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TOP 10 REASONS
TOP 10 REASONS
TOP 10 REASONS
Why travel to Basel: Find out the top 10 reasons to visit
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01
A SNEAK PEAK
A SNEAK PEAK
A SNEAK PEAK
A Sneak Peek into Basel
- Few European towns can match Basel's concentration of cultural attractions and activities.
- There is more than one museum in every square kilometre in Switzerland's second-largest city, with more than 40.
- Furthermore, many of these are housed in structures that are works of art in and of themselves, constructed by great architects such as Renzo Piano, Frank O. Gehry, and Mario Botta.
- Six bridges span the Rhine as it makes a dramatic bend north to become the German-French border, connecting the two sides of Basel.
- The old town and cultural sites are located on the higher left bank.
- Basel joined the Swiss Confederation in 1501 after being controlled by Burgundy and the German and Austrian Empires.
- In the 16th century, Basel's University became a hub for humanism and remained a magnet for illustrious scholars and teachers, which may account for the city's exceptional cultural heritage today.
- Capital: Basel
- International Airport: EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL)
- Population- 170'000
- Currency- the Swiss franc
- Time: GMT/UTC + 01:00 hour
- Driving side- Right side
- Main Electricity- 230V
- Official Language- German
- Religion- Catholic
02
HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHLIGHTS
Top Tourist Attractions in Basel
- The brilliant red Basel Rathaus dominates the square with its vibrant painted front.
- The Historical Museum houses essential local history and culture collections.
- Basel's Museum of Contemporary Art, housed in a historic paper mill with modern expansions, exhibits art from 1960.
- The Haus zum Kirschgarten, one of Basel's finest patrician residences, was erected in the early Classical style between 1775 and 1780.
03
SEASONS TO TRAVEL
SEASONS TO TRAVEL
SEASONS TO TRAVEL
Best Months to Visit Basel
- Basel is best visited between mid-May and end-June, and from mid-August to end-October.
- Basel is one of Switzerland's hottest cities.
- Basel has a warmer climate than the rest of Switzerland's Alpine cities due to its location in the Rhine Valley.
- The city's coldest month is January, while its warmest month is June.
- May to October is the busiest tourist season.
- Summer nights can be oppressively hot, yet, snow is uncommon in the winter.
04
WORTH A VISIT
WORTH A VISIT
WORTH A VISIT
The Best Places to Visit in Basel
Kunstmuseum Basel
- The Kunstmuseum has the best collection of paintings in Switzerland, with both ancient masters and modern art represented, thanks to the addition of a 2015 wing.
- The ancient masters and a collection of French and Dutch paintings are on the first floor.
- Konrad Witz's 15th-century Heilsspiegelaltar (Mirror of Salvation Altar), Holbein the Younger's 16th-century portraits, Mathias Grünewald's Crucifixion, and Rembrandt's 1627 David with Goliath's Head.
- The Impressionists, Expressionists, and Surrealists of the 19th and 20th centuries are represented on the second floor.
- Gauguin, Van Gogh, Corot, Cézanne, Braque, Picasso, Kandinsky, Léger, Chagall, Klee, Dali, Max Ernst, and others have major works on display, as well as subsequent works and special exhibitions.
Old Town
- With its stone alleys, ancient cathedrals wonderfully maintained old buildings, and brightly painted fountains, the area of Basel roughly between the river and the old city gate at Spalentor is not vast, but it is rather evocative.
- Amid the magnificent ancient mansions, Basel introduces a thoroughly modern and quirky fountain by Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely.
- Wander west down Spalenberg from Marktplatz, taking detours into some narrow side streets including Leonhardsberg and Spalenberg, Heuberg.
- This was the old artist's district. Or take a stroll down Freiestrasse, which begins in 1578 with the Renaissance Geltenzunfthaus.
- The guild-house of the locksmiths, which dated from 1488 and was embellished in Baroque style in 1733, is located at number 25.
Basler Münster (Basel Minster)
- Basel's minster, perched atop Münsterhügel (Minster Hill), is instantly identified by its towering spires and brilliantly patterned roof tiles.
- The magnificent 18th-century Münsterplatz, previously the site of a Roman fort, is a wide plaza.
- The minster was erected of red sandstone from the Vosges mountains in France between the ninth and thirteenth centuries, and after an earthquake in 1356, restored it in Gothic style.
- However, some of the old church structure survives.
- In 1529, Protestants destroyed the high altar and much of the furniture, but the most significant valuables were secreted in the sacristy vaulting and survived; some can be seen in the historical museum.
05
DISCOVER MORE
DISCOVER MORE
DISCOVER MORE
Basel Off the Beaten Track
Jean Tinguely Museum
- Because of a substantial donation from his wife, Niki de Saint Phalle, and contributions from other collectors, the Jean Tinguely Museum has the most extensive collection of this famous Swiss artist's work.
- Tinguely's sculptures and drawings and an extensive library of documents and photographs are among the items in the collection.
- The museum also holds three-monthly changing exhibitions that focus on painters who influenced Tinguely and contemporary artists.
- Mario Botta, a renowned architect, designed the structure that houses the collection.
Papiermühle (Paper Mill Museum)
- A historic paper mill has been transformed into a museum of writing, printing, and paper, complete with functional machinery.
- It is located on a mediaeval canal with an operational waterwheel.
- You may observe the arduous creation of handmade paper, learn about the history of printing from before Gutenberg's press to the loss of lead type in the 1980s, and see how books are bound as you tour the museum.
- The displays trace the evolution of writing from pictographs to current typography.
06
CULTURE & TRADITIONS
CULTURE & TRADITIONS
CULTURE & TRADITIONS
Basel Culture and Traditions
- Nearly forty museums in the city exhibit visual arts from antiquity to the present.
- International attention is drawn to the famous exhibitions sponsored by Fondation Beyeler, the Kunstmuseum (Museum of Fine Art), and the Antikenmuseum (Museum of Ancient Art).
- The Kunstmuseum Basel was named the fifth-best museum in the world in 2013 by respected art reviewers from the London-based publication 'The Times.'
- However, art is not just for the inside. There is something to appreciate around every corner on a stroll through the city: Richard Serra's "Intersection," Jean Tinguely's "Carnival Fountain," and Bettina Eichin's "Helvetia" are just a few of the numerous works of art to be explored.
07
FOOD FUN FASHION
FOOD FUN FASHION
FOOD FUN FASHION
Basel: Food, Fun & Fashion Guide
Fastenwähe
#food
- Fastenwähe, like Baler Mehlsuppe, is popular during Basel's Fasnacht festival.
- Because it's manufacturing historically corresponded with the month of Lent, its name means "fasting pie."
- These little yeasted loaves are made with an enhanced dough made with milk and butter and topped with caraway seeds.
- The four holes cut into the dough form a cross-like pattern.
- They're similar to pretzels and are one of my favourite Basel meals.
Hefegugelhopf
#food
- Hefegugelhopf is a yeasted, fluted cake with a hole in the middle.
- They're commonly topped with whole or sliced almonds and a thick layer of powdered sugar.
- They have deep roots in Alsace, France, just across Basel's border.
- The Hefegugelhopf, which is more like a sweet loaf of bread than an American-style Bundt cake, is one of my favourite baked products in Switzerland.
Schoggiweggli
#food
- Tiny buns filled with chocolate bits can be found all around Switzerland, but the Schoggiweggli is mainly associated with Basel.
- This famous bread was created in 1975 by Anton Bachmann of Confiserie Bachmann and is now available in various bakeries and stores throughout the city.
- The tops of these delectable buns have distinct incisions to unveil the chocolate surprises lying inside.
- They're great for breakfast or a snack in the afternoon.
Spalenberg
#fashion
- The neighbourhood around the Spalenberg is brimming with old-world charm, thanks to its lovely ancient houses and charming alleyways and its various stores.
- Take a trip around the Spalenberg district if you enjoy looking for unique, authentic, and unique stores away from the central retail districts.
- What you discover will astound you!
Basel Christmas market
#fashion
- The Basel Christmas market, with its delicious fragrances and sparkling lights, is like a shining jewel, and it even appears to be one from afar.
- Around 160 carefully selected products and food stalls are located in the centre of Basel, all of which are custom made and designed with great care and attention to detail.
- A wide range of delicacies, Christmas products and gifts, and a fine assortment of drinks may be found here.
Weekly markets
#fashion
- All year, Basel's markets provide a unique shopping experience in the city's centre.
- The markets are a terrific place to spend some time because many stalls have delicious foods and engaging events.
- Basel's market town's numerous city and neighbourhood markets offer various market experiences.
- Customers interact directly with market traders, many of whom make their items, at Basel's fresh goods marketplaces.
- The products sold at Basel's fresh goods markets are healthful, organic, and sustainable, with the majority of them being produced in Basel's tri-national region.
Parque acuático Swiss Holiday Park
#fun
- Swiss Holiday Park, located in Morschach, is an excellent place that combines a hotel near seminars and restaurants with Switzerland's largest water park.
- Add in her spa, hot springs, sports facilities, gym, billiards, bowling, and climbing wall, and you have the perfect combination for guaranteed fun.
- The water park features a 210-square-meter indoor pool, a 300-square-meter outdoor pool, a jacuzzi, a waterfall, slides, water jets, a children's pool with slides, and water activities.
- The water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit
Langmatt Villa Park
#fun
- Villa Langmatt's public park is one of the most popular. Its lush green lawn will turn your holiday into a tour.
- The Impressionist Museum and the Furniture Museum are, of course, the principal attractions. The traditional Brown family includes objects and stuff.
- The place is open to the public and welcomes you to take a different look at Swiss culture.
Svizzera in miniatura
#fun
- This park, which opened in 1959 and is a 1:25 scale replica of Switzerland's most famous sights and landmarks, is located in Melide, a small town in Canto Ticino just a few kilometres from the Italian border.
- You can then stroll through the park, framed by a magnificent environment that overlooks the Ceresio and is surrounded by mountains (including Mount San Giorgio, which UNESCO Natural Heritage dellUmanit recently proclaimed) to discover the Swiss nation.
- The models of the typical Swiss trains are exciting.
- A self-service restaurant with roughly 200 chairs is also located within the park.
- The months of March to October are the greatest for visiting because there are more days with good weather.
- The lorario is open for longer (from 9:00 to 18:00).
08
NATURE & SAFARI
NATURE & SAFARI
NATURE & SAFARI
Basel: Natural Beauty & Safari Adventures
- Basel's zoo, Switzerland's oldest and largest, is popularly known as the Zolli by locals and is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions.
- It has been designated one of the world's top fifteen zoos.
- The zoo opened in 1874 with 510 European animals and is now noted for its exotic species.
- The population includes predators, primates, mammals, reptiles, birds, and aquatic life, from seahorses to elephants enjoying a new elephant enclosure with wallowing pools, showers, and a savannah-like environment, which was added in 2015.
- Highlights include the lion enclosure and monkey house and the penguins in the vivarium, containing fish and reptiles.
- The aviary is home to both native and exotic species and raptors.
- Take a tram or bike to the Tierpark, an expanse of verdant parks across the river, when you need a break from Basel's plethora of museums and historic monuments or if you're seeking things to do with kids.
- You'll see deer, lynx, wild boar, and other local species roaming freely in their natural habitat, discreetly fenced from the public.
- Swans and ducks swim in the ponds, where herons, fish, and brilliant peacocks wander.
- More birds can be seen in the large aviary, while farm animals can be found in the stables and paddocks.
- It's a tranquil green space for walking and relaxing and an excellent spot for kids to meet animals outside a zoo setting.
09
EVENTS & FIESTAS
EVENTS & FIESTAS
EVENTS & FIESTAS
Basel Must-Attend Festivals and Events
- Basel Fasnacht is a three-day carnival celebration that draws over 200,000 people.
- Basel Carnival is unusual because it is the only Protestant carnival globally!
- The Basel Fasnacht has a mysterious aura about it.
- It is the most beautiful time for many people, joy and celebration!
- Basel Fasnacht is an essential aspect of the city's identity, and UNESCO has designated it as an Intangible Cultural Heritage item for its long history, quality, and distinctiveness. This emphasises its relevance and significance.
- Fasnacht in Basel is a bizarre kaleidoscope experience!
- Basel Faschnact is loaded with love, joy, music, colour, humour, pranks, celebrations, tradition, comedy, drinking, eating, scary masks, costumed participants, and an unbelievable amount of confetti from beginning to end or Morgenstreich to Endstreich!
- Children's Day is celebrated on Fasnacht Tuesday, with a march for the families.
- Only parents and their children are permitted to march in the Children's Parade.
- Hundreds of children participate in this march, which will carry on the tradition for future years.
- It's a lively parade, and the "Biggie," as the kids are known, dress up in any costumes they like.
- The inner city comes alive with uncountable troupes of masked youths parading through the streets, many of whom are experiencing Fasnacht for the first time.
- Adult groups drumming and piping their way through the town's small alleyways are just as numerous.
FAQs to Plan Your Best Basel Holiday
Places similar to Basel to visit
Places similar to Basel to visit
Places similar to Basel to visit