Is Basel Worth Visiting? Your Guide To This Swiss City

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Is Basel worth visiting? Well, Basel might not be the first place people think of when you say you’re visiting Switzerland. But since I was visiting Strasbourg and eastern France, and Basel is the first Swiss city over the border, it seemed too good an opportunity to pass up.

A city sitting right on the banks of the Rhine, historic buildings at every turn and of course access to some of the best chocolate in the world. It should have been a dream trip. I have to say though, I wasn’t completely enamored with Basel.

Keep reading to find out why, as well as some of the really good things to do in the city if you do find yourself there.

Where is Basel?

Basel is in northwestern Switzerland, just a hop over the border from either southeastern France or southwest Germany. The city is built up around the mighty Rhine river.

Basel is just over an hour away from Switzerland’s largest city, Zurich. But given its proximity to France’s popular Alsace region, Basel can be a tempting day trip.

On my trip to Basel I visited from Strasbourg and it took just over an hour to get there. If you’re staying in Colmar, one of Alsace’s pretty fairytale towns, it’s even closer.

Top Tip: There are day trips that will take you to Basel, however the cheapest and easiest way is to book a direct train from Strasbourg or Colmar.

How much time is needed in Basel?

Or is Basel worth visiting at all? The city is quite compact, save for a few outlying places you might want to see. A day will allow you to experience most of what you might be interested in. Two days would maybe be more ideal to get a proper feel for the place.

The city is very walkable, and you can take local transport if you want which will help you get around even quicker. In fact bikes and trams seem to outweigh cars around Basel which is a really good thing about the city.

The main tourist attractions are all in close proximity to each other making it very convenient for visitors. And while there are a lot of museums, you most likely will just pick one or two to visit on your trip.

How expensive is Switzerland?

I noticed the prices of most things in Basel/Switzerland were more than neighboring France and Germany. The average hotel cost in Basel was around €40 cheaper per night, but I would also say that Strasbourg is a more popular tourist destination than Basel.

Prices in restaurants in particular were significantly higher and there weren’t as many budget options. That might be something to keep in mind when determining how long you give yourself here versus other places.

Another expense to think about is a phone data roaming plan. My phone worked in all EU countries on the same plan, but Switzerland is not EU. Therefore my phone stopped working the moment the train crossed the border and I had to rely on offline Google Maps.

Top Things To Do In Basel

I didn’t know too much about Basel before I visited. If you don’t either, that may be why you’re wondering is Basel worth visiting at all?

Spending some time in the Alsace region of France, I saw this as an opportunity to visit Switzerland for the first time. During my time in Basel I did find a number of great things to do. Here are some of the activities I discovered and recommend you see or do if you visit.

Basel Minster

The loud rhythmic clanging of the Minster bells will let you know you’re getting close. In no way musical like other cathedrals I’ve visited, this is more of a foreboding noise.

The Minster itself is grand but it’s the roof that got my attention. An intricate mosaic of dark green, maroon, burnt yellow and off-white covers every inch.

The Minster is rarely open past 4pm or 5pm depending on the season. The crypt is viewable only during the summer months. Entry is free and you can pay extra to climb the steps up the tower. Guided tours can be arranged for a fee, mostly only on Saturday.

Markthalle Basel

Looking for lots of great food in one place? The Markthalle is only a few minute walk from the train station. If you arrive close to lunch time this is a good stop before walking into the city.

There are many stalls all selling different international foods. The prices are cheaper than you’ll find in most restaurants and there are a few other stalls to buy things too. Bonus Tip: The Markthalle also has very clean public washrooms.

Spalentor City Gate

You can still see some of the old city walls around Basel, but its this city gate – one of three remaining – that is the most spectacular. The Spalen Gate, although largely restored after previous destruction of the gates, is impressive.

You can walk under or around the gate, but make sure to check out some of the adornments higher up. Beautiful carvings, turrets and the same tile roof design as on top of the Minster.

Botanical Garden

Located at the University of Basel, this small but lovely garden is not far from Spalentor, the city gate. The garden is open from 8am most days, and the greenhouses open at 9am.

It’s a nice place to walk around and spent half an hour or more. Even more reason to visit is that the garden is free to enter.

Visit a museum

No matter what your interests are there is bound to be a museum for you here in Basel. The medieval Paper Mill of Basel houses the Swiss Museum of Paper, Writing and Printing. Nearby is the Caricature and Cartoon Museum. Both are more unique museum options in Basel.

If you’re looking for a more traditional museum then the Museum of Natural History Basel might be preferred. The city also has some fabulous art museums. Most museums cost between 10 and 20 CHF per person (around $10-20 USD).

Cross the Middle Bridge

Make your way from one side of Basel to the other via the most historical bridge in the city. The current Middle Bridge has stood here for over 120 years, although pre-renovation there has been a bridge here for more than 800 years.

Even better – the only traffic allowed on the bridge are bikes, buses and trams. So you can easily enjoy the views without the constant whoosh of cars.

Look up at the tower in the middle of the bridge and you’ll see a familiar pattern. The same tile mosaic feature that was on the Minster and the city gate.

Basel Town Hall

Many signs in the old part of town point to Rathaus, otherwise known as the Town Hall. What a magnificent building. You can’t miss it, for it’s large and red and the most decorated building in the city.

The glorious building is a work of art in itself and is over 500-years old. The views get even better when you enter through one of the three arched doorways to an inner courtyard that is even more stunning than the front.

Is Basel worth visiting? For me this building alone made me glad I did. Do not miss this building if you do visit – it was one of the highlights of my trip to Basel. From the courtyard you can wander up the steps to see the decorations more close up.

TOP TIP: The Rathaus is closed on weekends so visit during the week if you can.

Swim in the Rhine

Not my first choice of adventure, but I was surprised how many people were doing this. A lot seemed to enter the water around Middle Bridge. The Rhine here in Basel was much cleaner looking than most European city rivers.

There were people swimming in pairs or groups, or some solo swimmers had a spotter/clothing carrier person on the shore. There were a number of people I spotted who you could tell did this on a regular basis.

Be in three countries at once

Dreiländereck is the point in northern Basel where three countries meet. Switzerland meets France to the west and Germany to the north at the end of a long pier.

There’s a monument here to commemorate the spot. Each side of the rocket-shaped monument has one of the country’s flags on it. Good news there’s also seats where you can take a rest after the long walk.

To get to Dreiländereck is a distance from central Basel. It’s a cool spot to visit, but if you’re short on time you might want to skip it for attractions closer to the city center. There’s a bar next to the monument which is beach bar themed in the summer, or winter village in the winter.

Drinks with a view

Between Dreiländereck and the same side of the Rhine at Middle Bridge are a number of fun riverside bars and cafes. They almost feel like pop up bars with seating close to the river. The perfect place to sit and watch the world go by.

From beers to cocktails or coffee and soft drinks, it’s worth checking out one or two. Especially so if you’ve spent the day walking great distances. Each has a public washroom nearby.

Search for ornate fountains

While walking the streets of Basel I found so many public water fountains. Many were not recommended for drinking from, but could be used for hand washing or cooling down on a hot day.

Each was completely different from the last and there were some unique designs. My favorite had to be a green Basilisk fountain I found – the creature is half rooster, half dragon.

Buy your weight in chocolate

If there’s one thing I associate with Switzerland, it’s chocolate. Is it the best chocolate in the world? I’m not going to start that debate here. But it’s pretty darn good, and there’s enough of it to keep you happy. Is Basel worth visiting? That rather depends on how much you like chocolate, I’d say.

The best place to buy chocolate? Avoid the expensive tourist shops and instead head right to the chocolate aisle in a nearby supermarket. That’s right, the entire aisle is pretty much filled with every chocolate bar you can imagine.

TOP TIP: Bring an empty shopping bag on your trip to Basel – you’re going to need it, along with at least a spare few kilograms in your luggage allowance.

What’s good about Basel, Switzerland

As a day trip from Strasbourg or Zurich, Basel is a nice place to explore. Here are some of the things I liked most about the city:

• The city is very walkable and easy to get around – lack of traffic in the old town area is especially nice
• The architecture is beautiful – many interestingly unique buildings in a variety of colors and all adorned in the most spectacular way
• For an (overall) expensive place to visit there are still some things you can do for free – the Minster and visiting other historic sites
• Things seem very clean in Basel – the Rhine here is nice and clean, the streets are well cared for and there isn’t a lot of litter around unlike many European cities
• The views over the Rhine from the old town (especially coming from the direction of the Minster) were incredible

What’s not good about Basel

Nowhere is perfect and for me Basel was no exception. When I’m planning a trip I like to know the bad as well as the good, so here are some things I didn’t like as much about Basel:

• The city was very quiet – Even on a hot summer day the old town streets were almost empty, so for me the city lacked energy
• I personally didn’t feel the same warmth from people I interacted with as much as in nearby France and Germany
• Eating out isn’t cheap – The food I had was good, but prepare to spend more on a typical meal than you might in other European cities

Is Basel worth visiting?

As much as I wanted to really enjoy Basel, I found it just missed the mark in what I was looking for. The city, while clean and pretty, didn’t have the wow factor for me. It felt a little more like a sleepy town than a major city, and just a little bland if I’m honest. This is of course just how I felt, you might feel differently about Basel.

The Minster Cathedral Square was almost deserted – any public square this large in another major city would likely have been teeming with throngs of tourists. I was visiting in the height of the summer so this was extra surprising.

The attractions and activities I did do were really good, and there’s no doubt as to the beauty of the architecture around Basel. I could quite happily walk for days looking at every building and the artwork, carvings and décor that adorn them.

However, once I factored in the high pricing for even a moderate meal, I ended up taking an earlier train for my next destination.

If you haven’t been to Switzerland before, Basel is a good place to easily visit from neighboring countries. It’s worth seeing and experiencing. But if you’re used to enjoying much busier and lively cities you might want to temper your expectations here. I’d like to explore more of Switzerland, but I likely wouldn’t rush back to Basel.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Have you visited Basel, Switzerland? Let me know what you thought of it. Is Basel worth visiting in your opinion?