Travel Guide

Basel

Switzerland

Best time to go: May–September, December

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Sights

  • Minster and Pfalz terrace – Red sandstone and a terrace high above the Rhine.
  • Town hall – The red-painted town hall on the market square.
  • Swimming in the Rhine – Float downstream in summer with a waterproof swim bag.
  • Kunstmuseum Basel – One of the oldest public art collections.
  • Fondation Beyeler – Modern art in a park in Riehen.
  • Rhine ferries – Four ferries powered only by the current.

Food & nightlife

  • Basler Läckerli – Spiced honey biscuits with candied fruit.
  • Riverside kiosks – A summer drink on the Kleinbasel bank.
  • Markthalle – Food from around the world under a dome.
  • Mehlsuppe – Roasted flour soup, a carnival classic.

Day trips

  • Augusta Raurica – A Roman town with a theatre and ancient farm animals.
  • Vitra Campus – Architecture and a design museum in Weil am Rhein.
  • Colmar – Half-timbered houses and canals in Alsace.

Good to know

When to go
May–September, December
Getting around
Trams go everywhere; small reaction ferries carry you across the Rhine without an engine.
Tipping
Service is usually included – rounding up is a nice gesture.
Power
Plug type J/C, 230 V.
Currency
Swiss Franc (CHF)

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General tips without guarantee – please check opening times and prices locally.