewell with the French "adieu" . Basically, the average Basler understands and speaks fluent Baseldytsch, German, English, and often French.
If you enter Basel from France, remember the name is spelled "Bâle" in French. You may not find "Basel" on maps.
The best airports for Basel are the city's own EuroAirport , 4 km away, or Zurich airport 90 min away by train. Other options are Geneva, with excellent flight connections but 3 hours away by change of train, and Bern (1 hr) and Strasbourg (90 min) which have fewer flights.
47.5997 7.5317 1 EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg ( BSL IATA , MLH, EAP) has flights to many cities in Europe, plus Istanbul, Tel Aviv and Morocco. English-speaking destinations are Bristol, Dublin, Edinburgh, Manchester, and several London airports. There are no flights within Switzerland as land travel times are short. Transat has summer flights to Canada, but there are otherwise no direct flights to North America; nor to the Gulf - so Zurich is better for Asia. As the airport sits near the convergence of three countries it has three IATA codes: BSL Basel, MLH Mulhouse, and (less often) EAP EuroAirport, so it may help flight search to try all three.
The airport lies in France, 4 km northwest of Basel - it's connected to the city and to Switzerland by a customs-free road. On arrival you either go through Swiss or French passport control and customs, into a small hall where you rejoin the people who went the other way. To reach the city:
Zurich Airport ( ZRH IATA ) has its own railway station, with direct trains at least hourly to Basel SBB, and other frequent connections via Zurich main station. The journey takes 90 min and a walk-up single adult fare is Fr.20. If you fly with Swiss , the national airline, you can through-book via Zurich to Basel: the connection is by train and the IATA code in Basel is ZDH IATA the railway station, not BSL the airport. You have flexibility over which train you take, and don't need a ticket, just a boarding pass (printed or mobile) that shows your barcode.
Basel has two main railway stations. Almost all trains run from 47.54763 7.58964 2 Basel SBB about 1 km south of city centre. Within Switzerland, SBB trains take just under an hour to Zurich and Bern, two per hour; there are good connections across the entire country. Paris is only three hours away via the TGVs of SNCF ; change at Mulhouse for French regional connections. Direct trains also run to Strasbourg (1 hr 10 min) and Milan (4 hr 30 min). ICE trains into Germany follow the Rhine north via Karlsruhe to Frankfurt (3 hr), Cologne (4 hr), Hamburg (6 hr 30 min) and Berlin (7 hr). Direct ICE trains also depart from Amsterdam Centraal at 8:08 every day, and take about 6 hours and 30 minutes, also stopping at Utrecht Centraal. There are also sleeper trains once or twice nightly, taking 11 hours to Berlin or Hamburg, run by Nightjet [ dead link ] , a subsidiary of Austrian ÖBB.
The trains into Germany also call at 47.5675 7.6073 3 Basel Badischer Bahnhof (abbreviated Basel Bad Bf), north of the river in Kleinbasel. However some regional trains to southern Germany start from Basel Bad and don't call at Basel SBB: these hug the border as far as Schaffhausen then follow the Danube to Ravensburg and Ulm.
When arriving from Germany via the A5 highway, you pass the border control near Weil am Rhein just outside Basel and enter the city via the same highway, now named A2/3 (you're in Switzerland), which passes north of the city centre and continues on to other Swiss cities, including Zürich , Berne , and Lucerne . To get to the city centre in Grossbasel (the larger section of the city) look for signs to Bahnhof SBB ; if you want to arrive in Kleinbasel (the smaller part on the other bank of the Rhine), look for Messe Basel . Arriving from Zürich or central Switzerland, you are on the same A2/3 highway, just in the opposite direction - same exits. For parking in the city, see below Get around - By car .
If you drive into Basel, make sure you have a valid Vignette (toll sticker) if you drive on the Autobahn! The Vignette costs Fr. 40 and is valid for the calendar year indicated on the sticker. If you do not and are caught without one, expect to pay a fine of Fr. 100 plus the cost of a Vignette.
In summer cruise ships (various operators) sail the Rhine between Amsterdam and Basel. But these are scenic cruises taking 8 days to tour the cities along the way; they're not point-to-point ferries.
Flixbus operates long-distance buses from Basel SBB direct to Frankfurt (5-7 hr), Munich (6-9 hr), Cologne (8 hr), Hanover (10 hr), Hamburg (13 hr), Milan (5 hr 30 min), Brussels (9 hr), Paris (9 hr), Amsterdam (13 hr), and Rome (14 hr).
The Basel tramway has international lines to Saint Louis (Haut-Rhin) in France and Weil am Rhein in Germany.
This is the standard mode of travel for many within the city. Old Basel isn't very large and there are many narrow and winding side streets with incredible slopes.
The shopping streets in the old city are closed to car traffic. Tourists will walk a lot - and be pleased and impressed at every turn. But the walking can be a bit strenuous after a while, particularly when walking on cobblestone alleys in the old town, which can also get quite steep. Walking around Basel can be a real cardiovascular workout for some if you wander off the main streets - but it's the best way to experience the city.
Trams have the right of way over just about everyone - all the time. Keep an eye out for them as you cross a street, including on pedestrian crossings.
Basel has an extensive tram (light rail) and bus network . The bright green trams and buses are the greatest amenity you can imagine: absolutely prompt, relatively inexpensive, clean and very convenient. Each stop has maps of the public transport system and a listing of arrival times.
The 8 and 10 trams and the 38 and 55 buses cross international borders - bear this in mind for carrying goods and identification!
Tickets [ dead link ]
Tram and bus travel is on the honour system. Nobody collects your ticket. Periodically, a number (4-8) of "tram police" (undercover agents) board a tram and quickly examine everyone's ticket before the next stop. If you don't have one, there is an on-the-spot fine of 80 Fr. Even in this exercise, there is efficiency - if you don't have cash available you'll be given the option to pay later at the office on Barfüsserplatz, but then it will cost you Fr. 100.
Handling trams and buses
To open the door from outside press the button near the door on newer (low floor) trams, or the orange lit button beside the door on older trams and buses. Inside, press a button on the door of the newer trams or the small black button on the grab rail near the door on older trams and buses, and the door will then open automatically as soon as the tram stops. Doors close automatically before the tram starts moving. Hold on! Trams accelerate quickly and brake quite abruptly. Upcoming stops are announced by a recorded voice in Standard German (as well as English and French at main stops) along with the numbers of connecting trams at that stop.
Trams change routes slightly at certain times of year (summer, Fasnacht). This will be signposted at stops, and usually also on the overhead screens that display departure times - see photo (look for a scrolling message highlighted with ***). If a tram is temporarily diverted because of an accident this is announced inside and at stops over PA - but in Swiss German: ask a fellow passenger or the driver if it's Greek to you.
Basel is a bicycle-friendly city, with many well-marked bicycle lanes throughout the city, and even traffic signals and left-hand turn lanes for bikes. While drivers are generally aware of bikers, be sure to use hand signals and ride defensively. Beware of the trams! If you are not careful, your wheels may also get stuck in the tram tracks and this can make you fly. Helmets are not required (although recommended), but lights and bells are. The Swiss are quite keen cyclists, so don't be surprised when an old lady goes flying past you on her bike while going uphill.
Besides local commuter bike lanes, there are specific bike trails that connect to other parts of Switzerland (via the Veloland Schweiz network, recommended for overland bicycling tours). These bike trails are indicated by signs at some intersections.
Bike rental
The most convenient option for the majority of short-term visitors wishing to cycle is the local bike-sharing system Velospot . Register on the website, get your method of payment verified, and you'll receive a PIN code tied to your account which can be used to lock and unlock the bright red bikes that can be found all over the city. As of September 2023, the standard tariff is Fr. 0.10/minute + Fr. 1.00 unlocking fee, but there are also daily, weekly and other concession passes. Daily cap for the standard tariff is Fr. 24.00 for traditional bikes and Fr. 48.00 for e-bikes. A bit oddly, there is no app and hence no QR code system common with other bike-sharing systems in Europe; use the map on the website to find bike stations. Bikes which are returned outside of stations attract a Fr. 20.00 penalty fee.
Alternatively, bikes can be rented locally from the Rent-a-Bike underground bike park, ☏ +41 51 229-2345 , at Centralbahnplatz, underneath the Basel SBB railway station. This option may be better if you stay in Basel for longer, need more flexibility or you're after something other than a city bike.
Driving in Basel is not recommended for visitors, as inner city streets can be confusing - and are shared with trams (cars must yield to trams). Parking in the old city is relatively expensive and scarce. Most mid-range or luxury hotels have or help with parking. In addition, there is a network of clean, safe (and payable) public garages at the periphery of the city centre, generally open 24/7. If you stay for the day only and are driving via highway into Grossbasel, try Centralbahnparking near the SBB Station; if you're entering in Kleinbasel, try Parking Badischer Bahnhof , near the German railway station. Closer to the city centre in Grossbasel are Steinen Parking at Steinenschanze 5 and Elisabethen Parking , at Steinentorberg 5, and in Kleinbasel Messe Basel Parking at Messeplatz. A handy website with availability and driving directions to all public garages can be found here [ dead link ] .
Basel Old Town is a compact, walkable area bounded to the north by the Rhine and to the south by the Zoo and SBB main railway station. There are many museums, some with a free opening hour at the end of the day.
Basel is one of the major cities in Switzerland and offer all activities of an urban centre. Most popular is the Basel Carnival but the Basel ferry is the icon.
This is Basel's version of Carnival [ dead link ] , and a premier event during the year, lasting for three straight days, beginning on the Monday following Ash Wednesday. Don't confuse it with the more raucous festivals in traditionally Catholic areas, such as the German Rhineland ( Karneval ) and Munich ( Fasching ), or Carnival in Rio or Mardi Gras in New Orleans. It can actually have a kind of somber feel, although with a distinct poetry and subtle humour, which you may learn to like. Many locals are dead-serious about it, often preparing their costumes and practising their skills on the traditional musical instruments (military drums and piccolo flutes) throughout most of the year. If you are not a Basler, avoid dressing up silly or putting on make-up, as this is neither customary nor appreciated by locals - who mostly prefer to stay among themselves for what many consider "the three loveliest days" of the year. But that's no reason to be discouraged (thousands of tourists aren't anyway), just have the right approach:
Fasnacht [ dead link ] starts Monday morning with an eerie procession called Morgestraich : At precisely 04:00, street lights are turned off, and hundreds of traditional bands ( cliquen ), dressed up in elaborate costumes and masks ( larven ), parade through the densely packed streets of the old town. Arrive well in advance - and on foot - or you will not get through to the city centre. It's not recommended for the claustrophobic, although it is peaceful, despite the masses. Absolutely don't use flash photography! It ruins the atmosphere, marks you as a tourist and creates hundreds of instant enemies. Morgestraich lasts for about 2–3 hours, during which restaurants are open - if mobbed - and you can warm up with a traditional zibelewaie (a kind of quiche) and a mählsuppe (a soup made of sauteed flour). It's an acquired taste, so perhaps wash it down with a glass of white wine. Almost all of the restaurants mentioned in the Eat section below are open during Morgestraich - but perhaps don't choose McD. After Morgestraich, everyone goes home to get some hours of sleep - or sometimes to work, if you are a Basler.
There are similar parades, the cortège , by the cliquen on Monday and Wednesday afternoon, along a predetermined route through most of the inner city. The elaborate costumes and masks, and the large hand-painted lanterns ( ladäärne ), are the pride of each clique, and are often designed by a local artist. Each clique chooses a sujet , a motto that typically pokes fun at some (often local) political event of the past year and which is reflected in the costumes and lanterns. You don't need to understand the sujet to appreciate the beauty of the artistic renderings. The lanterns are also on display on Tuesday nights, at Münsterplatz . In the evenings, the cortège route is all but abandoned, and large and small cliquen roam through the smaller alleys of the old town ( gässle ). It is common for spectators who like the look or sound of one of the cliquen to follow it around on foot for a while. As the pace of the cliquen is a slow stroll, and as the music can be lovely, this may even be kind of romantic, particularly if you are holding hands with a date. But Fasnacht is nothing like Mardi Gras, so don't expect ladies baring their breasts. Overt sexuality is a no, and aggressive attempts at picking up are frowned upon, as is binge-drinking. Remember: it's an almost somber if poetic affair. Try to blend in with locals, perhaps express some friendly curiosity about a costume or a sujet when talking to someone, and you are likely to have a much better time.
Tuesday is the day of the children, and of the Guggemusig , noisy brass bands that intentionally play off key. On Tuesday night at 22:00, dozens of these bands play on two stages, at Claraplatz and Barfüsserplatz . This is the one day where things get much merrier, particularly in the more proletarian neighbourhoods of Kleinbasel , where many of the Guggemusige have their home.
Art | Basel and BaselWorld shows take place at Messe Basel [ dead link ] , Messeplatz ( Kleinbasel ) one of Switzerland's biggest trade fair venues, which also hosts several other trade shows throughout the year.
Other theatre venues include Fauteuil and Tabourettli , box office +41 61 261 26 10, two small stages in a medieval manor on picturesque Spalenberg 12, near Marktplatz , presenting (very) light comedy, usually in Baseldytsch , and some Fasnacht -related events during the season; and Musicaltheater Basel , Feldbergstrasse 151, near Messe Basel , box office via Ticketcorner .
There's an abundance of learning opportunities in Basel.
Basel is a centre of the pharmaceutical industry. The international pharma giant Novartis is headquartered in Basel. as well as the smaller Hoffmann-La Roche. There are also other large chemical and life sciences companies such as CIBA Specialty Chemicals, Syngenta and the aluminium company Lonza.
Basel also has several IT and software companies that offer international jobs.
Basel is (jointly with Zürich) headquarters of UBS, Switzerland's biggest and internationally active bank and home of the Bank for International Settlements.
Basel's "shopping mile" goes from Clarastrasse (Claraplatz) to Marktplatz and up Freiestrasse and Gerbergasse to Heuwaage and Bankverein. Much of the shopping here is in speciality stores and luxury boutiques, with a few department stores. Like other large Swiss cities, Basel has many jewelers, horologers (watches), and chocolatiers. Try to veer off the beaten track and check out Schneidergasse (off of Marktplatz ), the hilly Spalenberg and adjacent little alleyways such as Heuberg , Nadelberg , which are not only lovely to walk through but where you are likely to find more original shops, selling artisan jewelry, antiques, specialty items, vintage clothing, books, art, etc. Retailers are generally cheery and very competent, polite and helpful.
There are many places in Basel, including bigger kiosks, where you can buy (relatively) cheap - and mostly kitschy - souvenirs, but if you're looking for something special, go to Heimatwerk (see below). Souvenirs are also available at the SBB Station.
Prices of name brands are generally uniform across the city - and across the country. Discounting has made inroads in Basel. Expect to pay the same price anywhere for a Swiss Army knife or a watch.
Most stores close M-F promptly at 18:30, except for Thursday when many stores are open until 20:00 or 21:00. Stores close by 17:00 on Saturday and nothing is open on Sunday. Exceptions are the stores in and around the train station, the supermarket Coop Pronto at Barfüsserplatz and a number of small family businesses in residential areas. VAT is included in prices, and there is generally no haggling . Some luxury stores offer tax-free shopping for tourists.
Basel market (in the Marktplatz) runs Monday to Saturday until 13:00, selling mostly local organic produce. Not cheap, but worth considering for a picnic.
For the very cheapest, try the Fleamarket in Petersplatz on Saturday.
When you have filled your stomach with chocolates you may wish to move on to more substantial items:
Basel, home of the renaissance philosopher Erasmus of Rotterdam, also prides itself of many good bookshops. Here are some:
Basel has a thriving restaurant and café (see below Cafés ) culture, and the streets of the old town are lined with outdoor seating in the summer.
Not all restaurants in Basel accept credit cards (though an increasing number do). If in doubt check first.
As in most of Europe, tipping is not a requirement. It is common (but not universal), to round up to the nearest 10 or 20 francs, for example by refusing the change from a note.
Food in Switzerland is generally more expensive than other countries in Europe, and those on a budget should consider preparing their own food from the grocery store (closed in the evenings), or taking a trip up to nearby France or Germany.
Many of the restaurants in the historical part of Basel near Marktplatz are generally of good quality, these include the easily located Löwenzorn ("lion's fury"), Gifthüttli ("poison cabin"), and Hasenburg ("hare's castle"), all of which serve traditional Swiss dishes in a rustic environment - don't be scared by the names, no one gets devoured by wild animals or poisoned. These places are always packed during Fasnacht . In addition, here is a list of places, not necessarily in the old town but still worth a visit:
In Barfüsserplatz, the major beer hall (at least in years gone by) receives its resupply via a tanker truck from the brewery with a very large hose delivering its precious cargo into the tanks of the rathskeller. This looks a lot like a delivery of heating oil in most commercial enterprises! The consumption of beer in this area (near the University) is really serious!
You can choose between a wide array of old-style, trendy and alternative coffee houses. Many restaurants or bars also serve coffee outside meal hours and before nightlife begins and it is perfectly acceptable to nurse a cup for an hour while reading a newspaper or book. Some places have outdoor seating in the summer.
Always a good plan to book early, and essential if you hope to stay in Basel during Fasnacht [ dead link ] , BaselWorld , or Art | Basel .
As of Sept 2021, Basel has 4G from Salt, and 5G from Sunrise and Swisscom. It also has 4G from all French and all German carriers. Wifi is widely available in public places.
Every Swiss takes great pride in his/her work. Every position is a profession demanding excellence. The bartender, housekeeper, tram driver, retail clerk, street sweeper, waiter and all other workers aim to be perfectly competent. This attitude is reflected in the everyday life you will experience in Basel and throughout Switzerland. Don't mistake the Swiss penchant for privacy and calmness as indifference. They are earnest and interested, but generally reserved - except during Fasnacht.
Chivalry towards women and the elderly is common. Do not be surprised if you see the pierced mohawk punk on a tram or bus give up his/her seat to an elderly person. Offering to help mothers board their strollers into older high-floor trams is also commonplace. On the same note it is not unusual to see elderly yelling or swatting at young passengers, who they feel are not behaving. Drivers are also known for their gentlemanly attitude towards passengers: even though they aim to be painstakingly punctual, they will find the time to wait for a passenger running towards the bus or tram and keep the front or rear door open.
If you happen to lose something, don't despair. There is a fair chance that the person who finds the item will try to contact you personally, if it has a name or address on it. Real story: A Basel resident found a credit card on the street and took the time to visit a number of nearby office buildings and inquire about the possibility of the card owner working in that building. The rightful owner was eventually found after several inquiries. If you don't want to wait for such a punctilious finder to find you, try the city's Lost and Found to check if anyone has returned the item for claim:
In the case of the SBB Fundbüro, you may, for a fee, report a loss and provide an address to have the item sent in case it is returned.Given the tradition of good citizenry in returning lost items, it is a point of honour to offer a "finder's fee" of 10% of the property value.
Local, national and international news are provided by the German-speaking dailies bz Basel and Basler Zeitung and a variety of other Swiss and international newspapers, many of which are available at many kiosks, particularly in the city centre or at the train stations.
Basel's mainstream local radio station is Radio Basilisk , FM 107.6 or internet stream, which broadcasts mainly Top 40 music and spoken word programs in baseldytsch (i.e., dialect).
English speakers may consider tuning in to Radio X , FM 94.5 or internet stream, which broadcasts in several foreign languages, including English ( The English Show on Tuesday nights, from 18:30 to 20:00).
The following destinations are good day trips by train from Basel:
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Home to 40 museums, the city of culture for connoisseurs has the highest concentration of museums in the country. Basel also has a beautiful Old Town, modern architecture, and the Rhine – an inviting spot to rest a while.
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Basel is Switzerland's oldest university city. Historic landmarks of the city include the large market square with its richly decorated red sandstone town hall and the late Romanesque-Gothic cathedral . During a walk through the old town , past small boutiques, antique book shops but also shops of modern designers, a visit to the " Läckerli Huus " to try the traditional Basel honey cake is well worth your while. Basel is tradition-conscious and open-minded at the same time, a fact born out by several modern buildings designed by renowned architects such as Herzog & de Meuron, Mario Botta, Diener & Diener and Richard Meyer. Almost 40 museums make Basel the city with the highest density of museums in the country. Internationally known museums, such as the Basel Art Museum, the museum devoted to the iron sculptor Jean Tinguely , the Fondation Beyeler and the Museum of Cultures attract a great many visitors, as do several galleries and playhouses. Basel is among other things home to the symphony orchestra and the chamber orchestra as well as the musical theatre featuring international productions. And a wide range of classical and contemporary productions are shown on the stages of the Basel Theatre and the Playhouse. Basel is a green city. The Botanical Gardens , the Merian Gärten and the banks of the Rhine are perfect places to relax and linger for a while. And the Etoscha House at the zoo Basel offers spectacular insights into the Namibian Savannah. You can easily explore Basel on foot or by bike. There are four Rhine ferries that connect Grossbasel with Kleinbasel. At nearby Augusta Raurica near Augst impressive ruins and a great many finds at the museum bear testimony to the busy lives of the Romans in the region in the past. The charming countryside of the Basel region with its many cherry trees in spring boasts a particularly beautiful display of blooms. Germany and France, the Black Forest and Vosges Mountains are only a stone's throw away from the border city of Basel. The yearly Fasnacht (Carnival) is the most important celebration for the people of Basel. On the Monday following Ash Wednesday the city rises with the "Morgenstraich". At four in the morning on the dot all the lights in the city go out and a colourful and brilliant procession through the streets of the city begins. BaselCard If you stay overnight in Basel, you can benefit from discounts on numerous cultural and leisure activities with the BaselCard . The personal guest card is available free of charge with every booking in Basel accommodation and can also be downloaded to a smartphone as a web app.
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Tourist Information Barfüsserplatz Steinenberg 14 Im Stadt-Casino am Barfüsserplatz 4051 Basel +41 (0)61 268 68 68 +41 (0)61 268 68 70 [email protected] Website
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Home » Travel Guides » Switzerland » 15 Best Things to Do in Basel (Switzerland)
Cosy, walkable and straddling the Rhine, Basel is at the tripoint where the Swiss, German and French borders meet. Basel’s art and culture put it on an equal footing with almost any city in the world. The Kunstmuseum is the shining light, replete with Renaissance, Baroque and modern art.
And the Altstadt is a confusion of alleys and streets with monumental wayfinders like the Basel Minster (Cathedral) and the 15th-century City Hall. In the Altstadt you can make your own paper at a water-powered mill from the 15th century, or step into a house where Erasmus would meet up with his friends 500 years ago.
Let’s explore the best things to do in Basel :
Switzerland’s largest and richest assortment of art is yours to enjoy at this superlative museum.
The roll-call of names says it all: Beginning in the Renaissance there’s Konrad Witz, Lucas Cranach the Elder and Hans Holbein (the museum grew from an early collection of his works). There are Dutch masters like Rembrandt, Brueghel the Elder and Rubens.
From the 19th century you can admire pieces by van Gogh, Monet, Cézanne, Manet and Gauguin.
The Kunstmuseum has an entire room just for pieces by Picasso.
And elsewhere Giacometti, Klee, Franz Marc, Braque and Chagall are just a taste of the 20th-century art collection.
Basel’s old town has an uncommon array of Swiss national heritage sites.
If you check in at the tourist office they’ll suggest a few themed walks around Grossbasel on the left bank and Kleinbasel on the right bank of the Rhine.
As the many plaques make clear, the Altstadt’s oldest buildings are from the 14th century.
These streets were once walked by historic figures like Erasmus, the 16th-century theologian and humanist.
We cover many places in the Altstadt later, but some spots to keep in mind are the sweeping Münsterplatz, the irregular townhouses on Petersgasse and the jovial monkey fountain on Andreasplatz.
At Spalenvorstadt is the Holbein Fountain, a Renaissance masterpiece by Hans Holbein the Younger from the 16th century.
Suggested tour : Walking Tour through Basel Old Town
There’s no missing Basel’s medieval minster church and its two 60-metre towers, Georgsturm and Martinsturm.
It’s a mesmerising edifice with pinkish red sandstone walls and a glazed patterned roof.
A lot of the architecture is from the 14th and 15th centuries after an earthquake in 1356 toppled the high medieval Romanesque church.
One of the earlier elements is the main portal, which was partly dismantled by iconoclasts in the Reformation.
But they left the Gothic archivolts, which boast angels, prophets, roses, kings and an image of Abraham.
To the right of this see the “Seducer” courting a young virgin, with snakes and toads behind his back to symbolise evil.
For €5 you can struggle up a narrow spiral stairway to survey Basel and the Rhine.
In the Solitudepark on the Rhine’s right bank is a museum for the 20th-century kinetic sculptor Jean Tinguely.
His wacky, needlessly complicated machines are anchored in the Dada spirit and satirise mass production and materialism.
But on any level they’re also fun, fanciful and interactive, so it’s an art museum where kids will never be bored.
You can push buttons and pull levers to start these machines whirring.
The exhibition chronicles Tinguely’s career, from the 1950s to 1980s.
One of his final pieces was Grosse Méta Maxi-Maxi Utopia from 1987, a tangle of pulleys, wooden wheels and electric motors with steps allowing that you can climb.
As early as 1453 this mill on the Gewerbekanal was in the business of producing paper.
Since 1980 the mill has been a working museum where you can get in touch with historic methods for dipping paper, printing and bookbinding.
Machines powered by a waterwheel turn rags and pulp into leafs ofpaper: You’ll be able to make a page of your own on the first floor.
Upstairs are the early printing presses, and quills invite you to perfect your calligraphy, while the crafts of bookbinding and paper marbling are demonstrated on the top floor live before your eyes.
The City Hall feels at the centre of Basel in every sense.
Martkplatz in front is a nexus for Basel’s tram network, while citizens and tourists flock to the square for the daily market.
The red sandstone behemoth that confronts you on Marktplatz is from the start of the 16th century and no expense was spared in its construction.
There are many symbols to decipher on the facade, like the 12 coats of arms of the Old Swiss Confederacy, including Basel’s, adorning the merlons at the top.
Go through the arch to enter the enthralling courtyard where there’s a 17th-century fresco by Hans Bock and a statue of Basel’s Roman founder Lucius Munatius Plancus sculpted in 1580.
HMB for short, the Basel Historical Museum has four locations.
Three of these are inside the city, and one, the Coach and Carriage Museum, is in Münchenstein to the southeast.
The main attraction is in the converted Barfüsserkirche and concerns itself with the late medieval period and early modern age.
Inside you can examine works from the Cathedral treasury, collections of coins and stained glass, tapestries, altars and possessions belonging to Erasmus.
There are also historic cabinets of curiosity, put together by wealthy collectors in the 1600s and 1700s.
But maybe the most haunting piece of all is Basel’s Danse Macabre fresco attributed to the 15th-century painter Konrad Witz.
Basel was once defended by two layers of city walls.
The Inner Wall was built around 1230, and following the earthquake in 1356 a new Outer Wall with 40 towers was raised to accommodate the growing city.
Practically all of these walls were torn down to allow Basel to grow and provide a healthier living environment in the 19th century.
Three gates remain, the most impressive of which is Spalentor.
This controlled the western approach to the city from France and was part of that outer wall begin in the 1350s.
As well as a pair of towers and patterned there’s a lot of ornamentation to look for on the facade, like Basel’s coat of arms framed by two lions.
With more than 640 species, few zoos on the planet can claim to have as much diversity as Basel Zoo.
This is the largest and oldest zoo in the country, dating back to 1874 but with a completely modern approach to enclosure design.
Expansions and renovations happen by the year, and in 2016 a new elephant house was opened, providing 5,000 square metres for them to roam in.
The aquarium (vivarium) is a perennial favourite and has almost of 500 species of fish, reptiles and amphibians, as well as king and gentoo penguins.
Maybe the zoo’s most famous inhabitant is Goma, the first western lowland gorilla born in Europe and turning 58 in 2017.
Under the minster towers the Pfalz is possibly the best spot on street level to contemplate the Rhine and the rows of houses on the right bank in Kleinbasel.
This terrace is above the Münsterfähre jetty, and is roughly on the site of Basel’s former episcopal palace.
Here and there you’ll notice ornately designed ledgerstones for Basel’s noble families dating back as far as the 1500s.
There’s a telescope on the wall, while the benches in this little square are shaded by trees and just right for a packed lunch.
Basel has the only museum in the country dedicated solely to ancient civilisations.
This deals with Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan, Middle Eastern and Roman objects across more than 3,000 years up to the 1st century AD. The collections were first put together in the 17th century and the museum opened in its current form in 1986 after a major donation by the industrialist Peter Ludwig.
One spellbinding item from Ancient Greece is an intact Laconian volute-krater (a vessel for watering down wine) from the 6th century, while the Egyptian galleries are rich with jewellery, sculptures and sarcophagi.
Historic medicine is the subject of this world-class museum in a listed building in the Altstadt.
In the early 16th-century there was a printing press here, part-owned by Johann Froben, a close friend of Erasmus, who would often call in.
The amount of artefacts inside is almost overwhelming and has ceramic vessels from floor to ceiling.
There are mortars, first-aid kids, laboratory instruments, entire pharmacy interiors including cabinets, strange contraptions for practising alchemy and the preserved remnants of historic medications.
But maybe most exciting are the 15th and 16th-century books by physicians Johann de Cuba and Leonhart Fuchs.
On Barfüsserplatz is as a museum to catch the imagination of both grownups and children.
A five-storey building has been made fully accessible, and holds more than 6,000 dolls, miniatures and dollhouses.
But it’s the record-breaking army of over 2,500 teddy bears that makes the headlines.
Many of the exhibits are interactive, including miniature scenes that light up, play music and have moving parts.
It might be hard to believe but this cornucopia of toys was assembled by just one person, the German-Swiss billionaire Gisela Oeri.
Six kilometres outside town, on the German border, the Fondation Beyeler is worth every second of the journey.
Awaiting you is the fabulous modern art collection of the 20th-century dealers Ernst Beyeler and Hilda Kunz.
In the 1990s this trove of 200 works was given a swish permanent home designed by Renzo Piano.
You’ll savour 23 Picassos, and paintings by Vincent van Gogh, Francis Bacon, Lichtenstein, Pollock, Warhol, Monet and Cézanne.
On top of this there’s an ethnological exhibition of 25 works from North America, Oceania and Africa.
The Rhine flows so quickly through Basel that ferries don’t need any form of propulsion other than the river’s currents.
These vessels are tethered to steel lines and zip across the water.
You can catch a “Fähri” at four points along the river in the centre of the city, the most popular being Münsterfähre below the Pflalz.
There are also “Badhysli”, bathing areas where stronger swimmers pit themselves against the currents and others rest in the shallows.
These spots have a resort atmosphere in summer when people lounge in the sun and chat at cafe terraces.
Outside the city the Rhine takes the place of a sea or lake, and has beaches for sunbathing, watersports and barbecues in summer.
Written by Barbara Radcliffe Rogers Updated Dec 22, 2023
With more than 40 museums to choose from and an atmospheric old town to explore, you won't have any trouble finding things to do in Basel. Few cities in Europe can match Switzerland's second-largest city for its concentration of cultural attractions and things to do.
Moreover, many of these are housed in buildings that are themselves works of art, designed by great architects that include Renzo Piano, Frank O. Gehry, and Mario Botta. Basel's university became a center for humanism in the 16th century and continued to be a magnet for distinguished scholars and teachers, which may account for its remarkable cultural heritage today.
The two sides of Basel are joined by six bridges over the Rhine, as it makes a sharp turn before flowing north to become the German-French border.
It's the higher left bank where you'll find the old town and cultural attractions. The river itself is a good vantage point for sightseeing, and you can take short cruises or cross the river on the quirky little cable-operated ferry.
Whether you enjoy sightseeing or immersing yourself in art, you can be sure of finding the best places to visit using this list of the top tourist attractions and things to do in Basel.
Stroll through the old town, take the kids to the zoologischer garten (zoo), visit basler münster (basel minster), museum tinguely, learn about printing at papiermühle (paper mill museum), rathaus (town hall) and marktplatz, smile at the tinguely fountain, take a break at tierpark lange erlen, historisches museum (historical museum), be a kid again at the spielzeug welten museum (toy museum), tour the museum für gegenwartskunst (museum of contemporary art), antikenmuseum and the sammlung ludwig (museum of antiquities and the ludwig collection), jüdische museum (jewish museum), visit the haus zum kirschgarten, fondation beyeler, cross the border to vitra design museum, take a day trip to solothurn, map of attractions & things to do in basel, basel - climate chart.
The Kunstmuseum , enhanced by the added exhibition space of a 2015 wing, is considered the finest collection of paintings in Switzerland, representing both old masters and modern art. On the first floor are the old masters and a collection of French and Dutch paintings.
Outstanding among these are the 15th-century Heilsspiegelaltar (Mirror of Salvation Altar) by Konrad Witz, 16th-century portraits by Holbein the Younger, Crucifixion by Mathias Grünewald, and Rembrandt's David with Goliath's Head from 1627. The second floor houses an outstanding collection of 19th- and 20th-century Impressionists, Expressionists, and Surrealists.
You'll find major works by Gauguin, Van Gogh, Corot, Cézanne, Braque, Picasso, Kandinsky, Léger, Chagall, Klee, Dali, Max Ernst, and others, along with later works and special exhibitions.
Address: St. Alban-Graben 16, Basel
The part of Basel that lies roughly between the river and the old city gate at Spalentor is not large but quite atmospheric with its stone streets, medieval churches, beautifully maintained old homes, and brightly painted fountains. But leave it to Basel to introduce a thoroughly modern and whimsical fountain by Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely in the midst of the stately historic houses.
From Marktplatz , wander west along Spalenberg with detours into some of the narrow side streets, such as Leonhardsberg and Spalenberg, Heuberg. This was the old artisans' neighborhood. Or wander along Freiestrasse, which begins with the Renaissance Geltenzunfthaus , from 1578. At number 25 is the guild-house of the locksmiths dating from 1488 and decorated in Baroque style in 1733.
Look for more wall paintings at the guild-house of the Hausgenossen at 34. In the little Fischmarkt , you'll find a reproduction of a Gothic fountain whose original you can see in the historical museum.
Switzerland's oldest and largest zoo, Basel Zoo is affectionately known as the Zolli by locals, and it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Switzerland. It has been named one of the fifteen best zoos in the world.
Founded in 1874 with 510 European animals, today the zoo is known more for exotic species. With predators, primates, mammals, reptiles, birds, and aquatic life, the population ranges from seahorses to elephants, the latter now enjoying an elephant enclosure added in 2015 with wallowing pools, showers, and a savannah-like environment.
The lion enclosure and monkey house are highlights, along with the penguins in the vivarium, which also houses fish and reptiles. The aviary houses both indigenous and exotic birds, as well as birds of prey. The zoo has been particularly successful in breeding rhinoceros and cheetahs. The realistic habitats and variety of exotic animals make this one of the favorite places to visit with children in Basel.
Address: Binningerstrasse 40, Basel
Set atop the highest point on Münsterhügel (Minster Hill), Basel's Minster is easily spotted by its prominent spires and brightly patterned roof tiles. The spacious Münsterplatz , formerly the site of a Roman fort, is an elegant 18th-century square. Built of red sandstone from the Vosges mountains of France between the ninth and 13th centuries, the minster was rebuilt in Gothic style after an earthquake in 1356.
But some of the original church remains. The high altar and much of the furnishings were destroyed by Protestants in 1529, but the greatest treasures were hidden in the sacristy vaulting and survived; you can see some in the historical museum.
Be sure to see the St. Gallus doorway in the north transept, with its many 12th-century Romanesque stone carvings - one of the oldest figured doorways in German-speaking Europe. The tympanum above the doorway shows the Wise and Foolish Virgins, with Christ enthroned above flanked by Peter and Paul.
A large rose window lies above the doorway. Inside, the lower part of the choir is Romanesque; be sure to notice the capitals carved with rich foliage and animals and the Romanesque capitals in the nave and ambulatory. In front of the pulpit, under glass, is a piece of the Late Romanesque pavement from the 12th century.
From inside the church, you can access the stairs to the top of the south tower. The crypt, which can be entered from beside the choir, contains the tombs of 10th- to 13th-century bishops and an excellent Romanesque frieze on the piers; ceiling frescoes depict scenes from the life of the Virgin and other New Testament themes. The beautiful 15th-century double cloister, entered from Rittergasse, contains monuments ranging over five centuries.
Address: Münsterplatz, Basel
The Museum Tinguely contains the largest collection of this influential Swiss artist's work thanks to a generous donation by his widow Niki de Saint Phalle, as well as contributions by other collectors. The collection includes Tinguely's sculptures and drawings, as well as an extensive library of documents and photographs.
The museum also hosts visiting installations that change every three months, focusing on artists who inspired Tinguely, as well as the work of contemporary artists. The building housing the collection was designed by famed architect Mario Botta.
Address: Paul Sacher-Anlage 2, 4002 Basel
Set on a medieval canal with an operating waterwheel, an old paper mill has been turned into a museum of writing, printing, and paper, showing the printing and papermaking processes with actual working machinery.
As you tour the museum, you can watch the laborious production of handmade paper, explore the evolution of printing from before Gutenberg's press through the demise of lead type in the 1980s, and see how books are bound. Displays follow the development of writing from primitive pictographs through modern typography.
Address: St. Alban-Tal 37, Basel
The focal point of the Old Town is Marktplatz, where you'll still find the colorful daily market selling local produce, flowers, and food specialties. Dominating the square is the bright red Basel Rathaus , with its colorful painted facade. The arcaded main building is in Late Burgundian Gothic style dating from 1504 to 1521; the new wing to the left and the tall tower on the right are 19th-century additions.
The clock dates from the building's origins, the work of Master Wilhelms from the early 1500s. Be sure to step into the beautiful courtyard to see the wall paintings, restored from 1608-11 originals. The statue, from 1574, on the outer staircase represents the legendary founder of the town, Munatius Plancus. You can also see the two council chambers, the Regierungsratssaal , with its impressive wood paneling, and the Grossratssaal , decorated by 15 coats-of-arms of the Swiss cantons.
Address: Marktpl. 9, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
Completed in 1977, the playful fountain designed by the Swiss artist Jean Tinguely quickly became a Basel landmark. Placed inside a large shallow pool, 10 large figures made of scrap metal seem to be playing with each other in the water as they move and spray jets of water into the air.
Powered by low-voltage current, these playful and ingenious water-spouting mechanical figures are built from pieces of metal equipment from the old theater that once stood on this spot. In the winter, the fountain becomes a series of fantastic ice sculptures as the water freezes around the figures. You can see more of his unusual and imaginative sculpture in Basel at the Jean Tinguely Museum.
Address: Theaterstrasse, Basel
When you need a break from Basel's abundance of museums and historic attractions, or if you are looking for things to do with children, take a tram or bike to the Tierpark, an expanse of green parkland alongside the river. Here, you'll meet a variety of local wildlife — deer, lynx, wild boar and others — roaming free in their natural habitat, discreetly fenced from the public.
Swans and ducks swim as herons fish in the ponds, and colorful peacocks roam about the grounds. More birds inhabit the spacious aviary, and an assortment of farm animals are in stables and paddocks. It is a peaceful green space for walking and relaxing, and a good place for children to meet animals in a non-zoo environment. They can also let off energy in the large playground.
Address: Erlenparkweg 110, Basel
The 14th-century Barfüsserkirche (Church of the Barefoot Friars) was renovated in the 1970s to house the Historical Museum with important collections on local history and culture. It spotlights particularly the city's unique position at the crossroads between Swiss, German, and French cultures.
In the nave of the church are the Late Gothic tapestries and the curious Lällenkönig (Babbling King), a crowned head with a movable tongue and eyes that was the emblem of Gross-Basel in the 17th century. In the aisles are weapons and furnished period rooms, in the choir religious art, and in the crypt is the minster treasury, recovered after being saved from destruction during the Reformation.
Interesting exhibits deal with the importance of silk ribbon manufacture in Basel from the late 18th through the 19th century.
Address: Barfüsserplatz 7, Basel
The Spielzeug Welten Museum collection of more than 6,000 toys, including dolls, stuffed animals, dollhouses, shop models, and carousels is not just for children. The dollhouses are exceptional, not only the historical examples but the newly commissioned works of artists who create rooms and shops in miniature.
One section is devoted to the Neapolitan folk art of nativity scenes set in the context of everyday life in early Naples , with figures dressed in infinitely detailed costumes. The museum's collection of 2,500 teddy bears is thought to be the world's largest.
Even if you don't tour the museum, don't miss walking around to look in the windows. Six display-sized windows facing the street are dedicated to changing displays from the collections, based on seasonal and other themes and representing current special exhibitions.
Address: Steinenvorstadt 1, Basel
Housed in an old paper mill with modern extensions, Basel's Museum of Contemporary Art highlights art from 1960 to the present. You'll find paintings and sculptures by artists that include Chagall, de Chirico, Dali, Braque, Mondrian, Klee, Giacometti, Moore, and the Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely.
It was the first public museum in Europe dedicated exclusively to artworks created in the late 20th century. Guided tours in English are available with advance notice and are included in the admission price.
Address: St. Alban-Rheinweg 60, Basel
Basel's Museum of Antiquities and the Ludwig collection feature Egyptian, Greek, Italian, Etruscan, and Roman works of art, covering antiquity from about 4000 BC to the 6th century AD. The strongest areas are sculptures and Greek vases, although there are outstanding exhibits of gold jewelry, bronze sculptures, and clay figures.
The museum also operates Skulpturhalle Basel , located near Basel University, which features more than 2,200 plaster casts of Greek and Roman sculptures including a complete set of casts of the Parthenon, part of the Acropolis in Athens , as well as scale-size architectural sculptures.
Address: St. Alban Graben 5, Basel
One of central Europe's best collections of Judaica, the Jüdische Museum depicts religious and everyday life as it explores the Jewish history of Basel and its surrounds. In addition to documenting the local history, it introduces visitors to Jewish ceremonies and customs from the broader diaspora through exhibits focused on Jewish Law, the Jewish Year, everyday life, and history.
In the courtyard, medieval gravestones and documents go back as far as the medieval Jewish communities with documents printed in Hebrew by the city's book printers from the 16th through 19th centuries. Significant documents focus on the two World Wars.
Address: Kornhausgasse 8, Basel
One of the finest of Basel's patrician houses, the Haus zum Kirschgarten was built between 1775 and 1780 in the early Classical style. It was the home and office of a prosperous Basel manufacturer of silk ribbons and is among Switzerland's best museums of domestic life.
Throughout the 25 furnished rooms are displays of the furniture of a wealthy 18th-century commercial family, as well as internationally important collections of decorative arts. The Pauls-Eisenbeiss Foundation's collection of porcelain, a significant watch and clock collection, and major groups of Basel silver and scientific instruments are displayed.
Address: Elisabethenstrasse 27/29, Basel
Dating from 1370, the Spalentor is a fortified gate marking the end of the old town. The town gate, once part of the old town walls, has stood alone since their destruction in 1866. Look to the left of the gate to find an early 19th-century letterbox with the emblem of the Basel pigeon.
The adjacent Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church) was rebuilt in the 15th century, but the vaulting in the choir is from an earlier 14th-century building. There are frescoes in the Eberler chapel and the nave. Adjacent is the university, with a botanical garden that was founded in the 16th century, one of the oldest in the world.
Collectors Ernst and Hildy Beyeler opened the Fondation Beyeler in 1997 to allow the public to enjoy their extensive personal collection of Classic Modernist art. A staggering number of works by both Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse are on display, including drawings, paintings, and sculpture.
Also displayed are multiple sculptures by Alberto Giacometti and Max Ernst, and a variety of works by celebrated artists, including Georges Seurat, Marc Chagall, Marlene Dumas, Paul Klee, and Vincent Van Gogh. The collection also includes pieces from the Beyelers' world travels to Africa, Oceania, and Alaska.
The museum is set in a lovely park, housed in a building designed by architect Renzo Piano.
Address: Baselstrasse 101, Basel
Because Basel lies right on the international border, some of its suburbs spread over into Germany and France. So it is with the Vitra Design Museum , which although considered a Basel institution, is a five-minute train ride just across the German border from central Basel.
By any measure, it is one of the world's most important museums of design. The building itself is a landmark, designed by Canadian architect Frank O. Gehry. Inside are changing exhibitions - two or three each year - examining current and historical design trends and themes. The displays are stunning and provocative, often inviting interaction.
Add some outdoor exercise to your gallery hopping by hiring an electric bicycle at the central train station to follow the Rehberger-Weg bike path across the border to the Vita campus.
Address: Charles-Eames-Str. 2, Weil am Rhein, Germany
Lying astride the river Aare, about 67 kilometers from Basel, Solothurn is an elegant town of Renaissance and Baroque buildings that indicate its splendor in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries as the residence of the French ambassadors to the Swiss Confederation. Earlier, the town of Salodurum ranked with Trier in Germany as one of the oldest Roman settlements north of the Alps.
Marktplatz is a beautiful square with a 12th-century clock tower, the Zeitglockenturm , that has mechanical figures from 1545. The Mauritius fountain is decorated with a figure by the master Hans Gieng of Fribourg. You'll see several more fountains with colorfully painted figures as you stroll down picturesque old Hauptgasse .
Stop there at the Jesuit church to see its interior, decorated with stucco work by 17th-century artists from the Swiss Ticino region. In the cloister is a collection of stones with Roman inscriptions. Just inside the 1508 Baseltor gate stands the Italian Baroque Cathedral of St. Ursen , built from 1763 to 1773.
Its treasury is especially rich in goldsmiths' work and textiles from the 15th to 19th centuries. In the hills outside of Solothurn, be sure to visit Schloss Waldegg - Waldegg Castle. The palace is set among lovely Baroque gardens and its beautiful interior gives you an idea of the splendor in which the French ambassadors lived.
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Not sure what’s worth your time in Basel’s old town? Then you’ve come to the right place because this detailed guide covers all the most important landmarks in Switzerland’s capital of culture.
Basel’s old town is exceptionally charming with its cobbled alleys and unique landmarks. Iconic buildings, famous museums, and the best town squares are all included in this guide, so keep reading to see how to make the most of your time in Basel’s old town!
Table of Contents
Basel minster.
The city cathedral is usually one of the most impressive buildings in town, and the Basel cathedral is no exception. It was constructed as a Roman Catholic cathedral but today it functions as a Reformed Protestant church.
The initial cathedral was built in Gothic and Romanesque styles between the 11th and 16th centuries. The construction took so long because the initial building was damaged in the 14th-century earthquake, and certain parts were rebuilt by Johannes Gmünd.
Basel Minster is best known for its red sandstone construction, which makes it very easy to spot. The red sandstone is not only clearly visible around Basel, it is also extremely rare amongst European churches.
Guided tours of the church take place every Saturday, and they last for only about 30 minutes. There’s a fee of 7 CHF for adults, while kids can join the tour for free. There’s a limit of just 15 people per tour, so I’d highly recommend you reserve a spot in advance if you don’t want to miss out.
You can skip the tour entirely if you want and just climb the cathedral tower – this will cost you 6 CHF and reward you with magical panoramic views of Basel’s rooftops.
Basel Historical Museum is an iconic city landmark you absolutely shouldn’t miss. It’s been inside a former church since 1894, so not only can you learn about the history of the city, but you also get to tour a Franciscan church!
The main part of the museum is inside the church, but there are additional exhibits at two other locations in the city. The Barfuesserkirche part of the museum houses a huge collection of items that detail the cultural history of this city. This includes objects that document the everyday lives of locals from centuries ago, but also some unique items like the Amerbach cabinet of curiosities.
Entrance to this museum is 15 CHF, but that doesn’t include entrance to any special exhibits. Also, this covers only entrance to Barfuesserkirche – if you want a combo ticket that also grants entrance to Haus zum Kirschgarten and Musikmuseum, you’ll have to pay 20 CHF.
Best museums in basel (famous & intriguing).
Marktplatz is a central square in Basel’s historic city. The square is surrounded by beautiful buildings that are representative of the dominant architectural style in Basel, plus it’s home to many shops and locales, from McDonald’s to a tea room. This is also an important public transportation stop – both trams and buses stop here, allowing for easy exploration of the old town.
The town hall building dominates the market square with its beautiful paintings and unique elements. Both the square and the town hall will likely be important landmarks during your trip, helping you instantly recognize where you are in Basel.
Also, it’s important to note that the square isn’t called Market Square for no reason. The daily market stalls are set up in the center of the square on weekdays, where you can shop for fresh produce, local delicacies, and flowers.
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Andreasplatz.
Andreasplatz is tucked away in a building courtyard and it’s not the easiest attraction to find in Basel. The entrance to the square is from Schneidergasse, right next to a local antique store. The first thing you will probably notice is the Monkey Fountain at the center of the square, so if you see it you’ll know you’re in the right place!
This square is home to several bars and restaurants that you can visit whenever. Try to get one of the outdoor tables, so you can enjoy the local delicacies while taking in all the details of this place.
On top of that, Andreasplatz occasionally hosts the Wild Plant Market, which manages to transform the entire space. Suddenly there are many carts with countless wild plants, and the city square turns into a small jungle.
Basel’s city hall is over 500 years old and was built to commemorate Basel joining the Swiss Confederation in 1501. It is a rather underrated attraction for one simple reason. Yes, it’s the most impressive building on Marktplatz and a great representation of the architectural diversity in this city. However, most people will just notice the stand-out red sandstone facade and the paintings that adorn it, and think they’ve explored this attraction in detail.
What many people don’t know is that the building is open to visitors. You can go inside the courtyard and see even more beautiful paintings, which is definitely something you should do. There’s no entrance fee for this and it only takes a few minutes, but it offers an entirely different perspective on this lovely building.
Guided tours of the town hall are available on Saturdays. There are options for tours in English and German, and whichever one you choose the fee is 5 CHF for adults. Kids can join you for free, but you must reserve them a spot on the tour. Guided tours last only around 30 minutes, and they’re definitely worth your time.
This is also a functioning town hall and is home to the Basel City Cantonal Parliament
Visit the Museum of Cultures if you want to know why the city is known as Switzerland’s capital of culture. This ethnographic museum is located just a short walk from the Basel Cathedral, so you can access it easily while you’re exploring the old town.
The museum has a collection of global artifacts and it often hosts special exhibits that focus on a certain culture. The special exhibits change frequently and the Basel Carnival collection is the only permanent exhibit in the museum. It’s truly a unique museum, and one of the most inspiring places you can visit in this town.
Basel’s Museum der Kulturen can be toured for a fee of 16 CHF, which gives you access to all the exhibits inside the museum. The entrance fee for the museum’s permanent collection is just 7 CHF, and it’s worth noting that you can get discounted or free entrance with the many travel and tourist passes that are available in Switzerland.
Tinguely Fountain is located in the same place where the Basel theater company stage once stood, and it’s an homage to the place’s previous function. The fountain, created by Tinguely in 1977, is shallow and decorated with machine sculptures that pay homage to the performing arts.
This is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, and it’s even better that it’s dedicated to theater. Basel is known as the capital of culture in Switzerland with its many museums and performance art venues, and the Tinguely fountain is just one of the landmarks that reinforces that fact.
The sculptures in the fountain are designed to appear as if they’re interacting with one another, which makes the entire landmark even more impressive. What’s even better is that the fountain stays on in the winter, and it’s not uncommon for some of the sculptures to freeze, which entirely changes the appearance of the Tinguely Fountain!
If you like what you see here, you should also visit the Tinguely Musem when you are in Basel, it takes these moving sculptures to the next level.
Frequently asked questions, what is the old town in basel called.
Basel Old Town is called “Basel Altstadt” in German or “Altstadt Grossbasel” is the name of the part of Basel it is located in.
Most of Basel’s old town is on the left bank of the Rhine River. A small part of the old town is on the right bank, but that area encompasses mostly theaters and boutiques. The majority of the tourist attractions and landmarks are on the left bank, including all the tourist attractions mentioned above.
Is it worth it to cross the bridge to the other bank? Yes, because Mittlere Brücke is also a famous attraction in the old town! Also, the right bank offers sweeping panoramic views of the old town buildings.
Yes, the old town of Basel is very walkable as you can explore the majority of it easily in one day. However, if you get tired, you can always jump on a tram or bus to get back to your hotel or the center of town.
The main street of downtown Basel is “Freie Strasse” or Freie Street in English. It runs through the center of the old town area and is the main shopping area there.
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Sitting on the banks of the Rhine, the Swiss city champions ingenuity in art, architecture and food, and thrums with a vibrant cafe culture.
Other Swiss cities charm with their picture-perfect good looks, but that suits Basel just fine . There’s a hidden chemistry to this city — at the helm of the country’s biotech and pharmaceutical industries, it’s also busy making pioneering waves in avant-garde art and architecture, with its raft of galleries to rival any world-class capital and buildings by Pritzker Prize-winning architects. Sitting astride the Rhine where Switzerland, Germany and France converge, there’s also a sparkling waterfront for wild swims and sundowners, and a food scene that dives into unchartered creative waters.
Before all that, however, brunch and a freshly roasted coffee is order of the morning at retro-flavoured Café Frühling in the riverfront Kleinbasel neighbourhood. Near here, the medieval Mittlere Brücke bridge leaps across the Rhine to Grossbasel and the Altstadt, where history is writ large across the Münster , with its spires and chevron-tiled roof. Just south is the red-sandstone Rathaus , giving way to arcades festooned with frolicking cherubs.
The Altstadt is pretty, but it’s the future, not the past, that marks Basel out. Host of September’s mammoth Art Basel fair, the city muscles in on the international contemporary art scene in a big way. You could devote an entire weekend to browsing the city’s best galleries, but high on any itinerary should be the phenomenal Kunstmuseum , straddling two modernist buildings and harbouring a collection swinging from Holbein’s Renaissance masterpieces to Van Gogh, Picasso and Paul Klee originals.
Heading east reveals a trio of big-hitters, too. First up, in a Mario Botta-designed edifice of rose-pink sandstone, is Museum Tinguely , showcasing the eponymous Swiss artist’s madcap sculptures. A 20-minute tram ride north of Basel Bad station (and across the German border) brings you to the Vitra Design Museum , where Frank Gehry has left his curvy, decontructivist imprint in white plaster and titanium-zinc alloy. The boundary-pushing exhibitions zoom in on architecture, industrial and interior design.
If the sun’s out, walk the three-mile Rehberger-Weg . Switching back and forth across the Swiss-German border, the trail takes in vineyards and also skirts the town of Weil am Rhein, ticking off 24 public art installations by German sculptor Tobias Rehberger. The end goal is Fondation Beyeler . Overlooking wooded hills and lily-filled ponds, the low-slung, light-drenched Renzo Piano presents a private-turned-public collection of modern works, from Miró to Ernst, Pollock to Lichtenstein.
Back in the centre near the station, the elegantly revived 1920s Markthalle offers hungry lunchtime crowds the world on a plate under its huge domed roof. Expect cheese and wood-fired bread, street-food stands dish up everything from Ethiopian tibs to Venezuelan arepas (maize patties) and Italian gelato. Grab a regional beer from HausBAR .
The Rhine is Basel’s backdrop and lifeblood and jumping in for a swim is something of a rite of passage. At the tourist office on Barfüsserplatz, get yourself a Wickelfisch , a fish-shaped waterproof bag to keep your kit dry, then head to Kleinbasel’s riverbank, strip to your bathers and go with the flow, splashing past the city landmarks as you float downstream. If you prefer to stay above water, you can rend standup paddleboards by the hour or hook onto a tour with Birs73 . Part of the fun is washing up at a riverside bar, or buvette , for drinks, snacks and socialising.
Speaking of drinks, this is an excellent city for a pre-dinner aperitif. Try lavishly muralled Grenzwert for craft beers, antipasti and a chilled courtyard garden. Or, as the evening wears on, the moodily lit, boho-flavoured Renée Bar entices with good vibes, gigs and DJ sets.
Dinner? You’re spoilt for choice. With a terrace right by the river, retro-hip Ufer7 pairs Basel brews and Swiss wines with its own spin on regional dishes like Pizokel (stubby buckwheat dumplings) with speck, Savoy cabbage, raclette cheese and onions. Or for a dash of contemporary decadence, book ahead at Michelin-starred Roots , where chef Pascal Steffen delights with daring, ingredient-led tasting menus that seem deceptively simple on paper. Dishes include poulard, fig and mushroom, or duck, pumpkin and quince.
Philipp is the founder and owner of Artstübli , Basel’s leading exhibition, exchange and project space for urban art and culture.
1. Kulturbeiz 113 Climb 113 steps to the top of this restaurant and you’ll be rewarded with a view over the city’s rooftops from the beautiful terrace. Or take the elevator if you prefer not to climb. The food is young, unconventional and prepared with the freshest ingredients, and there are often cultural events in the evenings.
2. Holzpark Klybeck The temporary-use island of Klybeck is crammed with many small, colourful studios, bars, food pop-ups and workshops, and hosts theatrical, musical and other cultural events. They’re creating a versatile new cultural space in the form of a rare and nostalgic lightship from the 1950s.
3. Artstübli Gallery In Basel’s historic market hall, my gallery has been a platform for showcasing the many contemporary facets of urban art and culture — from graffiti to street art — with events, exhibitions and on-theme books.
4. Angels’ Share Located in Kleinbasel’s ‘Bermuda-Triangle’ nightlife district, this relaxed, intimate bar is a real find. Besides cocktails, the bar offers an exquisite whiskey and rum assortment. On the small, monthly changing cocktail-menu there are classics and signatures, such as Angels’ Fizz (gin, lemon, egg white and soda).
5. Urban Art Tour Basel Basel has a huge collection of art, with many exciting discoveries in public spaces. I organize multi-lingual urban art and graffiti tours, guided by artists and experts of the scene. I recommend seeking out the 25 ‘Space Invaders’ that have been dotted all over the city by the anonymous French street artist Invader.
Published in the Jul/Aug 2021 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK)
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Basel travel guide – cultural capital of switzerland.
Creating the Basel Travel Guide is a great challenge. How to present the city with more than two thousand years long history in the same number of words? How to give an overview of museums and art institutions in the Cultural Capital of Switzerland when there is a museum per square kilometre in Basel?
If I needed to describe the Swiss city of Basel in three words, they would be humanist, relaxed and eclectic. That’s Basel. The city has a long history, massive affection for arts and culture, but it’s also a modern architecture and business hub. Probably that great mix of old and new in its appearance, and north and south in its attitude gives the city a great relaxed and laid back vibe.
Being known as the Cultural Capital of Switzerland, Basel is a beautiful place to visit for anyone interested in art and culture. Wandering around its streets provides a beautiful trip back to history. It’s a walk among the Celtic walls, Roman heritage and some lovely medieval buildings. During a walk around Basel, you’ll stumble on several cultural institutions hosting some world-known art.
However, Basel didn’t get stuck in its history. The city is young and alive. Not only with its fantastic modern buildings that were designed by some of the most famous contemporary international architects. But also by its residents living a Mediterranean lifestyle north of the Alps.
Basel is an old town with more than two thousand years long history. It was first inhabited by Celts. During the archaeological excavations done a few decades ago, the researchers have found an old Celtic wall. It can still be seen close to the Basel Cathedral today.
When Romans came to that area, they built their military camp on the hill where the Basel Cathedral is located. They established a larger town called Augusta Raurica in its vicinity. By the 7th century, Basel became more important and began the development into a modern city.
⤷ TIP : Augusta Raurica is an archaeological site today located some 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Basel. It could be an excellent day trip location to visit from Basel. Here is a walking tour around it during which you can learn more about that interesting archaeological site.
During the 5th and 6th centuries, the Alemannic and Frankish tribes made their settlements on a site of today’s Basel. At the beginning of the new Millennium, Basel started looking more and more like a typical European medieval town. Around 1100 it got its first city walls.
During the same time, the marketplace in Basel was first mentioned, too. The city has become more important as a trade centre. Mainly because the only bridge over the Rhine River between Constance Lake and the North Sea was located in Basel. It was situated on a location of today’s Middle Bridge and first mentioned in a loan document from 1223.
Basel was ruled by the prince-bishops from the 11th century until 1501, when it joined the Swiss Confederacy as its eleventh canton. Interestingly, it was the only canton that was invited to join and not the other way around. The Confederacy required Basel to stay neutral in case of conflicts between other cantons and serve as a mediator between them.
Basel’s coat of arms is linked to the bishop’s rule of the city. The image of the bishops’ crozier, also known as the ‘Baselstab’, first appeared in the 12th century. It also possibly represented a relic attributed to Saint Germanus of Granfelden. Since 1385, the black version of it represented the city, and the red one the bishop.
In 1356 Basel was hit by a devastating earthquake that destroyed a majority of the city. The cathedral and some other significant buildings were rebuilt after it.
Basel also had an essential role as one of European’s centres of Humanism. It all started with the Council of Basel that was organised in the city between 1431 and 1449. During it, a counter pope Felix V was elected in the Basel Cathedral. A few years later, in 1459, the University of Basel was founded. It’s the oldest university in Switzerland. Erasmus of Rotterdam , Paracelsus, Friedrich Nietzsche and Carl Gustav Jung are just some famous scholars lecturing on it.
Around the same time, apprentices of Johann Gutenberg introduced printing to Basel. The oldest publishing house in the world still in business, the Schwabe Publishing House, was founded in Basel in 1488.
It soon became one of the European printing centres. Work of Erasmus of Rotterdam, the first edition of John Calvin’s doctrine ( Christianae Religionis Institutio ) from 1536 and the first book on human anatomy from 1543 ( De Humani Corporis Fabrica ) were all printed in Basel.
In 1529 the city became Protestant, following the Iconoclasm during which many churches and their interiors were vandalised. It also became a safe place for religious refugees. This was when many wealthy Protestant families moved to Basel. Many of them got involved in a ribbon colouring business. It later led to the chemical industry appearing in the city, which was a base for today’s huge pharma industry Basel is well-known for.
Those wealthy families became art patrons, commissioning works from artists around the world. Many of them became the bases for the collections at some of the forty museums Basel is home to. It comes with no surprise, the Kunstmuseum Basel, founded in 1661, is the oldest public art collection in Europe.
Throughout centuries Basel continued developing and became the modern, vibrant city it is today. Modern buildings stand next to the old houses, witnessing the long cultural history of the town.
⤷ Read more : History of Travelling
Basel is one of the cities that are best explored by just wandering around them. Most of the city centre is a pedestrian zone, so it’s easy to get around. The true beauty of Basel is not only in the revolutionary contemporary architecture and historic mansions it’s home to, but instead, in details, you can spot on its streets.
Its old town looks as there is a competition for the most gorgeous front doors going on. Not to miss any of these beautiful details, one of the best ways to explore Basel is by just getting lost in its narrow cobbled streets.
However, there are some must-see things in Basel you shouldn’t miss while there. That’s why here is a Basel travel guide with some of the things you shouldn’t miss while in Basel.
Basel lives in a close co-existence with the Rhine River. It connects the city but also offers refreshments during the hot summer days. It’s one of the reasons for the city’s prosperity because the first bridge over the Rhine between today’s Austria and the North Sea was located in Basel. The only cargo port in Switzerland is also found in Basel.
However, Basel is the city that lives next to its river. There are lovely walking promenades on both of its sides. During my time in Basel, I was fascinated with numerous locals sitting on benches along the river, reading books, enjoying the sight or having a drink with their friends.
If you’d like to immerse in that part of the local culture, I’d suggest you sit on one of the benches on the opposite side of the Basel Cathedral and enjoy a wonderful view of the old town in the evening.
⤷ TIP : The most Basely thing you can do while in that Swiss town is to swim in the Rhine River. It’s especially popular to do that on warm summer days. During my stay, we saw many people doing that. A group of designers from Basel invented fun and a handy thing called Wickelfisch . You can put all of your stuff like a towel, wallet and clothes inside it and then use it as an air pillow. You can find Wickelfisch at museums and souvenir shops around the city.
*Address : Klostergasse 7, 4051 Basel
Numerous fountains around the city of Basel gives it almost a Meditearranean feel. Besides offering drinkable water to its citizens, they are also beautiful examples of public art located all over the city. A thing that was so amusing to me, and is probably showing a lot of that laid back lifestyle of its residents, is that the people of Basel loves to cool down in them.
One of the days I was there, it was very warm, and I saw so many people just chilling in fountains, almost using them as sort of the public jacuzzies.
Tinguely Fountain is absolutely the most fascinating among them. Built in 1977, the fountain consists of ten machine statues made of iron. Since it is located in front of the city theatre and on a location where the old theatre’s stage once was, they are inspired by that form of art. The statues are in constant movement, almost looking like the actors performing and interacting with each other.
⤷ TIP : Water in the majority of these fountains is drinkable and of exellent quality. So, when in Basel, bring your reusable bottle with you and fill it in with water from these fountains.
*Address : Paul Sacher-Anlage 2, 4002 Basel
If you enjoyed the moving statues at this fountain, then a visit to the Tinguely Museum is definitely a must for you. Jean Tinguely (1925 – 1991) was a Swiss artist who was mainly interested in kinetic art. During his career, he was interested in machines, moving art, their sound and the way they move.
Tinguely Museum in Basel is home to the most extensive collection of his work. It’s a great place to see his artwork and learn more about this unique artist, his life and his work. The museum is also quite interactive. Visitors could operate many of these machines themselves, making a museum visit even more fun and entertaining. We spent more than two hours there but could have stayed there much longer.
*Address : Münsterpl. 9, 4051 Basel
Basel Cathedral, also known as Basel Münster, is one of the must-see places in Basel and should find its place in any Basel Travel Guide. It’s located on the site of an old Roman castle, on a little hill above the Rhine River. The earliest sacral building was replaced by the Romanesque church in 1019. The construction began under the Holy Roman Emperor Henry II. To pay him a tribute, statues of him and his wife Kunigunde were placed at the cathedral’s facade.
The Romanesque building was destroyed by the 1356 earthquake and rebuilt in a combination of Romanesque and Gothic style. It’s pretty unique in Switzerland because it was built of red stones and has a roof made of colourful tiles.
The church lost most of its artworks during the Iconoclasm in 1528 and 1529. Numerous important historical people were buried inside it. Visiting some of their graves offers an interesting walk through Basel’s history. The most important is definitely the grave of Erasmus of Rotterdam. During the 16th century, the church was transformed into a Protestant cathedral.
Two cathedral’s towers are called Georgsturm and Martinsturm and are named after the saints of the knights, Saint George and Saint Martin. They are 64.2 and 62.7 metres high. You can climb them and enjoy a fantastic view of Basel, together with its suburbs located in Switzerland, France and Germany.
*Address : Baselstrasse 101, 4125 Basel
Basel area is home to around forty museums. However, if you’d like to visit only one during your trip to Basel, I’d definitely suggest you a Fondation Beyeler . It started as a private collection of Hildy and Ernst Beyeler and was first exhibited in its entirety in 1989.
That triggered the idea of building the museum and displaying the collection permanently there. Its owners commissioned one of the best architects of that time, Renzo Piano, to design a museum, connecting its architecture with the beautiful nature surrounding it. The museum Fondation Beyeler was opened in 1997.
Highlights of the collection are works of Van Gogh , Picasso, Monet, Paul Klee and many other modern and contemporary artists. The compact collection offers an excellent overview of modern art, and you can see everything in around two hours.
⤷ TIP : A tram stop is located in front of the museum, so you can easily visit it by public transport from Basel.
*Address : Jakob’s Basler Leckerly, St. Johanns-Vorstadt 47, 4056 Basel
A perfect way to enjoy a new city is by exploring it with all of your senses. Basel is home to numerous excellent restaurants, and wherever we ate, the food was delicious. Some of the restaurants I’d definitely recommend are Nomad Eatery , Restaurant Kunsthalle and Gifthüttli , for some traditional Swiss cuisine.
However, a really nice Swiss product that could also be taken home as a souvenir from Basel is Basler Leckerli. It’s a spiced cookie made of honey, almonds, lemon and orange. It was first made by Basel spice merchants during the 15th century. Its name in German means small delicious cookies.
⤷ TIP : You’ll find a few specialised stores in Basel selling Leckerli cookies. I bought mine at Jakob’s Basler Leckerly that has had a long tradition of producing these cookies since 1753. They make different varieties of these sweets, so I’m definitely recommending a visit to their shop in Basel.
*Address : Rhine River, city centre
A very unique means of transport in Basel are its ferries. They won’t be that special if they haven’t been using the natural power of the river’s current to move. There is no mechanical engine giving them power. That also means if the current is strong, you’ll quickly get to the other side. And the other way around.
There are four locations of the ferry in Basel, connecting the two banks of Kleinbasel and Grossbasel. They even have the names ‘Wilde Maa’, ‘Leu’, ‘Vogel Gryff’ and ‘Ueli’.
*Address : St. Alban-Graben 16, 4051 Basel
Kunstmuseum Basel is an art museum that’s home to a massive collection of art (primarily paintings, drawings, graphics and statues). With its fantastic collection of Renaissance paintings, Dutch Golden Age art, Picasso’s, Van Gogh’s and Impressionists’ paintings, it’s definitely one of the top European museums.
It’s also quite interesting because it’s the first public collection not only in Switzerland but in the whole of Europe (and probably in the world). Founded all the way back in 1661, it witnesses the long tradition of art patrons, collectors and overall the love towards the art in Basel.
Its collection is vast and displayed in three different locations in the city, so be sure to choose the art pieces you’d like to see and plan your visit in advance.
⤷ TIP : The museum is home to a lovely restaurant that could be a nice place for a lunch break. I especially loved their desserts (mango cheesecake was just fantastic).
*Address : Basel Old Town
Basel is known around the world for its fantastic modern architecture. However, it’s also home to a beautiful Old Town with houses dating back to Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque times.
Many of them have characteristic wooden beams, unusual gables and wall paintings on them. The whole area of Basel Old Town is urbanistically attractive because it consists of numerous winding cobbled streets.
The combination of those old houses with street art is something I especially enjoyed during my trip to Basel. It shows how the city lived for centuries and was developing and growing throughout that time.
⤷ TIP : Basel Old Town is also a nice place for shopping. Many local stores selling some good quality souvenirs, Leckerli cookies, local art, design and clothes are located there.
It’s something I always vouch for when travelling. Exploring the city on a guided tour makes such a difference. You get to learn a bit about its history, interesting local facts and get a glimpse into local culture. You can also hear a bit of a local language and an accent.
I went on a tour around the Basel Old Town and really enjoyed learning so much about that fantastic city. But, there are more lovely tours during which you can get better acquainted with that city. A self-guided food tour , private architectural walking tour or this Basel tour lead by professional actors could be a great choice, too.
⤷ Where to stay in Basel – I stayed at Hotel Au Violon and loved it. It’s centrally located, so we went everywhere on foot. The hotel is located in a former prison, and it has a great historical vibe. But, it also has a fantastic restaurant, and our breakfast was delicious. However, with public transport being really great in Basel, I believe anywhere within its reach would be a great area to stay in.
⤷ How to get around – Basel has an extensive tram net that’s easy to use. All the hotels in Basel are providing their guests with Basel Cards. With it, you have free public transport and a discount on many sights in Basel.
Basel is a wonderful city to visit for any art and culture enthusiast. If you enjoy exploring museums, learning about local history, visiting great restaurants and immersing in a laid back lifestyle, then Basel is a city for you. I hope this Basel Travel Guide will make your visit to the Cultural Capital of Switzerland even more enjoyable.
If you’d like to see more Basel photos and videos, check out my Instagram highlight Basel on a link here . Watch my video about museums in Basel below:
*Many thanks to Basel Tourismus for organising a fantastic press trip for me. I had a great time and enjoyed exploring that beautiful city and preparing this Basel Travel Guide for you. However, as always, all opinions are my own.
*This post contains some affiliate links
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Free BaselCard. Authentic guest reviews. 100% secure booking. Accommodation City tours Package deals City map BaselCard Travelling to Basel. Discover the City of Basel [Switzerland]: Sightseeing Events Hotels Restaurants Shopping Guided tours on the official website of Basel Tourism.
We look forward to your visit! Our Basel experts at the Tourist Information office at the Stadtcasino at Barfüsserplatz are ready to assist you every day. We can provide you with tickets for guided city tours, leaflets about the best restaurants, excursions and hotels as well as souvenirs, postcards and our famous Wickelfisch swim bag.
Wir freuen uns auf Ihren Besuch! Unsere Basel-Expert*innen an der Tourist Information im Stadtcasino am Barfüsserplatz sind täglich für Sie da. Hier erhalten Sie Tickets für Stadtführungen, Broschüren zu den besten Restaurants, Ausflügen und Hotels ebenso wie lustige Mitbringsel, Postkarten und unseren berühmten Wickelfisch. Mehr erfahren.
Basel is Switzerland's oldest university city. Historic landmarks of the city include the large market square with its richly decorated red sandstone town hall and the late Romanesque-Gothic cathedral.During a walk through the old town, past small boutiques, antique book shops but also shops of modern designers, a visit to the "Läckerli Huus" to try the traditional Basel honey cake is well ...
Basel is a large city in the north-west of Switzerland, close to the German and French borders. It's located on the river Rhine. Basel is modern and has business and industry districts. But the beautiful historic town center is interesting for tourists as well: it has lots of ancient buildings and squares, museums, churches, and restaurants.
Tourist Information Barfüsserplatz Steinenberg 14 Im Stadt-Casino am Barfüsserplatz 4051 Basel ... Price Information for "Stadtcasino Basel - world-class acoustics & outstanding architecture" Offer details. valid: 26.10.2024 - 06.04.2025
Munsterplatz in Basel Wettsteinbrücke in Basel. One of Switzerland's underrated tourist destinations, Basel has a beautiful medieval old town centre, a fascinating carnival, and several world class art museums built by architects like Renzo Piano, Mario Botta and Herzog & De Meuron. Basel is also rich in architecture old and new, with a Romanesque Münster (cathedral), a Renaissance Rathaus ...
Price Information for "Stadtcasino Basel - world-class acoustics & outstanding architecture" Offer details. valid: 26.10.2024 - 06.04.2025 ... Im Stadt-Casino am Barfüsserplatz ... [email protected] Website . Basel Tourismus Aeschenvorstadt 36
Things to Do in Basel, Switzerland: See Tripadvisor's 100,326 traveler reviews and photos of Basel tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in October. We have reviews of the best places to see in Basel. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
Let's explore the best things to do in Basel: 1. Kunstmuseum Basel. Source: Oliver Foerstner / Shutterstock.com. Kunstmuseum Basel. Switzerland's largest and richest assortment of art is yours to enjoy at this superlative museum. The roll-call of names says it all: Beginning in the Renaissance there's Konrad Witz, Lucas Cranach the Elder ...
Discover Basel's sights:★ 2000 years of history ★ from old town to modern times ☆ all highlights in Basel & region can be found here. ... Basel Tourismus +41 61 268 68 68 [email protected] Contact WhatsApp Plan your trip. Hotels and accommodation ...
Willkommen in Basel. Basel - eine Stadt in der Schweiz voller spannender Kontraste. Eine Stadt, in der historische Bauwerke auf moderne Architektur treffen. Mit weltberühmten Museen und einer jungen, dynamischen Kunstszene. Kosmopolitisches Flair hier, lebendige Traditionen da. Basel müssen Sie selbst erlebt haben.
Basel is a city in northwestern Switzerland, the capital of the region. It is near the convergence of the Swiss, French and German borders, with suburbs extending into France and Germany. Its geographical coordinates are 47.5596° N, 7.5886° E. It is the largest city in the half-canton of Basel-Stadt, which is virtually coextensive with the city itself. The city lies along the Rhine River, at ...
On This Page: Admire Art in the Kunstmuseum Basel (Museum of Art) Stroll through the Old Town. Take the Kids to the Zoologischer Garten (Zoo) Visit Basler Münster (Basel Minster) Museum Tinguely. Learn about Printing at Papiermühle (Paper Mill Museum) Rathaus (Town Hall) and Marktplatz. Smile at the Tinguely Fountain.
Basel Tourist Information and Tourism (Basel, Basel-Stadt, Switzerland) A small city best known for its spectacular springtime carnival, the Basler Fasnacht, which has grown to be one of the biggest crowd-pullers in the whole of Switzerland, Basel is perhaps best visited during the gorgeous summer months. At this time of the year, Basel enjoys ...
Basel Town Hall (Basel Rathaus) Basel Town Hall. Basel's city hall is over 500 years old and was built to commemorate Basel joining the Swiss Confederation in 1501. It is a rather underrated attraction for one simple reason. Yes, it's the most impressive building on Marktplatz and a great representation of the architectural diversity in ...
Basel Tourismus +41 61 268 68 68 [email protected] Contact WhatsApp Plan your trip. Hotels and accommodation City tours Package deals BaselCard Information. Facts and figures Weather and webcam Brochures Newsletter ...
Philipp is the founder and owner of Artstübli, Basel's leading exhibition, exchange and project space for urban art and culture. 1. Kulturbeiz 113. Climb 113 steps to the top of this restaurant ...
4 - Visit Basel Cathedral and climb its towers. *Address: Münsterpl. 9, 4051 Basel. Basel Cathedral, also known as Basel Münster, is one of the must-see places in Basel and should find its place in any Basel Travel Guide. It's located on the site of an old Roman castle, on a little hill above the Rhine River.
Affordable guided city tours. The BaselCard is offered as a free bonus with every booking at a Basel hotel. It entitles you to a 50% discount on the sightseeing bus tour, the guided tour of the Old Town at 11.00 am and 2.30 pm and much more! Find out more. Gift idea.
Offizieller Auftritt des Kantons Basel-Stadt bzw. der Stadt Basel. Zugang zu allen Themen der Behörden, der Verwaltung und des Standorts.