Destination guides > Europe > Switzerland > Basel (Bâle)
Basel (Bâle)
Cosmopolitain Basel (Bâle in French) is Switzerland's second-largest city. This major commerical centre straddles the border with France and German and it boasts a pretty oil town with 16th century buildings and cobblestone streets.
Practical information
Basel Tourismus
Schifflände 5, Basel
Tel (061) 268 68 68
Website www.basel.com
Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm, Sat 10am-4pm
Coming & going
basel's location near the border with France and Germany make this an easy place to make transport connections.
AIR
EuroAirport (tel (061) 267 9025) handles a lot of regional flights but it isn't very popular with low-cost airlines favoured by backpackers. Bus 50 run between the airport and the city centre.
BUS & TRAIN
Basel has three main train stations. Both the SBB and SNCF stations are in the same complex on Centralbahnstraße. The SBB station has trains to destinations in Switzerland and the SNCF station has trains to France. The DB station is about 1km north of the Rhine and has trains to destinations in Germany. Tram 2 runs between the DB station and the SBB/SNCF stations.
Buses to destinations in France, Germany and Switzerland depart from outside the respective train stations.
Local transport
BVB operate Basel's efficient public transport system, which is made up of trams, buses and ferries.
Buses and trams run between 6am and midnight and cost SFR 1.90 for a short trip, SFR 3 for a one zone ticket and SFR 3.80 for a two-zone ticket. Day passes that allow unlimited travel in the three most central zones (zones 10, 11 and 12) cost SFR 8 or SFR 25 for a three-day pass.
There are four ferries that cross the Rhine. Ferries operate 9am-7pm in summer and 11am-5pm in winter.
Basel BVB transport network map
Hostel accommodation
Basel Backpack
Dornacherstrasse 192, 4053 Basel
Tram 15 (stop: Tellplatz), 16 (stop: Bruderholzstrasse)
Tel (061) 333 00 37
Basel City Youth Hostel
Pfeffingerstrasse 8, 4053 Basel
Tel (061) 365 99 60
Basel St Alban Youth Hostel
St. Alban-Kirchrain 10, 4052 Basel
Tram 2 (stop: Kunstmuseum)
Tel (061) 272 05 72
YMCA Hostel Basel
Gempenstrasse 64, Basel
Tel (061) 361 73 09
Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
If you're planning on visiting more than a couple of museums, you may consider buying a MuseumsPass. The pass is good for free admission to 150 museums in the Upper Rhine region, which includes cities in neighbouring France and Germany. The pass costs SFR 45 for 48 hours or SFR 114 for one year.
Another option is the Swiss Museums Pass, which costs SFR 144 and gives you free admission to over 440 Swiss museums for one year.
Baslermünster
Basel's medieval cathedral dominates the old town. The tower provides an excellent vantage point with scenic views of Basel and the Black Forest.
Marktplatz, Basel
Website www.baslermuenster.ch
Admission cathedral free; tower SFR 3
Open Easter-15 Oct Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 1pm-5pm; 16 Oct-Easter Mon-Sat 11am-4pm, Sun 2pm-4pm
Fondation Beyeler
This private art collection exhibits most of the major names of the 20th century including Cézanne, Degas, Van Gogh, Liechtenstein, Matisse, Miro, Monet, Picasso, Rodin and Warhol.
Baselstraße 101, Basel
Tram 6
Tel (061) 645 97 00
Website www.beyeler.com
Admission SFR 23 (students SFR 12); Mon & Wed 5pm-8pm SFR 16 (students SFR 8)
Open Mon-Tue 10am-6pm, Wed 10am-8pm, Thu-Sun 10am-6pm
Kunstmuseum
Basel's leading art museum is home to an extensive art collection that ranges from the old masters to more modern art including the Picasso collection.
St Alban-Graban 16, CH-4010 Basel
Tram 1, 2, 15
Tel (061) 206 62 62
Website www.kunstmuseumbasel.ch
Admission SFR 12, students under 25 years SFR 5; admission price also includes entry to Museum für Gegenwartskunst
Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm
Museum für Gegenwartskunst
This modern art museum was the first in the world to devote itself exclusively to art from the 1960s and later. Much of the museum is used for temporary exhibits.
St Alban-Rheinweg 60, Basel
Tram 2, 15
Tel (061) 272 81 83
Website www.kunstmuseumbasel.ch
Admission SFR 12, students under 25 years SFR 5; admission price also includes entry to Kuntsmuseum
Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm
Museum Jean Tinguely
This museum is dedicated to the works of Jean Tinguely, the Swiss sculptor best known for his moving "machine sculptures".
Paul Sacher-Anlage 1, Basel. Bus 31, 36
Tel (061) 681 93 20
Website www.tinguely.ch
Admission SFR 15, students SFR 10
Open Tue-Sun 11am-7pm
Papiermühle
This museum for paper, writing and printing features a medieval paper mill plus a number of interactive exhibits where you can make your own paper.
St Alban-Tal 37, Basel
Tram 2, 15
Tel (061) 272 9652
Website www.papiermuseum.ch
Admission SFR 12
Open Tue-Sun 2pm-5pm
Rathaus
Basel's city hall dates from the 1500s and is noted for the green and gold statues on its façade.
Marktplatz, Basel
Tram 3, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17
Zoologischer Garten (Zoo)
Basel has an excellent zoo that is renowned for its work breeding endangered species. The zoo is in a lovely setting with gardens and picnic spots.
Binningerstraße 40, Basel
Tram 1, 2, 8, 10, 17
Tel (061) 295 35 35
Website www.zoobasel.ch
Admission SFR 18
Open Jan-Feb 8am-5.30pm daily; Mar-Apr 8am-6pm daily; May-Aug 8am-6.30pm daily; Sep-Oct 8am-6pm daily; Nov-Dec 8am-5.30pm daily
