Basel holidays

How to reach Basel

Flight time: Flights to Basel from London take around 1 hour 30 minutes.

Transfer time: The airport, 5km north in France, is shared between Basel (Switzerland), Mulhouse (France) and Freiburg (Germany). A special customs-free fenced road links the Swiss terminal with Switzerland proper, along which express bus #50 shuttles frequently all day to and from Basel SBB station, taking 20 minutes.

Price: A one-way bus ticket from the airport to the city centre costs CHF 4.70. A taxi ride from the airport will cost around CHF 40 to CHF 50.

Best time to visit Basel

This will depend on what you want to do during your Basel holidays; some events are seasonal, and the weather may also play a part in your decision.

April to June: Spring brings pleasant weather, with temperatures averaging between 12°C and 20°C and around 6 to 8 hours of sunshine a day. Note that Baselworld, a world-famous watch and jewellery fair, takes place in April, drawing large numbers of visitors to the city.

July to August: Basel’s many open-air festivals, such as Art Basel and the Im Fluss Music Festival, take centre stage during these months. Temperatures range from 22°C to 28°C, with around 8 to 10 hours of sunshine a day, and 80mm to 100mm of rainfall per month.

September to November: With temperatures averaging between 10°C and 18°C, this is a great time to take in the city’s world-class museums but without the mass crowds. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day, with rainfall averaging 70mm to 100mm per month.

December to March: While the Christmas markets are a highlight, the big one is Carnival (Fasnacht) in February, arguably Switzerland’s premier cultural event. Winter temperatures hover between 0°C and 8°C, and you can expect around 4 to 5 hours of sunshine a day, with rainfall averaging around 50mm to 70mm per month.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: German is the primary language in Basel, although being so close to the French border, French is a close second. English is understood just about everywhere.

• Local habits and customs: The Swiss are known for their punctuality and politeness, so being on time and respectful of local manners will go a long way. It’s not customary to tip; if you’re impressed by the service, round up your bill to the nearest franc.

• Currency: Switzerland uses the Swiss Franc (CHF). Credit cards are widely accepted, and ATMs are plentiful.

• Getting around: Basel’s public transport – run by BVB – focuses on trams, virtually all of which pass through Barfüsserplatz. Swiss Pass holders travel free; otherwise, choose between a short-journey ticket, a multi-use ticket or a day ticket. Ticket machines take Swiss coins and euros, but rarely notes.

• Electricity and plug types: Switzerland uses Type J plugs, with a standard voltage of 230V. UK travellers will need an adaptor.

• Time zone: Switzerland operates on Central European Time (CET), which is 1 hour ahead of GMT.

Best things to do in Basel

This ancient Rhine-side city straddling the French and German borders is enhanced by fine medieval architecture and one of Switzerland’s best art museums, the Fondation Beyeler.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Basel Münster: The highlight of a visit to Basel’s red sandstone cathedral is a peaceful stroll through the cloisters before stepping out onto the panoramic viewing platform and wonderful views.

• Mittlere Brücke: Spanning the Rhine, Basel’s most famous bridge offers fantastic views of the city and river.

The best districts

• Altstadt (Old Town): Shopping streets connect Barfüsserplatz and Marktplatz, the two main Old Town squares, while medieval charm is retained in the steep lanes leading off to either side, where you’ll find leafy courtyards surrounded by 16th-century townhouses and medieval churches.

• Kleinbasel: Buzzing and multicultural Kleinbasel is characterised by diversity, creativity and art, in addition to a raft of cool bars and restaurants.

Museums

• Museum Tinguely: Admire the humour and ingenuity of perhaps Switzerland’s best-loved artist - a maverick postmodernist - in a stunning Mario Botta building.

• Fondation Beyeler: Visit Basel’s best gallery, where the Renzo Piano architecture sets off the modernist art inside to serene effect: Picasso, Giacometti, Warhol, Rothko, Rodin, Klee, Kandinsky, Bacon, Miró - they’re all here.

• Basler Papiermühle: This medieval watermill is now a delightful little museum with fascinating demonstrations of printing and papermaking.

Historical monuments

• Leonhardskirche: Beautiful Leonhardskirche is a Gothic construction built after the 1356 earthquake with porthole windows and an elaborate cat’s cradle of vaulting within. The gallery is accessible, but only up the tightest, narrowest spiral staircase imaginable.

• Rathaus (Town Hall): Basel’s grand 16th-century Town Hall - which continues to serve as the seat of the Basel government - is an architectural masterpiece, with its vivid red facade and intricate details.

Day trips in the area

• Baden: There’s not an awful lot to do in this attractive provincial spa town, other than enjoy the ancient old quarter, take in a fine collection of Impressionist art, and perhaps take a soothing dip in the warm spring waters… but that’s the point.

• Augusta Raurica: In its heyday, Augusta Raurica – a Roman Rhineside provincial capital 20km east of Basel near the modern village of Kaiseraugst – was home to 20,000 people. These days it comprises the largest set of Roman ruins in Switzerland and is an easy day trip from Basel.

• Colmar: A short hop across the border, this delightful French town is famous for its colourful half-timbered houses, cobbled streets and stunning Alsatian wines.

Activities for families in Basel

Basel is packed with kid-friendly attractions and activities - indeed some of the most exciting in the country.

• Cable ferries: A great way to cross the Rhine – and a method used by many locals – is on one of the traditional cable ferries, which kids in particular will love. The most useful, from north to south, are the Vogel Gryff, or Klingentalfähre; the Leu, or Münsterfähre; and the Wild Maa, or St Alban-Fähre. All three run continuously during the day, with restricted hours in winter.

• Boat rides: The ferry company Basler Personenschifffahrt runs several eat-aboard cruises as well as scheduled boats to nearby points on the Rhine (May–Oct only), including a round trip to the German border at Dreiländereck and longer journeys east to Kaiseraugst and Rheinfelden.

• Aquariums and zoos: Opened in 1874, Basel Zoo is the country’s oldest, home to some 600 species, including meerkats, snow leopards, gorillas, spider monkeys and giraffes - but absolutely not to be missed are the penguin walks that take place outside the Vivarium during the winter.

Free things to do in Basel

Whether you’re content to soak up some street sculpture or get soaked in the Rhine, holidays to Basel offer plenty of free activities for those looking to explore the city without spending too much.

• Carnival: Experience an exultant three days of music, parades and merry-making at Fasnacht, Basel’s unique carnival, which starts on the Monday after Ash Wednesday.

• Rhine swimming: In summer, Baslers take to the river to cool off, floating down the fast-flowing Rhine clutching special inflatable bags that hold their clothes - and you should too! The so-called Wickelfisch bags can be bought at the tourist office.

• Street sculpture: Admire Tinguely’s Carnival Fountain, where the spluttering sculptures were created from parts of the city’s old theatre. Just behind, Intersection is a fine example of American artist Richard Serra’s rusting walk-in sculptures.

Nature and outdoor activities in Basel

Basel’s unique location on the borders with France and Germany means that there’s terrific variety in the types of outdoor activities available.

• Hiking and walking: Basel is a great starting point for hikes, whether you're exploring nearby vineyards or heading further afield into the Jura Mountains. For something more challenging, you can venture into the Black Forest, located just across the border in Germany, which offers an abundance of hiking trails for all levels.

• Cycling: Basel is a cycling-friendly city, with plenty of well-maintained bike paths; there’s bike rental at the train station. More fun is a ride through the vineyards of the nearby Alsace region just across the way in France.

• Water sports: Swimming aside, the Rhine offers opportunities for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP); equipment rental is readily available at various spots along the riverbank.

Local dishes in Basel

French food tends to dominate the fine dining end of the spectrum in Basel, although there are still plenty of places where you can find traditional Swiss fare.

Some typical dishes

• Raclette: A large half-round of cheese is held in front of a fire, and as it melts it’s scraped (raclé) onto a plate, and served with boiled potatoes, pearl onions and pickles.

• Fondue: A communal pot of melted cheese served with bread cubes for dipping, the classic style is a moitiémoitié (“half-and-half”), using either Gruyère and Vacherin Fribourgeois, or Gruyère and Emmental.

• Zwiebelwähe: This savoury onion tart is a Basel speciality, made with a flaky pastry crust and filled with onions, eggs and cream.

Meat dishes

• Basler Läberli: Local dish consisting of sautéed liver served with rösti or potatoes - a somewhat more acquired taste.

• Saucisson vaudois: This pork and beef Vaud sausage is famous for its delicately smoked flavour, served boiled or steamed alongside papet vaudois, a purée of potatoes and leeks.

Sweets and desserts

• Basler Läckerli: Small, relatively hard gingerbread biscuits made with honey, nuts and spices, and coated in icing sugar.

• Tarte aux pruneaux: A sweet and tangy prune tart, you can pick these up in any bakery around Basel.

Local drinks

• Swiss wine: Switzerland’s wine industry is modest, but a couple of regions produce some impressive vintages, most notably Lavaux.

• Kirsch: The country’s most famous distilled spirit or liquor, this is a cherry spirit from Zug and around Lake Lucerne.

• Swiss beer: Beer (Bier, bière, birra) on draught (vom Fass, à la pression, alla pressione) comes as a flavourful lager-type brew, always served with a large head of foam.