Basel is the second largest city in the Confederation by size and population (about 180,000 inhabitants), the ancient Basel lies on the banks of the Rhine, right at the point where the river, turning towards Northern Europe, makes a sharp bend and where Switzerland, France, and Germany meet. The result is a kind of cosmopolitan island, wedged between the Jura and the Black Forest, which has always drawn strength and character from multiculturalism.
Basel, in addition to being the capital of the eponymous half-canton (Basel Stadt), is a major industrial and commercial hub, where much is invested in ideas, creativity, and experimentation, as also demonstrated by Art Basel, the most important contemporary art fair in Europe, which every year, in the second half of June, brings artists, critics, dealers, and collectors from all over the world to the immense pavilions of the Messe, the fair.
Basel places of interest
1 Walk along the Rhine
What makes Basel attractive and very popular is also the Rheinweg, the elegant promenade along the river, which features elegant historic buildings and a lively nightlife. The fact that its inhabitants unmistakably feel like river people is also demonstrated by a singular fact: despite the dense series of road transport means, shuttling from one part of the city to another across the numerous bridges, Baslers continue to prefer the characteristic fahre, small wooden motorless ferries that silently skim the water using favorable currents. Among the things to do in Basel, there is surely the Rhine cruise that allows admiring the city stretching along the two banks of the river (from March to October).
2 Grosse Basel and Klein Basel
The Rhine crosses the city and divides it into two distinct parts: Grosse Basel, the Greater Basel, on the western bank, and Klein Basel, the Lesser Basel, on the eastern one. The former, exuberant and very well preserved, is full of monuments, starting with the Munster, the Romanesque-Gothic cathedral in red sandstone; fountains; medieval buildings; Gothic houses, like those around Andreasplatz; 17th-century and rococo mansions, like the Stadthaus or the Pharmacy Museum; taverns, hotels, and restaurants. The latter, Klein Basel, is decidedly less attractive, full of traffic, dotted with large apartment buildings and corporate offices, wide avenues like Clarasgraben and Rebgasse, flanked by a myriad of shops and department stores.
3 Basel Cathedral: Münster
The Basel Cathedral, Münster, is among the tourist attractions of Basel. In a prominent position, the ancient bishop’s seat stands tall on the Rhine and radiates its presence throughout the region. The Reformed Temple is a living monument of Romanesque and Gothic architecture (1019-1500): built in red sandstone, it boasts a rich historical tradition as well as exceptional musical and sacred vitality.
4 Basel Zoo
The Basel Zoo dates back to 1874, the year of its inauguration. It is also called “Zolli” and hosts a large number of local and exotic animals. With its charming park-like area and carefully arranged enclosures, a visit to Basel Zoo is always worthwhile. There are about 600 different species of animals in an eleven-hectare park with exotic flora in the heart of the city.
5 Kunstmuseum Basel: contemporary art museum
The Kunstmuseum Basel and the Basel contemporary art museum collect works of contemporary art. The opening of the underground passage connecting the main building with the new extension, designed by Basel architects Christ & Gantenbein, has allowed greater exhibition space. The main building on St-Alban-Graben enjoys works dating from the 15th century to 1960. In the new building are housed temporary exhibitions and works created between 1960 and 1990. The Kunstmuseum Basel hosts one of the oldest public art collections and the largest Holbein collection in the world. All three buildings of the Kunstmuseum Basel have a total exhibition space of 10,000 square meters.
6 Museum of Cultures
The Museum of Cultures Basel is currently among the most important ethnographic museums in Europe. The collection, with over 300,000 pieces, is impressive and world-renowned. Over generations, the collection has focused on precious objects from Europe, Africa, America, Oceania, and Asia. Admission to the exhibitions is free with the Upper Rhine Museum Pass.
7 Beyeler Foundation
The Beyeler Foundation is in Riehen and is the place to discover the 250 masterpieces of Hildy and Ernst Beyeler, to admire the collections of classical modern works or sensational exhibitions. In the modern 127-meter-long building designed by architect Renzo Piano, you can admire the most diverse art collections and special exhibitions. Part of the ground floor is reserved for exceptional temporary exhibitions, such as those on Marlene Dumas, Gerhard Richter, or Ferdinand Hodler. These exhibitions are accompanied by a dense calendar of events including readings, debates, and guided tours.
8 Tinguely Museum
The Tinguely Museum Basel houses the largest collection in the world of works by Jean Tinguely. Temporary exhibitions, often interactive, are dedicated to his predecessors, contemporaries, or the latest trends. The museum’s permanent exhibition dedicated to him offers a broad cross-section of forty years of artistic activity. The temporary exhibitions, inspired by Tinguely‘s ideas, shed light on a wide range of 20th and 21st-century artists, from his stated models like Marcel Duchamp and Kurt Schwitters to contemporaries like Arman, Niki de Saint Phalle, and Yves Klein, as well as addressing themes and trends of today. A work of art in its own right is the building housing the museum, designed by famed architect Mario Botta. Admission to exhibitions is free with the Upper Rhine Museum Pass.
