Basel, Switzerland, is a city of art and riverside beauty. The Rhine River flows through its heart, while the Kunstmuseum and Fondation Beyeler showcase world-class art collections. Basel’s old town features medieval charm, and its role as a cultural hub is celebrated in events like Art Basel. Basel’s vibrant mix of history, art, and modernity makes it a standout destination.
Neighbourhoods in and around Basel
Holidays by land and sea
Basel's medieval old town centres on the Marktplatz, where the red sandstone Rathaus (town hall) displays an ornate painted facade and gilded spire dating from 1504. The Basel Minster, built between the 12th and 15th centuries, combines late Romanesque and Gothic architecture with its distinctive red sandstone towers visible across the city. The cathedral's Pfalz terrace overlooks a sharp bend in the Rhine, offering views across to Kleinbasel and the river traffic below.
Basel's Kunstmuseum houses the oldest public art collection in the world. Grouped in three buildings, pieces range from the 15th to 21st-centuries and include works by Monet, van Gogh and Picasso.
Explore 45-acres of greenery in Merian Gärten. Seasonal highlights include rhododendrons in spring, and plums in autumn. There's an apiary, a water mill, and a café in the 18th-century Villa Merian.
See the Rhine on a motorless cable ferry between Kleinbasel and Grossbasel, powered by the current alone. Head to the old port after for a sunset drink; try the Gannet, a refurbished fireboat.
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