Often overlooked in favour of Zurich or Geneva, the underrated city of Basel in Switzerland, has countless reasons to capture your heart, especially in summer!
From swimming, to boat rides, to sunbathing on the promenade there are plenty of things to do in Basel to keep you busy. Plus the activities don’t stop in the day, during the Summer there are even free music festivals on the water!
Below is a list of the most unique things to do in Basel, that you can’t miss!
Disclaimer: My trip to Basel was organised by Visit Switzerland however opinions as always are my own.
12 Reasons to Fall in Love with Basel
1. Floating down the Rhine
Anyone who has visited will know that the heart and soul of Basel is the Rhine River, hence many of the best things to do revolve around this landmark.
A favourite activity amongst locals is to pop your clothes into a “Wickelfisch” swim bag (see below), and float upto 3km down the Rhine.
On any given summers day you are bound to see dozens of adults and children cooling off by bobbing down the river, using the current and the inflated dry bag (available in most shops in Basel) to keep you afloat.
TOP TIP: There are several places you can enter and exit the river, so you can adjust your route accordingly. However if you want to take advantage of the free photo point provided by the city (basel.com/fotopoint), then make sure you swim past the FLOSS Festival concert stage (near the Mittlere Brucke) and wave clearly towards the camera, the map below should help.
After your swim, there are outdoor showers along the promenade and changing rooms to get changed into your belongings that were placed into your Wickelfisch (I had my phone, towel, clothes, shoes etc in my Wickelfisch and everything was completely dry even though I immersed the bag several times).
2. Cross the River in a Unique Ferry
The most interesting way to cross the Rhine River is by using Basels quirky ferry system, it allows you to cross the river through the force of the current alone!
If you want to skip the bridge, there are four ferries, each attached to a long wire cable suspended 20 metres above the river. The ferry is then pulled by the cable across the river, purely by the current of the Rhine itself.
The ferries run all year round, and cost 2 CHF for adults, and 1 CHF each for children, bicycles or dogs.
3. Bathing in Fountains
Basel is known as the “City of Fountains” as there are close to 300 of them dotted around the city.
Not only do they provide free and clean drinking water for you to fill your bottles, some are big enough to be used for bathing!
This long-standing tradition makes is another favourite amongst locals, and serves as a free jacuzzi in the city centre!
There are plenty to choose from, but this beauty, Gemsberg fountain in the Old Town is probably the most scenic one, though no one was bathing in it the day I visited!
4. Stand in three countries at once
Located on the border of where France, Germany, and Switzerland converge, Basel has a particular point, the border triangle building (Dreiländereck, Westquaistrasse 75, 4057 Basel) where you can stand in all three countries at the same time.
In the summer, the building has a beach area with palm trees, sand and even a cocktail bar.
5. Take a Weidling Boat Ride
One of the most unique things to do in Basel has to be a Weidling boat ride. Weidlings are flat-bottomed boats made from solid wood, and has similarities to punting.
The Rhine is one of the best places to experience this traditional boat ride however the current is very strong so if you think you can have a go on the paddle yourself, you might be surprised how difficult it really is!
Instead I suggest sitting back and relaxing. Our feet did get wet, so embrace it, put your feet up and soak up that vitamin D whilst enjoying the views from the river.
6. Explore the Old Town without any crowds
This old town of Basel is characterised by narrow alleyways and colourful fairytale style buildings.
It is one of the most intact old towns in Europe, and has several landmarks that are absolutely worth visiting.
Most of the streets are quiet, even in August, so you can photograph the beautiful buildings without having to wait in line (this includes even the most Instagrammable spots!).
Some of the most popular landmarks in the old town include the Spalentor city gate, the Basel Cathedral (Münster), and the impressive and vibrant Town Hall. Though these are the busier spots and will have tourists, there are not nearly as many as you would expect as this city is still fairly underrated.
7. Check out the iconic Town Hall
Basel has a Town Hall like no other.
This dramatic red brick building located in the Marktplatz was built in various stages between the 16th and 19th centuries, and is one of the boldest landmarks in Basel.
If you want a proper look inside, guided tours in English are available every Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Price 10 CHF, meet in the courtyard.
8. Variety of Food
9. Admire the Tinguely Fountain
In 1977, Jean Tinguely placed 10 machine sculptures in an enormous pool of water on the site where the stage of the old city theatre was once located.
This moving piece of art is best seen in person. The sculptures “act” just like the dancers, mimers and actors would once have done on stage.
10. Basel has canals like “little Venice”
Visit the St. Alban quarter of Basel. Easily accessible by tram, this area of the city is quiet and romantic. There are old timber-framed buildings, and traditional handicrafts such as paper milling.
11. The highest concentration of museums in Switzerland
In my 48 hour trip I visited the Kunstmuseum which houses the oldest public art collection in the world, but with more time there are 40 other museums to visit in the city!
12. Visit Switzerlands smallest museum
The Hoosesagg Museum, which translates to the “Pants Pocket Museum” is the smallest museum in Switzerland.
Located at at 31 Imbergässlein, close to the Marktplatz, this free museum is located in a window in a 600 year old house and measures only 2 foot by 2 foot.
How to Reach Basel and Get Around
Basel can easily be reached from Zurich in an hour on the train, or you can arrive by train from France or Germany as the city is on the border.
Flights to Zurich are available from most cities in Europe, including London Heathrow and London City airport with Swiss airlines in under an hour and a half.
You can buy tickets for the train or if you plan to use public transport for the rest of your Switzerland trip then a Swiss Travel Pass could be the best option.
You can choose your duration of stay, and use the pass on trains, buses, trams etc all over the country.
I have visited Switzerland twice, and both times I used the Swiss Travel Pass nearly every day of each trip, making it great value for money, in a country where travel is expensive.
Within Basel there is a great network of buses, trams and trains that run until late. The city is also very walkable and often the best way to traverse the narrow alleyways and find your bearings.
Where to Stay in Basel
I stayed at Hotel Euler, located less than a minutes walk away from the main train station in Basel.
It also has the tram station right outside and the Markthalle is around the corner (great place for a quick lunch or dinner, you can grab any kind of cuisine from all over the world).
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