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SWITZERLAND – BASEL CITY
Basel is Switzerland's second-largest city, and its residents have nurtured a tradition of scholarship and art since the Renaissance. The fact that Basel has more than two-dozen museums for a population of 200,000 makes it clear that this is no ordinary provincial town.
Basel's location is also unique. The city lies just inside Switzerland's borders with France and Germany. In fact, Basel airport is on French soil and is shared with Mulhouse, France and the German city of Freiburg im Breisgau. Basel is the terminus for Rhine River cruises from Holland and Germany, and it's a major Swiss railroad gateway for trains from Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt, and other European cities.
Basel is a central hub for transport routes. The city is the gateway to Switzerland for transit routes connecting northern and central Europe with the Alpine region and Italy. This central position in the European transport network is of vital importance for Basel as a business location.
Basel offers an immensely wide choice of places of interest, from museums to churches, modern architecture, and art in public places.
Basel is best explored on foot. That is particularly true of Basel old town, where many of the places of interest are very near one another. As one strolls through the streets and lanes of Basel, there is many a fountain on whose edge one can pause and rest, or a bench to sit on while enjoying at leisure a view of old houses, quiet corners, and a charming townscape.
The Tourist Information Service in Basel is at your disposal for inquiries and information about Basel and the region. This office is located in the Stadtcasino, at the Barfüsserplatz 4051 Basel
Phone +41 (0) 61 268 68 68
Fax +41 (0) 61 268 68 70
opening hours:
Mon-Fri 8.30 a.m. – 6.30 p.m.
Sat 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sun and public holidays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Basel Card is a visitor's special. Visitors to Basel can buy this to benefit from various services and save up to 50% at museums and the zoo, in restaurants, hiring a car, shopping, at cultural events, and so on.
Fans of opera, ballet and drama will be spoiled beyond all measure in Basel. The stages of the Basel Theatre and the Schauspielhaus offer a very wide-ranging repertoire. In addition to the well-established theatres, the lively productions staged by numerous small playhouses, amateur groups, and the well-known Musical Theatre, are greeted with enthusiasm by their devoted audiences.
Historical buildings in Basel include the Spalentor, the 14th century Historisches Museum Barfusserplatz and the Augusta Raurica. Other attractions include galleries and museums in Basel for those who want to learn about the city's past and some of the most popular are the Natural History Museum, The History Museum and the Swiss Museum of World Cultures. Over the past few years the standard and diversity of restaurants in Basel has greatly increased and you can now find a broad choice of international cuisine. Just about all of the hotels in Basel are well situated because of the good space, and you will find a good selection of hotels to suit all budgets.
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