Basel Holiday Guide

Basel Travel Information

Sitting proudly where the French, German and Swiss borders meet, Basel is the third largest city in Switzerland. Basel has almost 30 museums and an array of other attractions, it makes for an excellent travel destination. Just four or five hours from Paris and an hour away from Zurich, the city is certainly well situated.

Some of Basel's best museums include the oldest one in the country, Kunstmuseum. This historic building houses a wide range of fine art and features paintings by Gaugan, Klee, Van Gogh, Picasso and Chagall, to mention just a few. A 14th century Franciscan church is home to the Historisches Museum Barfüsserplatz, which displays many rare pieces of ecclesiastical art and 15th century tapestries.

Basel Tourist Attractions

There are many other historic buildings to visit within the city, including the Burgundian-style Rathaus on Marktplatz and Basel Cathedral, which was constructed first in 1019 but rebuilt in 1356 after being destroyed by a great earthquake. Decorated with some incredible frescos and shields of the ancient guildhall, it is a remarkable place to visit. Animal lovers will enjoy the Basler Zoologischer Garten - Basel Zoo - which is known for breeding endangered animals in captivity.

Outside the city tourists can see an incredible collection of waterfalls, scenic valleys and medieval-type villages. Ancient architecture remains everywhere and the sleepy feel of the region makes visitors feel as though they have travelled back in time.

Gruyères, known for its excellent cheese, makes for a pleasant visit as does the walled university town of Fribourg. Directly outside the city are over 600 miles of marked trails, known as wanderwegs, and the intrepid explorer can walk for miles taking in the breathtaking scenery that makes Basel such a popular tourist destination.

Although Basel is known to be a safe city, it is advisable that travellers take out adequate insurance.