Basel walking tour & city guide
An art city on the Rhine, where three countries meet.
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Basel sits on the Rhine where Switzerland, France and Germany meet. It is a city of art and culture, with nearly 40 museums, striking modern architecture and a medieval old town, and in summer its residents float down the river in the middle of the city.
The old town
The bright red Rathaus, the town hall on the Marktplatz, is covered with paintings and has a colorful courtyard. From the Marktplatz, steep lanes climb to the red sandstone Basel Minster, where the scholar Erasmus is buried. The terrace behind the cathedral, the Pfalz, looks out over the Rhine.
Spalentor, a medieval city gate, and the quiet lanes of the St Alban district, with its old paper mill, show more of historic Basel. Small ferries without engines, pulled across by the current along a cable, cross the river.
Art and the Rhine
The Kunstmuseum Basel is the oldest public art collection in the world, and the Fondation Beyeler, just outside the city in a building by Renzo Piano, is one of the finest modern art museums in Europe. The Tinguely Museum shows the playful machines of Jean Tinguely. Every June, the city hosts Art Basel, the world's leading art fair.
In summer, locals put their clothes in a waterproof 'Wickelfisch' bag and swim down the Rhine, then relax at the riverside bars along the Kleinbasel bank.
Visiting tips
Hotel guests get a free public transport card. Basel's carnival, the Fasnacht, starts at 4 a.m. on the Monday after Ash Wednesday, when all lights are turned off and lantern parades fill the streets. The Christmas market is one of the most beautiful in Switzerland.
Top sights in Basel
- 1
Rathaus
A painted red town hall on the Marktplatz.
- 2
Basel Minster
A red sandstone cathedral above the Rhine.
- 3
Kunstmuseum Basel
The oldest public art collection in the world.
- 4
Fondation Beyeler
A world-class modern art museum.
- 5
Spalentor
A medieval city gate.
- 6
Rhine ferries
Engine-free ferries pushed by the current.
Food markets & where to eat in Basel
Marktplatz market
A daily market in front of the Rathaus.
Kleinbasel riverside
Bars and food stands along the Rhine.
Markthalle Basel
A historic market hall with international food stalls.
St Johann district
A neighborhood of local cafés.
Food to try in Basel
Basler Läckerli
A hard spiced gingerbread with honey and candied peel.
Mehlsuppe
Flour soup, eaten during the carnival.
Fasnachtskiechli
Thin fried pastries dusted with sugar.
Swiss cheese
From the market stalls.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Basel
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in BaselCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Basel.
- eSIM for SwitzerlandStay online from the moment you land.
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