Must-Visit Basel Attractions, Switzerland

Basel’s cathedral dominates the skyline of the old town and is one of the city’s main landmarks. Discover the cathedral’s fascinating history and take in splendid views of Basel from the Pfalz, its perfectly placed terrace.

>> Make sure you hear all the stories and history of the Munster Basel on this tour!

Cheese fondue is a traditional Swiss dish that originated in the Alps as a peasant dish, made of ingredients that used to be available during winter: cheese, crusty bread, and wine. Swiss fondue traditionally uses two types of cheese, such as guyère, emmenthaler or vacherin fribourgeois, that come in a special rounded ceramic pot with handles. It is also traditional in Switzerland to only dip bread into the fondue. However, all types of artisan bread are acceptable. This is usually accompanied by white wine, such as sauvignon blanc. The Walliser Kanne in Basel serves a fantastic cheese fondue, which comes in three variations and with champagne.

Basel’s infamous 3-day carnival is the biggest in Switzerland and starts on the Monday after Ash Wednesday. Over the 3 days, masked musicians march through the streets of the city’s old town, pounding on drums and blowing on piccolos. It’s a riotous, dark and funny time to be in Basel, when everyone’s focus is simply on having a good time.

Noted as a site of national significance in Switzerland, the Kunstmuseum is the largest public art collection in the entire country, testament to the city’s devotion to the arts. Explore the fascinating exhibitions that the museum is currently running here.

Basler Personenschifffahrt operates great harbor boat cruises between mid-May and mid-October that are a must for every first-time visitor to Basel. Visitors have the option to choose between a shorter 85-minute cruise that shows the major sights of the city or longer trips to the nearby Rheinfelden. Basler Personenschifffahrt also offers special treats for its guests, such as dinner boats accompanied by live music, a fantastic Sunday brunch and an active games night, where a murder has to be solved during an evening on the boat. Consult Basler Personenschifffahrts for an up-to-date schedule of special events.

Every successful trip to Basel should include a visit to one of the city’s fantastic theaters. The Theatre Basel showcases an eclectic mix of opera, ballet and theater performances, including Tweje, the ballet of Richard Wherlock. The Musical Theater Basel offers a diverse range of high-quality theater productions, such as Disney’s The Lion King and The Beauty and the Beast. Other events include the theater classic My Fair Lady, as well as The Phantom of the Opera. Both theaters represent the best of Swiss, international arts, and culture and are definitely worth a visit.

Visit Basel offers ghost walk tours through the city that give visitors the unique chance to explore Basel in a very different light. At night, Basel shows its dark side and creatures that are invisible during their day come to life after midnight. Basel’s dark and twisted past can be explored and visitors can see the city’s main sights differently during these tours. This is a great way to explore the city in a unique way, but beware, it will get spooky.

The best way to explore the old city center of Basel is by foot. The Historical Basel Tour will guide you along with all the major sights in the city and give you the chance to explore the hidden gems of Basel. Visitors will be lead through over 2000 years of history and find out everything there is to know about all of the important steps the city has taken through its time. This is a great way to make the most of an afternoon in Basel and familiarize yourself with the city’s culture in a short amount of time. Guests will be guided by locals, who are always happy to give useful advice on outstanding restaurants and bars.

Escape Games are a great new trend that is conquering all of the major cities in Europe at the moment. Basel has as many as three outstanding Escape Game venues that are perfect for a rainy day in the city. Room Escape Basel, serving the motto of ‘play with your mind’ offers a number of different scenarios that each pose a unique challenge to its players. Booking a spot is very easy and can be done over the internet, so everything is already prepared for you once you arrive in Basel. This is the perfect activity for those who like to train their mind and test themselves with tricky and challenging puzzles.

Switzerland is known as the land of chocolate and the city of Basel is no exception. From traditional Swiss chocolatiers to vendors of fair-trade chocolate from all over the world, Basel has it all. Chocolatier Beschle offers something special for its guests. Not only can customers taste the delicious range of Beschle’s chocolate, but they are also invited to get a unique insight into the production process and learn about the fine art of chocolate making. In the tour, guests even get the chance to apply what they have learned to create their very own chocolate.

>> Try chocolate, cheese or local pastry on this amazing tasting tour!

Basel’s zoo, known by locals as “Zolli” is one of the the oldest in Switzerland and first opened its doors in 1874. Animals from all over the world are kept there, many of them incredibly endangered. The zoo is non-profit and gives proceeds to conservation programmes working to save animals in the wild.

The Museum Tingeuly is dedicated to Jean Tingeuly, the Swiss sculptor and painter. Aside from the largest collection of Tingeuly’s work, the museum also hosts a wide variety of music and art exhibitions.

Basel’s Museum of Cultures brings together the cultures of the world alongside exhibitions dedicated to the history and life of the Swiss people.

With one of the world’s largest collections of stuffed bears (they have over 6,000 teddy bears), the Basel Toy Museum in Basel is certainly an impressive collection of all things toys. Across its four floors there are toys that’ll take you back to your childhood and plenty more to keep you intrigued.

Like many of the natural history museums across Switzerland, Basel’s is well maintained and well-stocked with curiosities, as well as bigger showpiece specimens that make it a great way to spend a couple of hours. There are exhibitions that guide you through all of the natural sciences and include fascinating rocks and minerals all the way to extinct flora and fauna that died out long ago.

Fittingly for a city devoted to the arts and culture, Basel is home to the Swiss Architecture Museum which in turn is focused on showcasing the best of contemporary art from Switzerland and beyond.

Satire and pastiches finds their home in Basel’s cartoon and caricature, the only museum in Switzerland devoted entirely to this art fun and humorous form. Be sure to pass through the museum shop and browse the cartoon books.

Nearby to Basel is Augusta Raurica, the site of the best preserved Roman theatre in the northern Alps. Every year Switzerland’s biggest Roman festival kicks off in August, complete with gladiator fighting and music using ancient instruments.

Head to the Marktplatz in the centre of Basel and you’ll be confronted with the 500-year-old Town Hall that dominates the square, in part because of its strikingly red hue. Within the building sits the canton’s government and you’ll see the city’s coat of arms in pride of place from in front of the building.

>> Catch the best of Town Hall on this tour in many different languages!

Basel’s landmark bridge across the Rhine first opened way back in 1226 and has been a symbol of the city ever since, as well as a historically important feature for trade in the country. Today it as a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, particularly to snap photos of it lit up at night.

>> Make sure to get the best view and photos on this tour!

The Spalentor, as it is also known, dates back to the 1400s when the city was defended by a string of fortifications. Through the Gate of Spalen flowed traffic from the important market of Alsace and today, you can climb the ramparts to take advantage of views across the city’s old town to the mountains beyond.

You should eat at Basel’s popular Markthalle at least once during your time in the city. It’s packed full of so many food stalls cooking up dishes from around the world that you’ll probably struggle deciding what to choose.

The biggest and best art exhibition in Europe is hosted by Basel every year. 291 art galleries showcase over 4,000 pieces each year in an event that brings the art world to Switzerland to admire the very best of the world’s contemporary art.

Learn the historic art of paper making at the Basel Paper Mill where you can also see old techniques like book-binding on fully functioning machines, or try your hand out at it.

One of Basel’s most beautiful parks on the outskirts of the city, the Merian Gärten is the place to go to for a spot of relaxing. Highlights include Europe’s largest collection of irises (over 1,500 species), an English garden and the not-to-be-missed rhododendron valley.

Spread across two of the city’s main squares in the old town, the Basel Christmas Market is one of the most beautiful in Switzerland as the city’s streets are turned into a glorious blaze of fairy lights and Christmas trees. The market opens in late November until late December.

>> Experience the magic of Christmas in Basel on this tour!

Walking through the Gate of Saint Alban and beneath its well-preserved tower takes you into the winding streets of the St. Alban district, the heart of Basel’s historic centre. The gate is part of the same fortifications as the Gate of Spalen, also dating back to the 1400s.