Basel Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Basel featuring a river or creek and a city
Explore the historic centre and museums of this quaint Swiss town. It borders France and Germany and fuses all three cultures.

Basel is a historic Swiss city that lies on the country’s borders with France and Germany. It is home to many museums, galleries and a charming centre filled with antique structures. The River Rhine divides the city into two parts. Grossbasel, which contains the historic centre, is southwest. Kleinbasel has an active nightlife. 

Visit the Basel Art Museum (Kunstmuseum Basel) which contains the largest assortment of artwork by the Holbein family, the German gothic and renaissance artists from the 15th and 16th centuries. International works date back many centuries. See paintings by Van Gogh and Cézanne in the 19th-century exhibits. Browse works by cubist and impressionist artists, such as Picasso and Braque. 

 Learn about five centuries of the history of melody and composition at the Music Museum, where you’ll find more than 650 musical instruments from the last 500 years. Find out about antique parades, dances and festivals and hear the intriguing sounds of Old World music.  The remarkable museum is located in the cells of a former prison. See an old cell that has been left as it was when the prison was active. 

Attend one of Switzerland’s biggest carnivals, Basler Fasnacht, which takes place on the Monday after Ash Wednesday and lasts for three days every year. Watch parades, singers and many acts and events.

The city is in the centre of the Dreiländereck (Three Countries’ Corner) region in northwest Switzerland. Although the official language is German, many locals speak a dialect called Baseldytsch. You will find a lot of people who speak English and French as well. 

Basel has warm summers and cold winters with a postcard-pretty skyline when its quaint landmarks are covered in snow. Basel is around 50 miles (80.5 kilometres) west of Zurich, Switzerlands largest city, and about a 60 miles drive to the north of Berne.                                       

Where to stay in Basel

Basel showing modern architecture

Basel City Centre

4/5(87 area reviews)

Museums, art galleries and historical sites highlight some notable features of Basel City Centre. Make a stop by Basler Muenster or Basel Cathedral while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Marktplatz Tram Stop or University Tram Stop to get around town.

Basel City Centre
Basel showing street scenes and a house

Old Town

Museums, art galleries and live music are just a few things travellers like about Old Town. Sights like Basel Town Hall and Marktplatz are spots to explore, and you can get around the greater Basel area at Marktplatz Tram Stop.

Old Town
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Sankt Alban

4/5(15 area reviews)

While visiting Sankt Alban, you might make a stop by sights like St. Jakobshalle and St. Jakob-Park.

Sankt Alban
Basel Art Museum featuring night scenes and street scenes

Vorstädte

If you're spending time in Vorstädte, you might enjoy attractions like Theater Basel and Basel Art Museum. You might also enjoy the neighbourhood's ample dining options before hopping on the metro at University Tram Stop to see more of the city.

Vorstädte
Basel showing street scenes and a house

Altstadt Grossbasel

If you're spending time in Altstadt Grossbasel, you might enjoy attractions like Basel Town Hall and Marktplatz. You might also enjoy the neighbourhood's ample dining options before hopping on the metro at Marktplatz Tram Stop to see more of the city.

Altstadt Grossbasel
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St. Johann

3.5/5(4 area reviews)

Unique features of St. Johann include the bars and casinos. Make a stop by Novartis Headquarters or Rhine while you're exploring the area.

St. Johann
Radisson Blu Hotel, Basel
Radisson Blu Hotel, Basel
4 out of 5
Steinentorstrasse 25, Basel, BS
The price is ₹15,613 per night from 16 Nov to 17 Nov
₹15,613
₹16,982 total
includes taxes & fees
16 Nov - 17 Nov
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Basel. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (305 reviews)
"On our check in, the reception guy didn't knew his job. When we asked him about parking pricing, he told us that it was 30 franc per person (which is weird), we asked him to double check it with his manager. After the check he told us that it is 30 per person/car. What does it mean I have no idea, ..."

Reviewed on 27 Oct 2024

Radisson Blu Hotel, Basel
Hotel Metropol Basel
Hotel Metropol Basel
4 out of 5
Elisabethenanlage 5, Basel
The price is ₹12,247 per night from 17 Nov to 18 Nov
₹12,247
₹13,489 total
includes taxes & fees
17 Nov - 18 Nov
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Basel. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (522 reviews)
Good location
"Automated check-in works, but there are also friendly staff. Rooms are comfortable, and the price/quality ratio is good. Breakfast is pretty basic and pre-cutting the loaves means they can be a little stale"

Reviewed on 29 Oct 2024

Hotel Metropol Basel
HYPERION Hotel Basel
HYPERION Hotel Basel
4 out of 5
Messeplatz 12, Basel, BS
The price is ₹14,538 per night from 16 Nov to 17 Nov
₹14,538
₹15,866 total
includes taxes & fees
16 Nov - 17 Nov
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Basel. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 bars/lounges and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in their ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,004 reviews)
"We arrived early and was able to get our room right away. Very friendly front desk staff. Mini bar is included. Hotel provided free tram tickets."

Reviewed on 25 Oct 2024

HYPERION Hotel Basel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Aparthotel Adagio Basel City
Aparthotel Adagio Basel City
4.5 out of 5
Hammerstrasse 46, Basel, BS
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury aparthotel in Basel. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a free local area shuttle. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (643 reviews)
Nice apartahotel
"The location was great and the apartahotel was very comfortable. It is a 3.8 to 4 starts. They mentioned they do cleaning of each apartment once a week. It would be nice to have the option to have more recent cleanings upon request and at an extra cost."

Reviewed on 7 Oct 2024

Aparthotel Adagio Basel City
VISIONAPARTMENTS Basel Nauenstrasse
VISIONAPARTMENTS Basel Nauenstrasse
3 out of 5
55 Nauenstrasse, Basel, BS
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Basel. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Basel Zoo and BIS Tower are located ...
7.4/10 Good! (27 reviews)
"I like these apartments, they are an easy walk from the station. They are simple but smartly done. The sound proofing on the windows is excellent and if you are in a room at the front of the building you need it. The TV reception is a bit sketchy for the foreign channels but the WiFi is good enough ..."

Reviewed on 17 Sep 2024

VISIONAPARTMENTS Basel Nauenstrasse
Residhotel Mulhouse Centre
Residhotel Mulhouse Centre
3 out of 5
49 rue de la Sinne, Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Mulhouse. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Mulhouse Hotel de Ville and ...
7.8/10 Good! (777 reviews)
Good for families
"clean, good price and good to cook and be with a family"

Reviewed on 7 Sep 2024

Residhotel Mulhouse Centre
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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