Basel

Basel is a Rhine city at the French and German borders, and people go for its museums, its red sandstone Münster and Fasnacht, a carnival that starts at 4 a.m.

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Basel is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the Rhine, where the country meets France and Germany. It is the capital of the canton Basel-Stadt and Switzerland's third-largest city. Widely called the country's cultural capital, it has nearly 40 museums across the canton. The Kunstmuseum Basel is Switzerland's largest art museum, and it holds the world's oldest publicly accessible art collection, which the city bought in 1661.

The Münsterhügel, a hill above the Rhine, marks the historic high point of the city center and offers views over the river. The red sandstone Münster on it was begun in 1019, and the 16th-century Rathaus on the Marktplatz has painted murals on its walls. Basel's modern buildings include work by Herzog & de Meuron, Mario Botta and Renzo Piano, whose Fondation Beyeler is in Riehen. The Vitra campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany, is easy to reach from Basel. Art Basel, held each June, is the world's most important fair for modern and contemporary art.

Basel in five

Book a bed to receive the BaselCardA Basel hotel, hostel, B&B or apartment booking brings a BaselCard with free city buses and trams and 25% off museums, the zoo and Rhine boats. It does not cover France or the Vitra Design Museum in Germany.
Take bus 50 from EuroAirport to Basel SBBFrom the Swiss exit, bus 50 runs every 7 to 10 minutes from 4:30 to midnight and takes about 20 minutes. The airport has a French exit too, so follow the Swiss signs for Basel.
Swim the Rhine only in safe conditionsBasel Tourism says swim only when the water is above 18 °C and the level is under 650 cm, never alone, and keep clothes in a Wickelfisch bag. Avoid bridge pillars, where eddies form.
Reserve early for Fasnacht or Art BaselFasnacht runs 15 to 17 February 2027, opening with the 4:00 am Morgestraich. Art Basel is 17 to 20 June 2027. Rooms and BaselCard hotel rates follow the events.
Choose two museums, not fortyBasel Tourism counts about 40. The Kunstmuseum is in town, Museum Tinguely sits by the Rhine, and the Fondation Beyeler is in Riehen. Pair one art museum with one river walk per day.

Things to do in Basel

See all attractions in Basel

Sight · BaselAugusta Raurica

Museum · BaselMuseum Tinguely

Museum · BaselFondation Beyeler

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Need to know

Airport: EuroAirport (BSL), Swiss exit; bus 50 to Basel SBB in about 20 min
Getting there: Basel SBB has trains to Zurich, Bern, Lausanne and Lucerne
Getting around: Trams and buses, free with the BaselCard
Best base: Old town, or Kleinbasel for the Rhine
Time needed: 1–2 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low0°Cold, quiet
FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh9°Low1°Fasnacht
MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low3°Spring
AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh15°Low5°Mild
MayRain14 rainy daysHigh19°Low9°Mild, green
JuneRain13 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Art Basel, Rhine
JulyRain13 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh26°Low15°Warm, Rhine swims
AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Warm, Rhine swims
SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°Clear, calmer
OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Autumn color
NovemberRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low3°Fog, early dusk
DecemberRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°Christmas markets

Average daily high and low in Basel, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Feb Carnival of Basel, Chienbäse · Mar Carnival of Basel, Chienbäse

Right now in Basel

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 6°
Humidity: 60%
Wind: 10 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Basel

09:40 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today10°0°0%Monday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue10°2°0%Tuesday: Fog. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed9°2°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu11°0°0%Thursday: Fog. High 11°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri6°1°3%Friday: Fog. High 6°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 3%.
Sat11°2°7%Saturday: Fog. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 7%.
Sun13°2°26%Sunday: Rain. High 13°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 26%.

Updated 05:59 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8245 CHF

Amount

Converted to

CHF · Swiss Franc

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Basel

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

St. Jakobshalle · concertRush Fifty Something TourApr 1, 2027 · Rooms near the venue

Every year

Feb–MarCarnival of BaselBasel
Feb–MarLucerne carnivalLucerne, a day trip
Feb–MarCarnival in BernBern, a day trip
Feb–MarChienbäseBasel
Mar–AprFumettoLucerne, a day trip
AprSechseläutenZurich, a day trip
JulGurtenfestivalBern, a day trip
Aug–SepLucerne FestivalLucerne, a day trip

Day trips by train

Before you go to Basel

Hotels with the BaselCardFree transit comes with the bookingCheck availability

Museum and Rhine boat ticketsBook timed entry for special showsBook timed entry

eSIM for BaselRoaming across three bordersRead the guide

Insurance for BaselCover for river swims and fair tripsRead the guide

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Rules for Basel, checked

The BaselCard comes with Basel overnight bookings: free public transport in the zone, 25% off museums and the zoo; not valid to France or Vitra.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Rhine swimming is free; Basel Tourism advises it only above 18 °C and below a 650 cm water level, with a buddy, and never with inflatable aids.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
UK travel advice: EES is replacing the previous system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the Schengen area for short stays.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source

Plan around Basel

All of Switzerland

Cities, mountains, passes and entry rules

Read the guide Bern

The federal city, within an hour by direct train

Read the guide Zurich

Swiss airport city and museums

Read the guide Jura Mountains

Ridges, gorges and watchmaking towns southwest of Basel

Read the guide Colmar

Alsace across the French border

Read the guide Freiburg

German university town on the Black Forest edge

Read the guide EES at the border

What the new check means on short stays

Read the guide

Basel FAQ

How many days do you need in Basel?

One to two days. A day covers the Münster, the old town, the Rhine promenade and one museum. Add a second day for the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen, the Vitra campus across the German border or a summer Rhine swim.

Is Basel worth visiting?

Yes, for art and for a river city with a relaxed scale. It suits a stopover between Zurich, Bern and Alsace or the Black Forest, and a free BaselCard with every overnight booking cuts local transport and museum costs.

Can you swim in the Rhine in Basel?

Yes, for good swimmers in the right conditions. Basel Tourism says to swim above 18 °C and below a 650 cm level, not alone, and with a Wickelfisch bag. Beginners can join the supervised Tuesday swims in July and August, which need advance booking.

How do you get from Basel airport to the city?

Use the Swiss exit and take bus 50 to Basel SBB, which runs every 7 to 10 minutes from 4:30 to midnight and takes about 20 minutes, according to EuroAirport. The airport also has a French sector, so check which exit you need.

When is Basel Fasnacht?

Basel Tourism lists 15 to 17 February 2027, starting with the Morgestraich at 4:00 am on the Monday after Ash Wednesday and ending at 4:00 am on Thursday. Book rooms early and plan to stand in the dark with the lanterns.