Why You Should Visit Basel in Switzerland

There are many reasons why you should visit Basel in Switzerland. We went there and here is our list of things you should see and do.

If you love history, medieval buildings and European vibe, Basel is your city! It is also know for its art and cultural events. We stayed there for a long weekend and we absolutely loved it.

While there, we got to see all the major sites, experience some Swiss culture and treat ourselves with amazing food. The downtown area was easily walkable and we felt safe even after it got dark. We would definitely like to go back someday and explore the areas outside the city, as well as other cities in Switzerland.

Basel is the third biggest city in Switzerland, and is located where the Swiss, German and French borders meet. There are about 170,000 people living in Basel. The heart of the city is its Old Town. The Rhine River cuts through the city and makes it even more attractive.

The official language in the area is German but in generally people speak with Basel German dialect. When we visited Basel at the winter time, it was rainy and foggy, so no doubt the best time to visit is either spring or summer. But we still enjoyed our stay very much and loved exploring the city.

This is WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT BASEL IN SWITZERLAND

You can Experience the medieval vibe in the old town

There are so many things to see in the Old Town Basel and that is where we spent the most time during our stay. You can walk around in the small alleys and stop in the little shops or cafes along the way. We kept stopping to take photos of medieval buildings and interesting little statues.

There are over 300 water fountains in this area.

One of the most well known sites in Basel is Spalentor, the Gate of Spalen. It is one of the three remaining city gates, that used be part of the wall that surrounded the old town. It was built after the 1356 earthquake.

There is hardly anything left of the actual wall anymore and other five city gates have been destroyed over time. But you can still visit the three existing gates; Spalentor, Sankt-Johanns-Tor and Sankt-Alban-Tor.

One of the biggest prides of Basel is the Basel Minster (Basler Münster). I walked over there one day, and the next day we returned to climb up all 250 steps up to the bell tower.

Up from the tower you can get the most beautiful view over Basel and the Rhein River. The church itself was undergoing a restoration, so outside was covered with scaffolding, but the inside of it was just beautiful.

Basel Minster was built between the years 1019 and 1500, and it follows the Romanesque and Gothic styles. Erasmus of Rotterdam, the well known Dutch humanist, was buried inside the church.

Are you looking for a place to stay? This was our favourite hotel.

You should definitely also visit the market place (Marktplatz) in the old town. They sell all kinds of local produce, anything from flowers to cheese.

The most impressive building there is the city hall, Rathaus. It was built after the big earthquake which devastated Switzerland in 1356. The massive decorations go all thru the inner courtyard and to the lobby, so make sure you visit when the building is open.

It is the Cultural Capital of Switzerland

Basel has a great selection of museums, art and architecture. History is a big part of Basel and you can learn more about it in the Museum of History, Historisches Museum Basel. While my fiancé was working, I visited the museum and after that I was able to see the town with a whole different set of eyes. So much information there!

The museum website has the current opening hours and it is located in Barüsserplatz, Basel.

On one of the rainy days, we spent in the Museum of Art, Kunstmuseum Basel. It has the most extensive art collection in Switzerland, including some pieces from Rembrandt, Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso and Chagall. We were also fascinated byt the work of Arnold Böcklin who is a local artist. It was very interesting.

You can check out their current exhibitions and opening hours from Kunstmuseum website. You can find it at St. Alban-Graben 16, 4051 Basel.

This bizarre building was designed by architect Mario Botta, and it is called Biz Building. We didn’t go inside since it is a bank building, but if you want to see it from outside, it is in Aeschengraben.

If you are a fan of water fountains, I bet that Tinguely Fountain is something you have never seen before. In 1977 Jean Tinguely designed a fountain with moving statues in the spot where an old theatre of Basel once operated. There are a total of nine statues, and I must say, it was very unique!

They have great restaurants and local foods

During our stay we tried so many local delicacies. We especially enjoyed many cheeses offered at the breakfast in our hotel. One day we ended up buying some cheese and bread from the market place, and had it as a snack with red wine in our room. And we did buy some cheese to take home with us too.

On our last night we dined in award winning restaurant called Gasthof zum Goldenen Sternen. It is said to be the oldest tavern in Basel as it was first opened in 1412. It was nice!

The food was very good but not quite the next level good. However, the ambiance in this old, traditional building was just amazing. I would highly recommend to read about it from their website before visiting so you know what to look for.

Basel is very safe

Basel is very safe and therefore a great destination for travelers. We were out and walking around even after it got dark and never felt like we had to worry about anything. And the streets were very well lit too.

The crime rate in Basel is very low. The place where you should be aware of your surroundings is a crowded tram or a bus. Occasionally there are some pickpockets in them. Other crimes are very rare.

Where to stay in Basel

I recommend staying within walking distance from Old Town because that is where the visitors spend the most of their time at. Old Town has not only all the historical sites but also many of the restaurants, cafes and museums.

We stayed in Hotel Wettstein which was nice and not too far from the sites. Even though Basel has very good public transportation system we were able to walk everywhere we wanted to go.

Basel Youth Hostel is probably one of the most affordable options in Basel. Unlike many other youth hostels this one offers private rooms that are almost on hotel standards. Breakfast is also included to the price.

If you want something more unique with an exceptional service, then you might enjoy a guesthouse called Gast – und Kulturhaus Der Teufelhof Basel. The rooms were decorated by Swiss and Italian designers. It is also centrally located and has a restaurant. We really enjoy staying at guest houses and boutique hotels with more personal touch.

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If you ever get a chance to visit Basel don’t hesitate, just go! Their medieval Old Town was the highlight of our trip as it really made us step back in the history. It reminded us of the Old Town Tallinn in Estonia which we also loved.

We would love to return for a longer visit someday, and even tour around in Switzerland more. Hopefully that will be soon!