What to do in Basel · a practical guide
A practical guideto Basel.
The places we recommend to anyone visiting Basel: the Old Town lanes, the river in every season, a handful of museums worth crossing town for and the tables we return to.
We also host a small apartment in the Old Town, but this guide is written for every visitor, wherever you stay. Places change: check opening times before you set out.
Choose a topic
Six short guides,
one subject each.
The Old Town lanes
Basel’s Old Town is small enough to learn in a day and layered enough to keep surprising you. Start on foot.
Read the guide: Basel Old Town
The river, in every season
The Rhine divides the city into Grossbasel, the Old Town side, and Kleinbasel across the water. Crossing over is part of the Basel rhythm.
Read the guide: The Rhine
Worth crossing town for
Basel has an outsized museum culture. Pick one or two and give them time; opening days vary, so check before you go.
Read the guide: Museums
Where to eat
From a quick weekday lunch to a special evening, with each restaurant’s address and official links. For the popular places, book ahead.
Read the guide: Food & coffee
The Basel calendar
A few moments in the year transform the city. If your dates are flexible, plan around one; if they’re fixed, book early.
Read the guide: Events
A weekend plan
Two days is a good length for Basel. The first day is for the Old Town and the river, all on foot. The second is for one outing chosen by interest, with time left to wander.
Read the guide: Basel in two days
Local tips
Small things worth knowing
- Reserve the popular tables
Well-known restaurants fill up, especially on weekends and during fairs. A reservation saves a wasted walk.
- Many summer spots are seasonal
Buvettes, harbour bars and river swimming depend on the season and the weather.
- Byoga
A yoga studio in the Old Town with daily classes, handy if you want to keep up your practice while travelling.
- Elys Boulderloft
A friendly bouldering gym with a family area and a bistro. A good rainy-day plan; book ahead.
- Tinguely Fountain in winter
Jean Tinguely’s moving fountain is fun all year, and quite beautiful when it freezes.
Putting it together
Basel in one day
Suggested combinations rather than a timetable. Leave room for a long lunch.
- MorningCoffee on Spalenberg, then down to Marktplatz and the Rathaus courtyard.
- Late morningMittlere Brücke, then back up the Rheinsprung lane to Münsterplatz and the Pfalz terrace.
- AfternoonOne museum, chosen by mood: the Kunstmuseum for painting, Museum Tinguely for machines, the paper mill for craft.
- EveningA drink on the Kleinbasel riverbank in summer, or a glass at the top of Spalenberg in winter. Dinner in the Old Town.
Where to stay
Choosing
a base?
The Old Town suits a first visit on foot, Kleinbasel is livelier in the evening, and the areas by the station and the Messe are practical for trains and fairs. Compare Basel’s areas