Login
Facebook
YouTube
WhatsApp
Twitter
Basel, located in the northwestern part of Switzerland, is situated on the Rhine River. It also shares the borders of France and Germany. It is one of the most popular cities in Switzerland, famous for its beautiful river views and various collections of museums. With its beautiful buildings from the 16th-century renowned architecture, there are many things to do in Basel to explore the history and culture of this place.
Top 10 Things To Do In Basel
Here are a few things to do in Basel for an amazing trip.
1. Explore The Basel Zoo
Photo: Lucasuvu / Wikimedia Commons
The Basel Zoo, also known as Zoologischer Garten Basel, is the largest and the oldest in Switzerland. It is the most visited place in this city with more than 500 animal species from all the continents. There are various exhibits inside the zoo, like the African aquarium exhibit, the Australian exhibit, the birdhouse, the monkey exhibit, and a few more. There are various breeding programs conducted in the zoo for various endangered species. This is who is completely surrounded by the city with much of the local population observed.
Location: Zoo Basel, Binningerstrasse, Basel, Switzerland
Timings: 8 AM – 5:30 PM
2. Visit The Basel Minster
Photo: Taxiarchos228 aka Wladyslaw / Wikimedia Commons
Basel Minster is one of the most famous places to visit. It is a church that was built between 1019 and 1500. This place is famous for its amazing architecture of red sandstone walls, colourful roof tiles and twin buildings built in the romantic and Gothic styles. There are many fascinating tales about the construction of the tomb, the chancel, the Gallus Gate and various other constructions over several centuries. The terraces of the cathedral offer a beautiful view of the Rhine River, which is one of the most popular viewpoints in the city.
Location: Basler Münster, Münsterpl. 9, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Timings: 11 AM – 4 PM, 11:30 AM – 4 PM (on Sundays)
3. Take A Tour Around The Kunstmuseum
Photo: Taxiarchos228 / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Kunstmuseum is one of the oldest public art collection museums in the world and also the most important museum of art in Switzerland. This museum has a collection of works from the early 16th century. It has a collection of artworks of master artists. The original museum has artworks from the 15th century to 1950. The upper floor of the new building was constructed as temporary exhibitions and the middle floor, which is also a part of the ground floor, has permanent collections of artworks.
Location: Kunstmuseum Basel, St. Alban-Graben 16, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Timings: 10 AM – 6 PM ( closed on Mondays)
4. Explore The Paper Mill
Photo: Gryffindor / Wikimedia Commons
Basel paper mill, which has also been known as the Swiss Museum for Paper Writing and Printing, is dedicated to the history and techniques of paper making throughout the years. This museum also displays the art of book printing and writing in general. There are various combinations and techniques of dipping, paper printing and bookbinding. This museum is a restored building that began 500 years ago, and is a heritage site of national significance.
Location: Basler Papiermühle – Schweizerisches Museum für Papier, Schrift und Druck, St. Alban-Tal 37, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Timings: 11 AM – 5 PM (closed on Mondays)
5. Relax At Merion Gardens
Photo: Paradise Chronicle / Wikimedia Commons
Merian Gardens is a beautiful historical park and botanical garden that is located on the outskirts of the city where many people visit this place for relaxing. This garden has a unique variety of plants from various countries cultivated here. The total area of the park is 18 hectares with Europe’s largest collection of irises and more than 1500 historic species of vegetation. With its amazing architecture, manor houses and gardens, it is the best place to relax and have a beautiful view of the English Garden.
Location: Merian Gardens, Vorder Brüglingen 5, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Timings: 8 AM – 6 PM
6. Take A Tour Of Middle Bridge
Photo: Valo139 / Wikimedia Commons
Middle Bridge is the oldest historic bridge across the Rhine River that acts as a boundary between the high Rhine and the upper Rhine sections. It is believed that this bridge was built in 1223. Later this brain went through many alterations after 2002. It is an amazing experience to take a tour over this bridge because it offers the site of the amazing architecture of the city and the beautiful views of the Rhine River. This bridge is also known as one of the most popular places in the city, with only public transportation being allowed.
Location: Mittlere Brücke, 4000 Basel, Switzerland
Timings: 24*7
7. Explore The Basel Historical Museum
Photo: Stefan-Xp / Wikimedia Commons
The Basel Historical Museum is a must-visit place, which is one of the largest and most important museums in Switzerland. This museum was opened in 1892 and is divided into three buildings within the city. The main part of the museum is located in the centre of the city. This place was once a hospital, school and warehouse in 1592. Later it turned into a historical museum exhibiting many handicraft traditions, cultures, objects, and many more from the past. There are really 50 exhibition rooms showcasing the living species and cultures during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Location: Basel Historical Museum – Barfüsserkirche, Barfüsserpl. 7, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM (closed on Mondays)
8. Shopping At Marktplatz
Photo: Tilman2007 / Wikimedia Commons
Marktplatz is one of the most popular market squares in the entire Basel city. It is an extremely busy market that is one of the brightest places near the city hall. This market has fresh local produce sold with most of them being organic items. Many of the Swiss specialities are available in this market, especially for tourists to try. There are many fruits, vegetables, flowers, honey, handicrafts, wine and many more stalls found at this market. This market is the busiest on Saturdays.
Location: Marktpl., 4001 Basel, Switzerland
Timings: 7 AM – 6 PM (closed on Sundays)
9. Explore The Streets Of Old Town
Photo: Matti Blume / Wikimedia Commons
Old Town is one of the most famous places in Basel that is known for its captivating, historic and cultural vibe. This area is famous for its mediaeval architecture buildings with narrow streets and alleys. A walk through the streets is an amazing experience that is also famous for its festivals and events happening frequently. Thousands of tourists visit this place worldwide, with many vibrant musicals and parades happening that show the cultural heritage. It is one of the best places to learn about the history and culture of Switzerland.
Location: Altstadt Grossbasel, Basel, Switzerland
10. Visit The Town Hall
Photo: GabrielleMerk / Wikimedia Commons
The Basel Town Hall is the seat of the Basel government and its parliament which is located in the middle of the Old Town. This is famous for its captivating architecture, which is completely built with a red facade. It is a 500-year-old building that still has a fragment of the work as well as some initial drawings. It is worth visiting this place because of its beautiful inner courtyard, arcade and tower, which is really amazing to look at. A short tour around this place gives knowledge about the political history and the current situation.
Location: Rathaus des Kantons Basel-Stadt, Marktpl. 9, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
Timings: 7 AM – 12 PM and 1 PM – 5 PM
There are many things to do in Basel. From taking a walk around the centuries-old buildings, visiting parks and churches and looking at the amazing collections of the museums, it is the best place to visit in Switzerland to get to know the rich culture, heritage and history of the country through various tales of these places. Plan a trip with TripXL and more about the things to see in Basel.
Cover Photo: Chris Boese / Unsplash
