Basel holidays

An aerial view of the old town and riverbank, Basel

A close up of the steeple of the 12th century cathedral in Basel

Fine decoration in the medieval fish market, downtown Basel

An attractive street in Basel's old town

A sunny morning by the riverside in Basel

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Popular hotels in Basel
Facts about Basel

A view over the cathedral and square at night, with a Ferris wheel in the foreground

Art lovers and history geeks are in their element on a holiday to Basel – it has a Medieval old town and galleries galore.

The cultural capital of Switzerland

Basel’s bagged itself an unofficial tagline – ‘the cultural capital of Switzerland’ – thanks to its stacked lineup of museums and galleries, and a global art fair that takes place each year. Some of the museums really stop you in your tracks with their theming – for example, there’s one that’s all about kinetic art, and another that explores toys from over the years. There’s even a tiny exhibit in the form of a two-by-two-inch rotating window display that only houses items you could fit in your pocket – keep your eyes peeled for it on Imbergässlein. As well as having bags of culture, Basel’s plotted at the point where Switzerland, Germany and France meet, making it easy to tick off another country on a daytrip.

Medieval marvels

If spotting Gothic architecture and wandering down ancient cobblestone streets sounds like your cup of tea, Basel ticks a lot of boxes. The old town’s home to iconic buildings like the Basel Minster, and the Medieval city walls serve up a photo op you won’t want to miss. Interestingly, the old town also crams in more than 200 fountains, from grand marble statues to sandstone water features that look like something from a fairytale book. Plus, on Sundays, vintage trams make their way through the city, adding a touch of nostalgia to the already picturesque streets.

A taste of local life

No visit to Basel’s complete without sampling some Swiss food. It tends to be pretty hearty, with favourites including crusty bread or pan-friend potatoes with melted raclette cheese. And if you have a sweet tooth, we'd recommend you try a local bake – honeyed gingerbread. There are plenty of spots where you can pick some up near the Marktplatz in the old town, or if you’re visiting in the lead-up to Christmas, it's a staple on plenty of festive market stalls. There’s plenty to shout about on the drinks front, too – Basel has a buzzy beer scene, with a few local breweries supplying kegs to bars across the city.

Down by the river

Especially during the summer months, there’s tonnes going on by the River Rhine. You’ll even find plenty of people swimming in the water when the weather’s hot. Locals like to take a brightly coloured waterproof bag that’s shaped like a fish – AKA a Wickelfisch – to keep their belongings dry as they float along the channel. If you’d rather stay dry, there’s plenty on the cards for you, too – think riverside bars serving colourful cocktails and open-air movie nights that add a little romance to a summer’s evening in Basel.

Popular hotels in Basel

Top things to see and do in Basel

Beaches

The banks of the Rhine

If you’re looking for somewhere to unwind by the water, one of the best places in Basel is on the banks of the Rhine, in the neighbourhood of Kleinbasel. There’s a stepped promenade running alongside the river, and it’s a hotspot for chilling out in the summer months. There’s not much of a beach, but a small band of pebbly sand at the bottom of the steps offers a small paddling spot.

A picnic by the river

Birsköpfli is another riverside spot where locals love to relax. It’s a winning place for picnics, with lots of grassy areas to lay out a blanket, and a calm stream of water where you can go for a splash on a warm day. There’s a pebble beach and a café where you can grab drinks and snacks, and it’s just on the outskirts of the city, so getting there’s a breeze – you can walk there in about half an hour, or a cab will take around 15 minutes.

Lakeside daytrips

If you’re up for a daytrip, you could hop on a train and head for the postcard-perfect city of Lucerne – it takes a little over an hour to get there. When you arrive, there’s a huge lake where people gather to sunbathe, socialise and swim. And if you don’t fancy taking a dip in the lake itself, there’s an open-air swimming pool where you can get some lengths in.

Shopping

Bargain buys

Bagging a bargain's easy at the weekly flea market in Petersplatz. This event’s held on Saturdays, and we recommend you head down early as it can get pretty busy as they day goes on. You can pick up everything from second-hand clothing and antiques to cameras and vinyl records at this bustling city-centre market.

Mid-range buys

For a taste of the high street, head to Freie Strasse. It’s a historical street with 19th-century architecture, and it’s dotted with some of fashion’s biggest names – think Zara and H&M. There are plenty of bars and restaurants in the area, too, where you can fuel up between shopping stints.

Designer buys

If you're after some high-end splurging, one of the swishest department stores in the city – Globus – is right by Marketplatz. It spans over six floors and covers everything from cosmetics and perfume to homeware and designer clothing. There are around a thousand brands to sink your teeth into inside, so make sure you block out an hour or two to make the most of your browse here.

Nightlife

Laid-back evenings

The old town’s a great place to start when you’re on the hunt for laidback evening spots in Basel. Cosy taverns and cocktail bars come in droves, and there are some more traditional spots – known to the locals as ‘Beizen’ – where rustic, wood-panelled interiors are paired with hearty local dishes and Swiss beers on tap.

Lively evenings

If you’re a bit of a party animal, Basel has plenty up its sleeve for you, too. Head to the Dreispitz district if you’re into electronic music – it has industrial clubs that house world-class DJs. Or, for a different vibe, you could put on your dancing shoes and strut along Steinenvorstadt, Basel's famous ‘party mile’. It has Irish pubs, cocktail lounges and nightclubs with lively dancefloors.

Food & drink

Basler Läckerli

If you like a good combo of sweet and spice, these honeyed biscuits – similar to gingerbread – will be right up your street. They’re crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside and best served warm. They were first made in Basel over 700 years ago, and they’re a staple in bakeries across the city.

Swiss tofu

Veggies and vegans have plenty of choice in Basel, with restaurants offering lots of plant-based options. There’s even a type of tofu that’s produced locally, made with organic Swiss soy beans, and it’s known to be fresher and more flavourful than the average batch of tofu. If you’re a foodie who loves all things plant-based, you won’t want to miss it.

Spätburgunder

The local wine – known as Spätburgunder – is ruby-red in colour, and has a dry taste with notes of cherry and vanilla. It’s mainly produced in Germany, and with Basel being so close to the German border, daytrips to wineries are always on the cards. It takes about 30 minutes to drive to the nearest ones.

Basler Mehlsuppe

If you’re after something to warm the cockles, Basler Mehlsuppe’s a top pick. It’s a signature dish made up of beef stock, onions, brown flour and often red wine, and its name literally means ‘flour soup’. You’ll see it on many menus across the city, particularly during the annual Basel Carnival.

Fondue delights

Wherever you are in Switzerland, you won’t be too far from some melty fondue or a bubbling wedge of raclette. Cheese is taken very seriously here – it's often served either over a pile of potatoes or with a thick chunk of bread for dipping – so it’s a full meal rather than a post-dinner snack.