Overview

Basel is a lovely town to walk around owing to its limited dimensions and interesting make up. Like many old European cities, it retains its medieval core along with many prominent buildings from the day. Be sure to check out the Münster Cathedral, the ancient Spalen Gate, and the Town Hall (Rathaus). Basel Zoo is a must-see for those with kids.

Basel Zoo (Basler Zoologischer Garten)

Basel Zoo is the perfect tourist attraction in Basel for those with kids. It is purported to be the second largest zoo in the country and dates right back to the 1800s. Inside the zoo are thousands of animals representing numerous species from all four corners of the globe, including big cats. The elephant and sea lion shows are a real boon for kids. Basel Zoo is situated in the centre of town.

Fine Arts Museum (Kunstmuseum)

Arguably Basel's best museum, the Kunstmuseum is Switzerland's oldest and features some of the best artwork on the continent. Everything from popular old works by renowned masters to present day pieces are on display, including some fascinating examples of Upper Rhine Valley art from the 14th to the 17th centuries. Chagall, Picasso, van Gogh, and Gauguin are all represented here.

Münster Cathedral

Basel's most prominent landmark looms over the old town and dates back almost 1,000 years (1019). Although it hasn't actually stood this long, owing to a devastating earthquake in the 1300s, and today it features striking Gothic and Romanesque styles. The façade of the cathedral is quite stunning, while inside the pulpit is a 500-year-old single block of stone.

Town Hall (Rathaus)

The Rathaus in Basel is a big attraction and can be found at the Marktplatz in the town centre. It dates from the early 1500s and is a spectacular red sandstone structure with Renaissance and Gothic forms, including a large clock and golden turret. The Town Hall boasts three elaborate entrances and there are frescoes and shields galore.

Three Countries‘ Corner (Dreiländereck)

The Dreiländereck marks the spot where France, Switzerland, and Germany come together and is a must-see for those interested in geography. The spot is marked by an elaborate monument which sits over the Rhine and looks a bit like an upturned Concorde aircraft. Many come here to have their photo taken at the confluence.

Spalen Gate (Spalentor)

The Spalentor is the most attractive of Basel's original city gates and marks the boundary of the medieval old town. It stretches back to the early 1400s and is vast in its dimensions for a simple gate, being more akin to the entrance of a castle. The gate features twin towers and has been fully restored and you will find it near the beautiful University of Basel.

Overview

Options for getting active in and around Basel at various times of year are good. The River Rhine provides obvious scope for boating, as well as swimming for the accomplished swimmer, while walking, hiking and rock climbing can also be enjoyed in and around town. If you're here in the winter, be sure to have a go at ice-skating at one of the many public rinks.

Boating

With the River Rhine going through the city, options for boating are good. The Basler Personenschiffahrt is lots of fun and does day and evening cruises of the immediate surroundings. The evening cruise is particularly fun as it also comes with dinner and live entertainment. For cruising farther afield, there are trips that go from Strasbourg in the north and Waldshut in the east.

Walking

Basel is one of those charming towns that was made for walking, with the old town being especially good for a stroll. The area between the Rhine River and the zoo is the most interesting while the banks of the river provide great scope for the active. In addition, Basel has several notable parks that are well laid out with walking paths and seating areas galore.

Hiking

The city is surrounded by delectable countryside and there are many established hiking trails set up. The Wanderweg area is particularly lots of fun and is accessible via Reigoldswil and cable car. You will eventually reach the peak of Wasserfallen Mountain from where trails go off in all directions. In nearby France is the pretty Vosges region and also close by is the Black Forest in Germany.

Swimming the Rhine

The River Rhine is great for the serious swimmer in the summer, when the water warms up. You can do a one-way swim, with the current of course, but be sure to follow the locals. There are also many outdoor public pools in town including those at Gartenbad Eglisee, Gartenbad St Jakob and Gartenbad Bachgraben.

Ice skating

True to any good Swiss town, the city freezes up enough in the winter to enjoy ice-skating at public rinks. Most only open in the winter, including the Margarethen, the Eiskunstbahn Eglisee, and the Kunsteisbahn, while the St Jakob-Arena is indoors and is open year-round. The Restaurant Kunsthalle also has its own rink.

Rock climbing

Rock climbers regularly descend on Basel in the summer for the excellent nearby climbing, with the Jura Mountains having the best climbing in the region. Falkenfluh, within the Jura Mountains, is just south of town and has more than 200 established climbs that range from moderate to challenging. You can get here by public transport, to boot.

Dining and shopping

Basel has a huge number of restaurants when compared with its size and population and a significant number come with Michelin stars. Swiss hospitality is generally second to none and there is always an emphasis on manners, service, and politeness. The shopping here is also top-notch, with everything from high-end fashion to market produce, exquisite chocolates, lots of art and antiques and superb window shopping.

Everything from Michelin star restaurants in the heart of the medieval core of Basel to historic inns, wine taverns, and fast food and fondue joints are in evidence in Basel, while international restaurants are also widely available. You will find the best selection of eateries in the centre of town near the Barfüsserplatz.

Swiss tastes mainly come from neighbouring France and Germany and in particular, this is the case in Basel. The best restaurants are invariably French and there is also a significant number of quality Italian and Asian eateries here. Sausages are the favoured snack in bars and pubs, which go well with a glass of wine or beer, while salmon marinated in local white wine and served with fried onions is the main speciality of Basel. The ginger biscuit, leckerli, is delicious and another popular snack.

Basel boasts high quality shopping just like its dining and does particularly well in its offering of high-end boutiques and antiques stores. It is also loaded with art galleries and there are many speciality shops dealing in local products, such as leather goods, handicrafts, chocolates, and tobacco.

Like any typical Swiss town, chocolates are a big deal in Basel and there are loads of standard and specialist stores in and around town dealing in chocolates and confectionery. The number one chocolate shop in Basel is Confiserie Schiesser in the town centre. It has everything from the most delicious chocolates to pastries and sandwiches. Although somewhat expensive, it is a must-see for chocolate lovers and also comes with an old Viennese tearoom upstairs with great views over the street market.

Along with all the standard house wares and handicrafts, Basel shops also have top of the range crystal and porcelain, with the shop Füglistaller being especially good. For quality Swiss watches you are also in luck in Basel, while Davidoff has excellent tobacco products and Bally Schuhfabriken superb men's and women's clothes. At the other end of the spectrum is the local flea market, Flohmarkt, while HandGlobus is a popular all-round Basel department store.

Basel is loaded with fast food joints and other tourist niceties as well as a decent variety of upmarket eateries. You can dine on favourite French, Swiss and German tastes of the region as well as exquisite Italian, Japanese and Thai dishes. Many restaurants are beautifully located on the Rhine and in the old town.

Overview

Basel's Euroairport serves the main cities in the region with flights from most major centres in Europe. You can also get here direct from many major European cities by high-speed train or long distance bus. Getting about town is mainly by tram, while buses, ferries and taxis complement the trams nicely.

Airports

Basel's international airport - Euroairport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg - is just northwest of the city and takes its name from the three main centres it serves: Basel in Switzerland, Mulhouse in France and Freiburg in Germany.

The airport is bisected by the Franco-Swiss border and is served by many big airlines and smaller budget carriers. Flights come in from London, Paris and Munich with the likes of Air France, British Airways and Lufthansa. easyJet also operate services here from cities throughout Europe.

There are two terminals at the airport - International and Domestic - and facilities are comprehensive with a bank, currency exchange, and ATMs. The currency exchange is open 24 hours. There is also a range of shops at the airport, including duty-free outlets, while snack bars and restaurants are also onsite.

You can get to Basel, Mulhouse, and Freiburg from Euroairport by bus or taxi and services are frequent and fast. There are two main public bus services to Basel city centre - BVB buses and Air Line buses - which run to town throughout the day and are the cheapest transfer option.

For those travelling farther afield, a bus runs to the SNCF train station in Mulhouse. Taxis go from Arrivals on both the French and the Swiss sides of the airport and are metered. If you have a hotel booked with no courtesy transfer, taking a taxi is the best option. Drivers need to take the A35 motorway south to Basel.

Public transportation

As with elsewhere in Switzerland, Basel is well connected by rail and getting here by train is the next best option to flying. High-speed services come in from cities all over Switzerland, France and Germany although you must pass through customs when entering Switzerland from an EU country. There are two train stations in Basel, with the large SBB just south of the town centre being the main one.

Getting here long distance by bus is best done with Eurolines as they have the best coaches and the most comprehensive coverage of Europe.

Basel has a decent public transport network although you can easily get about the crux of the city on foot, including the attractions in the medieval old town and along the banks of the Rhine. Buses, trams and ferries provide access to most parts of the city and unlimited all-day travel tickets are available. In addition, some of the higher-end hotels provide their guests with free travel cards.

The tram network in Basel is a real boon and covers a large area and is cheap. Vending machines supply tickets at tram stops and you can buy single, multiple and multi-day tickets. Buses travel farther afield and are also cheap while taxi travel can work out to be expensive. The Rhine is plied by steel cable ferries which serve the main parts of the city either side of the river. Motorboats are also a popular method of travel and ferries depart from the cathedral.