Tourist Attractions in Basel

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Basel

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Basel

Basel is situated on the banks of the Rhine in a picturesque valley between the Jura mountain ranges of the Black Forest. The city is a major industrial and commercial centre of Switzerland. Due to the proximity of the river, trade has always been brisk and intercultural relations have been actively developed here. In the XV century Pope Pius II founded the University of Basel, which made the city one of the important centres of European education.

The main attractions are located in the historical centre around the Market Square. There are convenient pedestrian routes for tourists. During a walk along them you can fully enjoy the beauty of the city’s architecture. Basel is also famous for an incredible number of interesting museums, where the treasures of world art are kept.

Top-20 Tourist Attractions in Basel

Basel Town Hall

 4.7/5

1107 reviews

The first town council building adorned Basel’s central square in 1290, but it failed after an earthquake in the mid-14th century. The new town hall was built in 1513 of red brick in the late Gothic style. Later an annex and a tower were added to the building. Today, the town hall houses the town hall and the authorities of the canton of Basel-Stadt. The walls of one of the halls were painted by the great artist Hans Holbein (the Younger).

Open time

Basel Minster

 4.6/5

7140 reviews

The history of the temple began in the 7th century with a small wooden church. In the 10th century, at the will of Bishop Adalbert II, a stone building was erected. Until 1500, the cathedral was destroyed and rebuilt several times, so only a small part of the Early Middle Ages architecture survived. In 1529, as a result of the victory of the supporters of the Reformation, the church was taken over by Protestants and since then it has been considered Calvinist.

Open time

Monday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 11:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Tinguely Fountain

 4.6/5

3909 reviews

The fountain was created by the sculptor Jean Tinguely, who created in an unusual “metamechanical” manner. The structure consists of several metal figures made from props that survived the fire at the local theatre. The fountain’s behaviour is as unexpected as the work of its creator. It can suddenly spray people passing by or release an impressive cloud of small drops into the atmosphere.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Museum Tinguely

 4.4/5

2170 reviews

Ж. Tinguely was a sculptor, an innovator and a passionate fan of kinetic art. The museum named after him displays amazing creations that the master created during his 40-year career. Almost all the exhibits move, creak, buzz and seem quite “alive”. Through his creations J. Tangley tried to draw people’s attention to the problem of humanisation of machines and mechanisation of man.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Fine Arts Museum Basel

 4.6/5

3774 reviews

The museum houses the largest collection of paintings in Switzerland. It is also famous for its outstanding Holbein collection. In addition to paintings by members of this famous family, the gallery features paintings by Van Gogh, Cézanne, Gauguin, Rembrandt and Rubens. On the first floor of the museum are works of art from the 20th century, including works by Dalí and Picasso.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Basel Paper Mill

 4.7/5

1321 reviews

Museum housed in the building of a former paper manufactory. The factory opened more than 500 years ago. At that time, it provided paper for almost all of Western Europe. During a walk through the museum, tourists will see carefully recreated interior, printing presses and other equipment. At some exhibits, visitors can try to print something themselves using medieval technology.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Toy Worlds Museum Basel

 4.5/5

1190 reviews

The Basel Toy Museum has unique collections of dolls, teddy bears (there are over 6,000 of them!), toy houses, furniture and crockery. Interesting exhibits come here from all over the world. The collection will be interesting for families with children and just fans of the “toy” theme. Young visitors can move around the halls on horses equipped with wheels.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Museum of Natural History Basel

 4.6/5

1998 reviews

The Natural Science Museum in Basel has an exhibition that tells the history of our planet. There are skeletons of fossil animals and samples of rare minerals. Visitors can see the geological past of the Earth, the diversity of its flora and fauna, and the mysteries of the processes taking place in the interior. There is much to learn about the formation of the Earth’s landscape and atmosphere.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig

 4.5/5

482 reviews

The collection is entirely devoted to the ancient art of the Mediterranean. Artefacts from Egyptian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman and Middle Eastern cultures are on display. A separate hall displays copies of famous antique sculptures. The museum was founded in 1961 on the funds of patron sponsors. Its funds were formed from donated private collections.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Basel Historical Museum - Barfuesserkirche

 4.5/5

651 reviews

Part of the meeting is located in the building of an 8th century Gothic church in the city centre – a picturesque architectural monument of the Early Middle Ages. The church underwent two major restorations in the 19th and 20th centuries. It houses precious objects from Basel Cathedral, collections of tapestries, coins, weapons and furniture. One of the museum’s branches is the House by the Cherry Orchard, a city palace built in the 18th century.

Open time

St. Paul's Church, Basel

 4.5/5

291 reviews

A temple on the banks of the Rhine, built in the Neo-Romanesque style at the beginning of the 20th century. The front façade of the building is decorated with a stained glass window in the shape of a rose, the triangular roof is crowned with a statue of the Archangel Michael with a defeated dragon. The tall bell tower houses a dial. Despite the fact that by European standards the temple is relatively recent, it looks like a real medieval church.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Offene Kirche Elisabethen

 4.4/5

341 reviews

The first Protestant church built in Switzerland after the victory of the Reformation. The church was built with funds bequeathed to Basel after his death by a wealthy citizen K. Merian. Merian. There was so much money that the authorities did not skimp on expensive materials. The grandiose spire of the church bell tower is larger than the tower of the cathedral.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 – 7:00 PM

Spalentor

 4.6/5

2341 reviews

In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the gate was part of the fortified wall that encircled Basel and served as a reliable defence against enemies. The structure consists of two round side towers and a central square tower with a pyramidal roof. The facade features figures of the Virgin Mary and the apostles, as well as lions clasping the city’s coat of arms in their paws. In past centuries, merchants from Alsace travelled to Basel through the Spalentor Gate.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Roche Tower (Building 1)

 4.5/5

116 reviews

An urban skyscraper in the form of an incomplete stepped pyramid, which dilutes Basel’s cityscape with its futuristic appearance. It impresses with its impressive size and unusual design. The tower houses the headquarters of the pharmaceutical company Roche Holding. The building also houses a museum and an observation deck that offers views of the surrounding area. Roche Tower is currently the tallest building in Switzerland.

Open time

Monday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Basel Bad Bf

 3.9/5

564 reviews

Basel’s city station. Interestingly, most of it is owned by Germany. The station is run by Deutsche Bahn AG, a German railway company. There was even a checkpoint inside the station before the borders between Switzerland and the European Union were cancelled. The platforms, apron and part of the tunnel are in German territory, while the shops in the lobby use the Swiss franc.

Open time

Basel SBB

 4.1/5

1581 reviews

Another “not quite Swiss railway station” in Basel. The fact is that part of the station is owned by France and operated by SNCF – French railways. Basel SBB serves all types of routes: commuter, domestic and international. The building was constructed in 1954. Fifty years later, it was completely renovated with a neo-Baroque façade. The SBB Basel is considered one of the busiest stations in Switzerland.

Open time

St. Jakob-Park

 4.4/5

6667 reviews

A modern arena that hosted matches of the European Football Championship in 2008. Also in 2016 it hosted the Europa League final between Liverpool and Sevilla. The stadium was built in 2001 to replace the old “Joggeli”. Especially for the start of the 2008 World Cup St. Jakob Park was reconstructed with more modern equipment. Today the stands can accommodate more than 38,000 people.

Open time

University of Basel Botanical Garden

 4.6/5

998 reviews

The Basel Garden is one of the oldest gardens in the world. It appeared at the end of the 16th century. At first it was planted exclusively with medicinal plants for research purposes, but later ornamental specimens began to appear. By the 19th century, the garden occupied a large area on Schönbeinstrasse. The garden offers guided tours for visitors and a guided walk for children.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Tierpark Lange Erlen

 4.6/5

4936 reviews

The first inhabitants of the zoo were a pair of black swans, which were brought to Basel from Australia in 1871. Until the 2000s, only birds and deer were present; after 2007, the variety of species was greatly expanded. “Lange Erlen” is part of an extensive recreation area that includes woodlands and meadows located within the city limits of Basel. Local underground springs provide residents with 50 per cent of their drinking water.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Zoo Basel

 4.5/5

14666 reviews

The city’s main zoo, located on 12 hectares of land in the centre of Basel. The animal enclosures are designed in such a way that the animals decide for themselves when to show themselves to people and when to hide from prying eyes. Because of this, visitors spend more time in the menagerie and really enjoy watching the four-legged animals. The Basel Zoo is considered one of the best in Europe.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM