Switzerland’s third largest city, Basel flies happily under the mass tourism radar, overlooked by visitors in favor of headline cities like Zurich. Yet this unsung city is an interesting one, not least given its River Rhine setting near France and Germany. It’s also the hometown of tennis champion Roger Federer, host of the Art Basel fair, and home to around 40 museums—Basel is a beast when it comes to cultural curiosities. It’s big on charm, too, with a medieval old town and welcoming locals, instead of tourist crowds.
The weather in Basel is mild year-round, yet summer is a great time to visit for River Rhine swimming and sipping drinks by waterside buvettes (taprooms). A date for art-lovers’ diaries is the Art Basel fair in June, when creative types from around the world descend on the city for three days. There’s also Basel Fasnacht, which is believed to be Switzerland’s biggest carnival. The craziness starts on the Monday after Ash Wednesday each year and lasts for three days.
Central Basel is walkable, but when you want to save your legs, the best way to see the city is by tram. Most trams pass through Barfüsserplatz in the old town, and there’s a wide choice of ticket options if you’re not already covered with a Swiss Travel Pass. Cross the River Rhine on one of the city’s four wooden cable ferries, which are powered by the river’s natural currents.
If your budget doesn’t stretch to a stay in the city’s 5-star Hotel Les Trois Rois, set aside some francs and join Basel’s glitterati for a drink in the bar instead. This chandelier-bedecked Basel institution dazzles with both its opulence and its history; it’s one of Europe’s oldest and grandest hotels, having welcomed the likes of Napoleon, Wagner, and Picasso over time. As you’d expect, the cocktails are pricey—yet worth it for something to brag about.
