Basel : The City of Art Lovers and Switzerland’s Key Trade and Transport Capital

Basel is strategically located in the French, German and Swiss junction borders. This feature adds to its appeal especially to sightseeing tourists that enjoy the architecture of its iconic buildings, art Basel festival, epic museums and galleries. Visitors would easily spend their days appreciating the cobblestoned streets of the Altstadt in Greater Basel, and crossing the Mittlere Brucke to Little Basel, to enjoy the riverside al fresco dining. Below are some of the best-sampled sightseeing spots for visitors.

1. Basel Paper Mill Museum

Basel Paper Mill Museum is one of the distinctive museums that you would not normally find in other countries. Visitors will enjoy a different feel when in this museum and it would spark the interest of kids too. The museum offers hands-on activities, where visitors would make their own paper and understand the history and every detail it takes to make paper. There is a beautiful restaurant on the premises that would end your sightseeing tour and make you feel relaxed and encouraged to do more touring.

2. Rheinfahre

Rheinfahre is a great Basel transport feature that brings a unique taste to tourists and locals everyday transport in Basel. It is a unique way of crossing the Rhine as the ferry uses the river flow while tethering itself to an overhead cable. Instead of using the bridge one time to explore the lovely city, sightseeing visitors can easily choose the Rheinfahre. With a Basel card, sightseeing visitors get a one-way free trip. The trip on the ferry lasts a couple of minutes and the views from the ferry are very magical and memorable.

3. Fine Arts Museum (Kunstmuseum)

Fine Arts Museum is an Art Museum in the heart of Basel that is divided into three buildings. The main building, the new building and the contemporary building. With a Basel card, sightseeing tourists would be charged half the price for admission. There is something for everyone in this museum ranging from older to modern art, Van Gogh and Monet. The architecture of the building is incredible and especially the interior of the new building is rigorously breath-taking. Visitors on a sightseeing visit will enjoy the extraordinary exhibit of haunted landscapes, huge paintings, and lots of art from Renaissance to contemporary. There is also a stylish and convenient café that one relaxes on as they continue with the tour of the museum.

4. Basel Munster

Basel Munster is a stunning and tranquil church that has striking architecture details. The church is ancient and has the perfect viewing spots for sightseeing travellers. From the church, visitors can enjoy the view of the Rhine River, the Klein Basel district, the black forest and the Vosges. The history of the church is easily available to tourists and creates a memorable impression to them. Visitors can climb to the tower on the narrow path platform and enjoy the space, the clock and its beautiful views.

5. Altstadt- Spaziergänge durch Basel

Altstadt- Spaziergange durch Basel is a very beautifully designed and colourful landmark in Basel. With the history of Basel at par, tourists walking around the narrow streets of the city will experience the wonderful and intriguing hidden gems that sightseeing visitors will find from as early as the 15th century. Visitors will also notice amazing gargoyles, hidden cafes and restaurants, and Basel designer shops that have kept their charm and allure. Travellers can easily spend the whole day strolling around and have their breakfast, lunch and dinner at the local cafes as they learn of the Swiss culture.

6. Rathaus

Rathaus is a colourful and insightful landmark in the city of Basel that is worth a stopover for visitors. Its red color is alluring, architecture is inspiring and with detailed and aesthetic stone carvings. There are stunning murals on the walls from the 15th century which will mesmerize sightseeing tourists. Rathaus can be easily accessed with a tram or a bus to Basel city and spotted a walking distance away from the stop. A tour guide will be imperative in helping visitors understand and learn more about the history of the building and its use to date.

7. Tierpark Lange Erlen

Tierpark Lange Erlen is a nature park and zoo that is perfect for an outdoor stroll, and sightseeing. The entry to the park is free and visitors would enjoy views of the forested areas, picnic sites, pond, barbeque areas and the wonderful large number of domesticated and exotic animals and birds at the zoo. The chirping of the cranes and a large number of deer, monkey, lynx, hens, pygmy goats, and wisent will make your sightseeing experience at the zoo more memorable. The restaurant and café in the vicinity serve amazing local and international delicacies that create a more deserving visiting spot for tourists.

8. Rheinufer Basel

Rheinufer is a stunning promenade for all seasons. Rheinufer is a great place to go for a swim in the river or enjoy the delicacies and drinks on the local bars and restaurants in the vicinity. Visitors can take a stroll by the riverside and enjoy the stunning views of the river activities and the sunset. Travellers can also hire a boat tour in the river for sightseeing of the city. it is famous in the summer due to swimming and boating activities, whereas during the winter, there are Christmas lights that make the place look magical and a great sightseeing spot.

9. Zoo Basel

Zoo Basel is an excellent zoo, filled with both wild and exotic animals, beautiful for a sightseeing adventure. It is very well organized and spaced, hence little crowding experienced from visitors. School children and volunteers also fill the park on some weekends as they assist in taking care and conservation of the animals. Visitors will enjoy viewing monkeys, African elephants, penguin parade in the morning, lions, aviary and many more wildlife. With a Basel card, tourists get a 50 % discount on admission fee to the zoo, as they would thereafter enjoy shopping on the gift shops and relax with food and drinks at the restaurant in the zoo.

10. Tinguely Brunnen

Tinguely Brunnen is a water fountain landmark in Basel that offers a great stop over for a sightseeing excursion of the city. Jean Tinguely made sculptures out of junk. The fountain is centrally located between the theatre hall and main concert hall, hence easily pinpointed by tourists. It is a rectangular basin that has quite a number of Tinguely’s work. The sculptures move and spray water which is very adorable for visitors to look at. It has beautifully designed water fountains whose sound feels so divine listening to, especially in the evenings.

◎ Closing

Basel is a beautiful city with many sightseeing spots well suited for tourists. Its magnificent transport, beautiful architecture, unique museums, amazing nature parks, landmarks and zoo are among some of the places tourists will enjoy visiting, and hence, should definitely make a point to visit. Major tours are also available for adventure specific tourists. Lastly, visitors should get their Basel cards when visiting the city, since they would visit a number of sightseeing sites for half price or for free.

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Basel : The City of Art Lovers and Switzerland’s Key Trade and Transport Capital