Basel
Save28 hand-picked places in 10 lists. Tick the categories you want to see on the map.
Only have a day? See 3 ready-made day plans ↓Show on the map
Tips
10 places on the map
Top 10
- 1
Red sandstone cathedral with twin towers and Romanesque cloisters.
3 tips
- Free entry to the church
- Climb the towers for a small fee
- See Erasmus's tomb inside
📷 Photos
- 2
Bright red Renaissance town hall with frescoed courtyard.
3 tips
- Courtyard is free to enter
- Free guided tours on some days
- Photograph from Marktplatz
📷 Photos
- 3
One of the world's oldest public art collections, from Holbein to Picasso.
- Tip: Allow a few hours
2 tips
- Free entry on first Sundays
- Three buildings, one ticket
📷 Photos
- 4
Basel's oldest Rhine bridge with views of the old town.
3 tips
- Look for the Lällekönig nearby
- Great view of the Münster
- Busy with trams, mind your step
📷 Photos
- 5
Renzo Piano-designed museum of modern art set in a park.
- Tip: Book ahead
2 tips
- Tram 6 to Riehen Fondation Beyeler
- Garden café is lovely
📷 Photos
- 6
Riverside promenade where locals swim and float down the Rhine.
3 tips
- Buy a Wickelfisch dry bag
- Swim only in summer and stay close to shore
- Buvettes sell drinks
📷 Photos
- 7
Riverside museum of Jean Tinguely's wild kinetic sculptures.
- Must know: Closed Mondays
2 tips
- Press buttons to start machines
- Walk there along the Rhine
📷 Photos
- 8
Grand medieval city gate with a colourful tiled roof.
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Free to view any time
- Combine with the Botanical Garden
📷 Photos
- 9
Switzerland's oldest zoo, known locally as the Zolli.
3 tips
- Short walk from the station
- Don't miss the Vivarium
- Allow half a day
📷 Photos
- 10
Idyllic old mill quarter on canals by the Rhine.
3 tips
- Quiet stroll from the Kunstmuseum
- Look for the old city wall
- Riverside benches
📷 Photos
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Before you go: Basel tips
Transportation
- Claim your BaselCard: Hotel guests in Basel get a card with free use of BVB trams and buses during their stay. Ask at check-in and carry it whenever you ride.
- Ride the green trams: Basel's tram network reaches nearly every sight, and some lines even cross into France and Germany. Buy tickets at stop machines or in the BVB app.
- Take bus 50 to EuroAirport: The airport lies on French soil but has a Swiss exit. Bus 50 links the Swiss side with Basel SBB station quickly and often.
Security
- Swim the Rhine with care: Locals float downstream in summer, but the current is strong and boats pass often. Stay near the Kleinbasel bank and use the marked exit steps.
- Watch your bags at Fasnacht: The carnival draws huge crowds into the old town lanes at night. Keep valuables secure and agree a meeting point with friends.
- Mind the trams: Trams are quiet and have right of way through the narrow old town. Look both ways on Marktplatz and Barfusserplatz before stepping out.
Saving
- Drink from the fountains: Basel has many public fountains with clean drinking water. Refill a bottle instead of buying water, which is pricey in Switzerland.
- Shop across the border: Weil am Rhein in Germany is a short tram ride away, with cheaper groceries and drugstores. Bring your passport or ID when crossing.
- Picnic by the Rhine: Restaurant meals are expensive, so grab supplies from Coop or Migros and join locals on the Kleinbasel Rhine promenade at sunset.
Weather/Clothing
- Pack for warm summers: Summers can be hot, perfect for Rhine swimming. Bring swimwear and a light outfit, plus sunscreen for the open riverbanks.
- Bundle up in winter: Winters are cold and often grey, with occasional snow. A warm coat, scarf and waterproof shoes help at the Christmas markets.
- Bring a rain layer: Rain can come in any season. A compact umbrella or light jacket is useful for walking the old town and museum hopping.
Cultural
- Experience Basel Fasnacht: The carnival starts with Morgestraich at 4 am, when the city lights go out and lantern processions march with piccolos and drums.
- Try Basler Laeckerli: These spiced honey biscuits with candied peel and almonds are the city's classic treat and a popular gift to take home.
- Respect quiet hours: Swiss neighbours value peace on Sundays and late evenings. Avoid noisy activities, and recycle carefully, separating glass and PET.
Local Hacks
- Use a Wickelfisch bag: This fish-shaped dry bag keeps your clothes dry while you float down the Rhine. Locals stuff it with belongings and carry it downstream.
- Cross on a Rhine ferry: Basel's small wooden ferries are pulled across the river only by the current. It is a charming, low-cost way to cross between banks.
- Plan around Art Basel: The world-famous art fair in June fills hotels and raises prices. Book far ahead or visit at another time for calmer museums.
1-day itineraries in Basel
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.
Day 1 of 3
Rathaus Basel and around
🕘 9:30–16:45📍 7 stops
- 1Rathaus Basel
- 2Mittlere Brücke
- 3Rheinpromenade Kleinbasel
- 4Münsterfähre Leu
- 5Pfalz
- and 2 more
Day 2 of 3
Museum Tinguely and around
🕘 9:30–13:45📍 3 stops
- 1Museum Tinguely
- 2St. Alban-Tal
- 3Basler Papiermühle
Day 3 of 3
Spalentor and around
🕘 9:30–12:15📍 3 stops
- 1Spalentor
- 2Botanischer Garten der Universität Basel
- 3Petersplatz