Basel Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Basel featuring a river or creek and a city
Basel which includes modern architecture
Basel showing street scenes
Basel which includes modern architecture
Basel

Strolling through the old town, visiting world-famous museums and taking a boat tour on the Rhine — all that and more awaits visitors on a mini-break in Basel.

Located in the border triangle of Switzerland, Germany and France, Basel is the capital of the Swiss canton Basel City. The old university town looks back at more than 2,000 years of history. Erected between the 12th and 15th centuries, the Muenster in Basel is the main landmark of the city Climb the Muenster hill with its medieval timbered houses and enjoy wonderful views of the Rhine and its bridges connecting the district of Großbasel on the left side of the river with the district Kleinbasel on the right.

While on your city trip to Basel, take a stroll through the city and enjoy the lively alleys of the old town with its boutiques and galleries. The meticulously restored timbered buildings, the Baroque city palace and the fountains and sculptures across the city will enchant visitors. The old city wall of Basel was removed towards the end of the 19th century to make room for the growth of the city. However, ‘Spalentor’ gate remains which once protected the suburb of Spalen.

Visitors can walk across one of the Rhine bridges or take a ferry across to visit the Kleinbasel side. This side of the river offers breath-taking views of the Rhine and the old town of Großbasel with the towers of the Muenster.

Check out the Bar Rouge on the 31st floor of the Trade Fair Tower to enjoy a magnificent 360° view of the city and the surrounding landscape. The tower, opened in 2003, is located in the Rosental district in Kleinbasel and has become the new landmark of Basel with its impressive height of 105 metres. The tower was designed in a futuristic architectural style and presents an interesting contrast to the historical buildings of the old town.

Every June, the renowned international Art Basel is visited by numerous tourists from across the globe. For this art show, all the major players of the art world convene in Basel. But Basel is worth a visit for art enthusiasts at other times of the year as well. The city is home to more than 40 museums. Take a short trip to Basel to visit the famous Art Museum with the Holbein collection, the Tinguely Museum with the machine sculptures by Kean Tinguely or the private collection of classical modernist paintings in the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen.

A boat trip on the River Rhine is the perfect excursion during a city trip to Basel.

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 Munsterplatz 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 White and Blue House and Basel Town Hall 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 Basel Art Museum and Spalentor. 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 £155 per night from 30 Jul to 31 Jul
£155
30 Jul - 31 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Basel. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (457 reviews)
"Nice and pleasant no problems"

Reviewed on 1 Jul 2025

Radisson Blu Hotel, Basel
HYPERION Hotel Basel
HYPERION Hotel Basel
4 out of 5
Messeplatz 12, Basel, BS
The price is £166 per night from 21 Jul to 22 Jul
£166
21 Jul - 22 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Basel. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,002 reviews)
Great place!
"Amazing hotel, great rooms, great staff. Expensive drinks and food. But it is switzerland"

Reviewed on 1 Jul 2025

HYPERION Hotel Basel
Hotel Schweizerhof Basel
Hotel Schweizerhof Basel
3.5 out of 5
Centralbahnplatz 1, Basel, BS
The price is £124 per night from 6 Jul to 7 Jul
£124
6 Jul - 7 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Basel. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (996 reviews)
"Great stay. Only one minor issue — the AC did not provide quite enough cooling. The staff provided a floor fan which met our needs. Would definitely stay here again."

Reviewed on 24 Jun 2025

Hotel Schweizerhof 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.
City Pop 2Night Basel - Self check-in
City Pop 2Night Basel - Self check-in
4 out of 5
Badenstrasse 1, Basel, BS
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Basel. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the property condition in their ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (690 reviews)
"Excellent!"

Reviewed on 26 Jun 2025

City Pop 2Night Basel - Self check-in
limehome Basel Münzgasse
limehome Basel Münzgasse
2.5 out of 5
12 Münzgasse, Basel, BS
Stay at this aparthotel in Basel. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities and cable TV channels. Popular attractions Theater Fauteuil and Pharmacy Museum Basel ...
8/10 Very Good! (41 reviews)
"It was very nice, clean and cute. Didn't know how to work the AC though"

Reviewed on 2 Jun 2025

limehome Basel Münzgasse
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 Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a free local area shuttle. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (675 reviews)
"Great stay"

Reviewed on 29 Jun 2025

Aparthotel Adagio Basel City
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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