About Basel

Basel, located in northern Switzerland on the banks of the river Rhine, can look back on more than 2000 years of history, which is still very much present today and forms an exciting contrast to the modern face of the city.

Some of Basel’s must-see places of interest include the Basel Cathedral (Münster), built 800 years ago in the Romantic and Gothic styles; the Pfalz viewing terrace behind the Cathedral, with its unique views of the Mittlere Brücke and Kleinbasel on the other side of the Rhine; and the Town Hall by the Marktplatz, home to the Basel government and parliament. The Spalenberg and Spalentor are also worth seeing. The city also hosts countless festive events in the run-up to Christmas: from Advent concerts and Christmas markets to special exhibitions, Basler Weihnacht offers something for everyone. Urban food courts, cosy traditional pubs and excellent gourmet restaurants: in Basel, you can enjoy a variety of top-quality cuisine.Traditional regional and Swiss specialities, locally produced food and drink and the latest food trends… Basel has a little bit of everything!

When shopping in Basel, it’s best to start your tour in the Old Town. From the busy Freie Strasse to the Marktplatz, from Spalenberg with its small boutiques and fine shops, such as the world-famous Johann Wanner Christmas House, to Manor, the city’s oldest department store, you’ll find everything within just a short distance in the centre. There are also many beautiful things to be found in the small shops of trendy districts such as St. Johanns-Vorstadt or on Feldbergstrasse.

The city of Basel and the surrounding area has an excellent public transport network that is known for its punctuality, short waiting times and modern vehicles. Basel’s green and yellow trams have become an inseparable part of the cityscape. Together with the bus network, these ensure the city’s inhabitants and visitors alike can move themselves quickly and comfortably around the city and even across the border into the neighbouring countries of France and Germany. As a hotel guest in the city, you may also profit from the BaselCard, which allows you to use the public transport network for the entire duration of your stay. The BaselCard is included with every hotel stay. Thanks to its manageable size, the city of Basel is also easy to explore on foot and you can find your way around using the grey information boards at key locations of the city centre. If winter sports are your thing and you don’t mind venturing a little further afield, there are several ski resorts within an hour’s drive of Basel, including Grindelwald, Andermatt and Chateau d’Oex. For history lovers, the Roman ruins of Augusta Raurica are an easy day trip from the city.