Basel

Travel Guide

Basel showing a city and a river or creek
Basel which includes modern architecture
Basel showing street scenes
Basel featuring modern architecture
Basel
Explore the historic center 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 center filled with antique structures. The River Rhine divides the city into two parts. Grossbasel, which contains the historic center, 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 center 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 kilometers) 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
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
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
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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
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Kleinbasel

Kleinbasel is popular for its stunning river views, and you can check out Rhine, a top attraction in the neighbourhood.

Kleinbasel
Radisson Blu Hotel, Basel
Radisson Blu Hotel, Basel
4 out of 5
Steinentorstrasse 25, Basel, BS
The price is €177 per night from 11 Apr to 12 Apr
€177
includes taxes & fees
11 Apr - 12 Apr
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Basel. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (407 reviews)
"We were very happy to stay at this hotel, except the AC was not working, and the lighting of the room was inefficient. The rest of stay was very very enjoyable."

Reviewed on 23 Mar 2025

Radisson Blu Hotel, Basel
Pullman Basel Europe
Pullman Basel Europe
4 out of 5
Clarastrasse 43, Basel, BS
The price is €174 per night from 11 Apr to 12 Apr
€174
includes taxes & fees
11 Apr - 12 Apr
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Basel. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (753 reviews)
"Great outfit . Very convenient location !"

Reviewed on 13 Mar 2025

Pullman Basel Europe
B&B Hotel Basel
B&B Hotel Basel
3 out of 5
St Jakobs Strasse 193-195, Basel
The price is €102 per night from 20 Apr to 21 Apr
€102
includes taxes & fees
20 Apr - 21 Apr
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Basel. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions St. Jakobshalle and St. Jakob-Park are ...
7.8/10 Good! (194 reviews)
Beautiful Basel Break
"I was allocated a room on the 11th floor so the view from My bedroom window of the city was amazing, even at night as all the street lights came on. The location of the Hotel was ideal for Me as it meant I was able to walk to the Basel football shopping centre in 15 minutes and to the Rhine river ..."

Reviewed on 23 Mar 2025

B&B 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 WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a free area shuttle. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (663 reviews)
"Great flexibility for eating in or eating out, good location on quieter street but easy to walk to everything, transport links, grocery stores close by to stock up the fridge, nice walls by the river. Linen and towels clean and fresh. Kitchen reasonably stocked. Found kettle in cupboard which is ..."

Reviewed on 25 Mar 2025

Aparthotel Adagio Basel City
City Pop 2Night Basel
City Pop 2Night Basel
4 out of 5
Badenstrasse 1, Basel, BS
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Basel. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the property condition in our ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (661 reviews)
"Far from central"

Reviewed on 28 Feb 2025

City Pop 2Night Basel
limehome Basel Münzgasse
limehome Basel Münzgasse
2.5 out of 5
12 Münzgasse, Basel, BS
Stay at this aparthotel in Basel. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and cable TV channels. Popular attractions Pharmacy Museum Basel and Marktplatz are located ...
7.8/10 Good! (15 reviews)
"This was a great experience. I really liked the downtown area, how easy check-in was, the bed, and my bathroom. Two things I missed were a worktable (the tiny kitchen table was too small) and a bed stand."

Reviewed on 7 Jan 2025

limehome Basel Münzgasse
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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