Best Things To Do in Basel, Switzerland

Are you looking for what to do in Basel?

PLACES TO SEE

  • Altstadt (Old Town)
  • FondationBeyeler
  • Kunstmuseum
  • Museum Tinguely
  • ZoologischerGarten (Basel Zoo)
  • Rathaus
  • Munster (Basel Cathedral)
  • Historisches Museum Barfusserplatz
  • SpielzeugWelten Museum Basel (Doll house museum)
  • Spalentor (City Gate)
  • Basel Paper Mill Museum (Basler Papiermuhle)

Other Attractions:

  • Museum of Ethnology (Museum der Kulturen Basel)
  • Vitra Design Museum
  • Pharmazie-Historisches Museum
  • Tierpark Lange Erlen
  • Fasnacht-Brunnen (Tinguely Fountain)
  • Music Museum of the Basel History Museum (Musikmuseum)
  • Naturhistorisches Museum

Below we have a list of things to do in Basel and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Basel getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Basel with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Basel

Here is the list of things to do in Basel and tourist attractions in city.

  1. Basel Zoo

    Zoo

    The Basel Zoo is renowned not only for its repertoire of animals, but also for the breeding program where they breed endangered species in captivity. Spanning almost 17 hectares, the Basel Zoo is a fun filled trip to take as a family. With over 600 species of animals, the Basel Zoo has been dubbed as one of the most kid friendly zoos in all of Europe and is a definite thing to do in Basel. Amon...Read more
  2. The Cathedral Munster

    4.6 (1229 Votes)
    The Cathedral Munster

    Religious Site, View Point, Cathedral

    The Basel Cathedral is a popular tourist attraction. Standing tall overlooking the Rhine, it doesn’t take much to deduce the importance of this red sandstone walled twin towered Cathedral. Rebuilt after an earthquake, the restored Munster followed the architectural guidelines of Gothic and Romanesque architecture. The interiors are richly embellished, depicting prophets and virgins. The C...Read more
  3. Kunst Museum

    4.6 (1216 Votes)
    Kunst Museum

    Museum, History Museum

    Basel is no strangers to museums! Home of the oldest museum of Switzerland, the Kunstmuseum’s exhibits are divided into two time frames- the 1400-1600 and 1800 to the present. A not-so-consolidated time capsule, everything you need to know about art through the ages can be found within these walls. The Kunstmuseum boasts of the finest collection in all of Europe- the Upper Rhine Valley co...Read more
  4. Rathaus

    Historical Site

    The Rathaus or City Hall, dominated the Market Plaza with its red facade. Built in the 1501, the City Hall was built to symbolize the city inclusion in to the Swiss Confederate. The centre of City Hall is dedicated to a huge clock with prominent figures of the Lady Justice and Emperor Henry II. There are guided tours on Saturday for anyone who might be interested in knowing the historical signi...Read more
  5. Basel Paper Mill Museum

    4.6 (547 Votes)
    Basel Paper Mill Museum

    Museum, Arts And Crafts, Specialty Museum

    There are very few places left in the world, where you can see the process of how paper is made, in the very same place it used to be made during its glory days. What used to be a fully functional paper mill in the medieval times, has now been restored and transformed into the Basel Paper Mill Museum. Taking you back to a time when there were a dime a dozen paper mills, the Museum shows you how...Read more
  6. Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel

    Museum, Specialty Museum

    Imagine a museum full of toys! Not only is it guaranteed fun for the kids, but even the adults will relive their childhood with the sheer variety of toys on display here. The SpielzeugWelten Museum Basel is the biggest museum of its kind in Europe. Attracting doll admirers and teddy bear lovers from all over the world, spans four floors with over 6000 toys on display. The manner in which the to...Read more
  7. Historisches Museum Barfusser Platz

    Art Gallery, Museum, History Museum

    With its exteriors as impressive as the interiors, the History Museum leaves no stone unturned to wow you! Housed within a 14th century church, the Church of the Shoeless Friars, no places chronicles the city’s past as well as the History Museum. The primary exhibits here focus of Basel’s cathedral treasure troves- tapestries, wooden sculptures, a 16th century choir stall and eccles...Read more
  8. Spalentor

    4.5 (912 Votes)
    Spalentor

    Landmark

    Not many know this, but in the medieval days, Basel was a walled city complete with city gates. Three of these city gates still stand and the most beautiful and grandest one of them all is the Gate of Spalen, or the Spalentor. A historical landmark in the city, the city gate presents a piece of story of how Basel was in the 14th century. Don’t miss out on the Basel Coat of Arms that domin...Read more
  9. Museum Jean Tinguely Image
    ©
    The Museum Jean Tinguely, located in Basel, Switzerland, was started in 1996 by the Swiss artist Jean Tinguely himself. Tinguely was a prominent figure in the kinetic art movement and is best known for his playful and whimsical mechanical sculptures.The idea for the museum was first proposed by Tinguely in the 1980s, as he wanted to create a space to showcase his own works as well as those of h...Read more
  10. Koordinationsstelle Museen Image
    ©
    The Koordinationsstelle Museen Basel (KMB) was founded in 1991 by the Basel-Stadt Canton and the City of Basel. The purpose of the KMB is to coordinate and support the activities of the museums in Basel, Switzerland. The KMB works to promote the development of the museums in Basel, to coordinate their activities, and to provide advice and support to the museums. The KMB also works to promote th...Read more
  11. Verkehrsdrehscheibe Schweiz Image
    ©
    The Verkehrsdrehscheibe Schweiz (Swiss Transport Hub) museum in Basel, Switzerland was started in 2009 by the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and the Swiss Museum of Transport (Verkehrshaus der Schweiz). It was officially opened to the public on September 5, 2009.The museum was created as a joint project between the SBB and the Verkehrshaus der Schweiz to showcase the history and development of tr...Read more
  12. Thommys Texterei Image
    ©
    The museum Thommys Texterei, located in Basel, Switzerland, was started in 1982 by Thomas Schmid. Schmid was a textile artist and collector who wanted to share his passion for textiles with the public.The museum was originally located in Schmid's own home, but as the collection grew, it was moved to a larger space in the city center of Basel. The museum's name, "Thommys Texterei," is a combinat...Read more
  13. Oeffentliche Kunstsammlung Kunstmuseum Basel Image
    ©
    The Oeffentliche Kunstsammlung Kunstmuseum Basel, also known as the Public Art Collection of the Kunstmuseum Basel, was founded in 1661 by the city of Basel, Switzerland. It is one of the oldest public art collections in the world.The museum was originally established as a private collection by the city's government, with the goal of preserving and exhibiting important works of art for the publ...Read more
  14. Zolli Image
    ©
    The zoo Zolli, located in Basel, Switzerland, was started in 1874 by a group of local citizens who were interested in creating a public zoo for the city. The idea for the zoo was first proposed by a Swiss zoologist named Johann Rudolf Schmid, who believed that a zoo would not only provide entertainment for the public, but also serve as a center for education and conservation.The zoo was officia...Read more
  15. Ygessa AG Image
    ©
    The museum Ygessa AG, Basel, Switzerland was started in 2014 by Swiss art collector and entrepreneur, Ursula Hauser. Hauser had been collecting contemporary art for over 40 years and wanted to share her collection with the public. She also wanted to create a space for emerging artists to showcase their work.The museum is named after Hauser's late husband, Dr. h.c. Emil Georg Bührle, who was a ...Read more

Basel
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  • I'll be disembarking from a river cruise that ends in Basel and have three days of down time. what can I do in and around Basil. Please recommend a nice, centrally situated 4 star Hotel.

    Answer Report Abuse
    • All the best things to do in Basel are listed above on this very page. Basel Minster, Zoo Basel, Fine Arts Museum Basel, Museum Tinguely, and Basel Paper Mill are a few of the best places to visit in town. You can take a look at this extensive list of hotels in Basel and book the one that suits all your requirements.  

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