Basileia

May to September is the best time. Days are warm and the Rhine is a place to swim and relax. Art Basel, the large art fair, takes place in June and hotels are busy then. Fasnacht, the carnival, starts the Monday after Ash Wednesday and runs for 72 hours. Winter is cold and grey, but the Christmas market is one of the best in Switzerland.

• Basler Münster is the red sandstone cathedral above the Rhine. Climb a tower for views of the city and the river.
• Mittlere Brücke is the main bridge across the Rhine and links the old town with Kleinbasel.
• Rathaus is a red town hall on the market square. Look into the painted courtyard.
• Spalentor is a medieval city gate with a tiled roof.
• Kunstmuseum Basel Hauptbau has the oldest public art collection in the world, with works from the 15th century to today.
• Museum Tinguely shows moving machines by Jean Tinguely and is good for children.
• Zoologischer Garten Basel is a large zoo near the centre, known for its gorilla and rhino programmes.
• Rheinuferpromenade is a pleasant path along the water for walking and sunset views.

• See the carnival fountain, Fasnachts-Brunnen, a moving sculpture by Jean Tinguely.
• Visit Museum der Kulturen for world cultures.
• See contemporary art at Kunstmuseum Basel Neubau, in the new building.
• Visit Naturhistorisches Museum Basel for natural history.
• Float down the Rhine in a waterproof bag in summer. Locals do this daily.
• Go to the point where three countries meet at Dreiländereck.

• Freiburg in Germany is about 1 hour away by train and has a historic centre and a large cathedral.
• Colmar in France is about 1 hour away by train and has a small, colourful old town.
• Augusta Raurica, a large Roman site, lies about 20 minutes from Basel by train.

• By air: EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is on the French side of the border. A bus to the Swiss station in Basel takes about 20 minutes. Zurich Airport is also an option, about 1 hour by train.
• By train: Basel SBB is a main hub. Trains run to Zurich in about 1 hour, to Bern in about 1 hour and to Paris in about 3 hours. Check times on SBB.
• Basel also has a German station, Basel Badischer Bahnhof, for trains to Germany.

• The old town is easy to walk, and most sights are within a 20-minute walk of the station.
• Trams and buses cover the city. Buy tickets at machines or in an app before you ride.
• Hotel guests in Basel get a free local transport pass. Ask at check-in.
• Four small ferries cross the Rhine. They are pulled by the river current and cost little.

• A car is not needed in the city. Parking in the centre is limited and costly.
• The border with France and Germany is close, so crossing is easy. Check if a motorway sticker is needed in the neighbouring country.

Try Basler Läckerli, a spiced honey biscuit, and Basler Mehlsuppe, a flour soup eaten during carnival. Läckerli are sold all over the old town. Restaurants range from traditional to international.

Prices are high. Markets on Marktplatz have fresh local products.

• Basel is very safe.
• Watch your bags in crowded places, such as the station and trams.
• Tap water is safe to drink.
• Swimming in the Rhine is popular but the current is strong. Use a swim bag and stay close to the bank.

Basel started as a Roman and then a medieval town on the Rhine. Its university, founded in 1460, is the oldest in Switzerland. The city joined the Swiss Confederation in 1501.

The humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam lived and worked in Basel in the 16th century and is buried in the Basler Münster. In the 19th and 20th centuries the city grew as a centre for chemistry and pharma.

Quick practical facts for Switzerland at a glance: