Basel, Switzerland

Basel sits at the tri-border corner where Switzerland, France, and Germany converge, with the Rhine running straight through an old town packed with art museums and pharmaceutical company headquarters. Its airport, EuroAirport, is jointly operated by Switzerland and France and sits just across the border.

Top attractions

• •The Kunstmuseum Basel, one of the oldest public art collections in the world
• •Basel Münster and the Rhine promenade beneath it
• •A traditional Rhine float — locals swim or drift downriver with a waterproof bag in summer
• •The Marktplatz and its red sandstone Rathaus (town hall)
• •Art Basel in June, or the Basel Fasnacht carnival in late February or March

Practical tips

• •Bus line 50 runs every 7–10 minutes from EuroAirport directly to Basel SBB train station in about 20 minutes.
• •EuroAirport has separate French and Swiss exits from the same terminal — leaving through the wrong one affects customs and onward transport, so follow signage carefully.
• •Book accommodation many months ahead if visiting during Art Basel (June) or Fasnacht (February/March), both of which push prices and demand sharply higher.

Frequently asked questions