Visiting Basel: the 10 must-see attractions to visit this summer!

1 – Swimming in the Rhine!

We start with my all-time favorite and probably one of the most unusual ones: swimming in the Rhine.

Yes, in Basel you can swim in the Rhine and it is even a real local tradition!

As soon as the nice weather arrives, the locals gather on the riverbank and let themselves be carried along by the current. You can see everyone there: students, families, couples, colleagues, and even groups of friends.

Some come during their lunch break, others after work or simply on the weekend to enjoy the sun.

Swimmers generally use a «Wickelfisch», a waterproof bag in which they stow their belongings. Once closed, the bag can also serve as a buoy and allows you to be carried along by the current quietly.

I had the opportunity to try this experience during my stay and I really loved it. At first, I was very apprehensive about getting into the Rhine, but I quickly realized that it was actually very enjoyable.

At the time of my stay, I got into the water up to the Jean Tinguely Museum before being carried all the way to the Mittlere Brücke.

If you wish to try the experience, be sure to be cautious and research the conditions of the river before getting in the water.

You can buy your Wickelfisch in various stores in the city, including Migros.

2 – Getting lost in the old town of Basel

After this rather unusual first experience, let's get back to the big classics!

To start your exploration of Basel, I simply recommend that you wander through the old town and get lost in its small alleys.

This is exactly the kind of neighborhood I like to discover without necessarily following a specific route. The streets climb up and down, lead to small squares, and allow you to discover very beautiful old buildings.

Some of the houses date back to the 15th century and are particularly well preserved. I also really liked the contrast with the more modern buildings as you move away from the historic center a little.

Don’t miss Marktplatz, the market square. It is located right in front of the town hall, easily recognizable thanks to its beautiful red facade and its tower.

Feel free to enter the inner courtyard of the town hall. The mural paintings are remarkable and truly worth a look.

Then continue your walk to the Jean Tinguely fountain, one of the symbols of Basel.

The famous Swiss artist installed a work composed of animated sculptures in the middle of a basin in 1977. The children are obviously the first to be fascinated by the movements of the sculptures!

If you are looking for a place to have lunch or dinner, I also recommend the terrace of the Kunsthalle restaurant, right next to the fountain.

3 – Enjoy the view from the cathedral

To enjoy a beautiful view of Basel, head to the terrace located behind the cathedral.

The view of the city and the Rhine is particularly beautiful at the end of the day. If you are lucky enough to be there at sunset, it is even better!

And if you want to have a beautiful view of the cathedral itself, I recommend you go to the Wettstein Brücke bridge.

The perspective is completely different and allows for a beautiful view of the cathedral with the city and the Rhine in the background.

4 – Crossing the Mittlere Brücke bridge

During my weekend in Basel, I kept taking the Mittlere Brücke to get to both sides of the city.

On foot, by bike, on a Segway or by tram, this is an essential stop when visiting Basel.

But this bridge also has a truly historical importance. For several centuries, the Rhine has played an essential role in the development of the city, and the Mittlere Brücke was one of the main crossing points for crossing the river and developing trade.

Today, it is mainly a pleasant place to stroll around and enjoy the view.

Take a few minutes to stop in the middle of the bridge and look out over both sides of Basel. It is one of the best places to appreciate the role that the Rhine plays in the city.

5 – Visit the Beyeler Foundation

If you love modern and contemporary art, don’t miss the Beyeler Foundation.

Created by Ernst and Hildy Beyeler, the foundation gathers an important collection of modern and contemporary art works signed by great artists such as Monet, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Picasso and many others.

During my visit, I had the opportunity to see a temporary exhibition dedicated to Bacon and Giacometti.

But I also really liked the building designed by architect Renzo Piano. It is perfectly integrated into its natural surroundings and the garden really extends the visit of the museum.

For lunch, I also recommend the terrace of the Berower restaurant, located in front of the works on display in the garden.

If you have some time, you can also take advantage of your visit to the Beyeler Foundation to take a walk of about 5 kilometers to the Vitra Campus in Germany.

The route allows you to cross the border between Switzerland and Germany and discover various contemporary works of art installed along the way.

→ More information about the Beyeler Foundation

6 – Visit the Jean Tinguely Museum

After discovering Jean Tinguely’s fountain in the old town, why not discover the artist’s universe at the Jean Tinguely Museum?

The museum houses an important collection dedicated to the Swiss artist Jean Tinguely, known for his animated sculptures created using, among other things, recycled objects.

This is a museum that I particularly enjoyed because it really differs from more conventional museums.

There are works of all sizes: some are gigantic, others completely wacky, and several are even operated directly by the visitors.

You really immerse yourself in a completely different world, and all your senses are engaged.

This is also a visit that can be very enjoyable as a family. Children are usually fascinated by moving sculptures.

During my stay, the price was 18 CHF for an adult and 12 CHF for a child, with % 50 discounts thanks to the BaselCard.

→ Discover the activities and tours to do in Basel

7 – Enjoying the end of the day on the banks of the Rhine

After a day visiting the museums and the old town, I recommend you do something much simpler: settle down by the Rhine and watch Basel come to life.

It is often said that a city’s life develops around its river. In Basel, this is particularly true.

Students, families, couples, retirees and groups of friends find themselves at home as soon as the sunny days arrive.

Some take a bath, others listen to music, and some have a drink in one of the taverns installed on the riverbank or have a barbecue in the spaces designated for that purpose.

I really loved this friendly and festive atmosphere. It’s a side of Basel that I didn’t necessarily expect to discover and which I really enjoyed.

In the summer, the city also hosts numerous cultural events.

You can, for example, discover the summer bars located on the banks of the Rhine and enjoy the atmosphere at the end of the day.

At the time of my stay, I had developed a crush on the Blue Rhine and the bars in the alternative neighborhood of Klybeck.

→ Discover the summer bars of Basel

8 – Discover the alternative neighborhood of Klybeck

Complete change of decor!

After the old town and the art museums, go discover the alternative scene of Basel in the Klybeck area.

The neighborhood reminded me of some places I had been able to discover in London, Copenhagen or Amsterdam.

There are street art murals, atypical bars and restaurants, as well as many buildings built from wood or recycled materials.

In some places, it almost feels like you’re at a festival or in a Burning Man setting.

During the day, the neighborhood is rather quiet, except when there are cultural events. In the evening and on weekends, however, the atmosphere is much livelier.

If you are looking for a place to eat, I recommend the restaurant Landestelle Freiluft in particular.

I had very good food there and especially enjoyed the signature cocktails and the atmosphere.

Klybeck is truly one of the places that allowed me to discover another facet of Basel, much more creative and alternative.

9 – Make a stop at Messeplatz

Architecture enthusiasts will probably appreciate Messeplatz.

It is here that some of the major international events that have contributed to the reputation of Basel take place, notably the famous international art fairs.

The building of the Congress Center is particularly surprising and worth a look.

I found it interesting to discover this very contemporary architecture after spending time in the old city. Once again, the contrast between the different aspects of Basel is quite striking.

Even if you’re not in Basel during a major event, it’s worth taking a stroll through the neighborhood to discover this architecture.

10 – Crossing the Rhine with a boat

To conclude this selection, I recommend an easy but quite original experience: crossing the Rhine with one of the boats from Basel.

Several funiculars connect the two parts of the city, Grand-Bâle and Petit-Bâle.

The peculiarity of these boats is that they are connected to both banks by a cable and use the force of the Rhine current to move.

The crossing is quite quick, but it’s an original way to discover the city from the river and to experience a little local experience.

It’s the kind of small activity I like to add to a stay, because it doesn’t take much time but allows you to discover a city in a different way.