Basel is in northwest Switzerland, tucked up against the borders of both France and Germany, and bisected by the Rhine River.  Settlement in the area dates back to at least the 5th-century BC, and the Romans built a village nearby in the 2nd century BC.

With its abundance of museums, including the first public art museum in the world (1661), Basel is considered the cultural capital of Switzerland.  In 2023 it was ranked the 10th-most liveable city in the world.  The University of Basel was founded in 1460, making it Switzerland’s oldest university.  We spent several days exploring Basel in mid-August, 2019.  My camera’s battery died during our visit, and several of these photos are courtesy of my husband.

History and heritage.  Much of Basel was badly damaged in a major earthquake in 1356.  Most of the buildings in the city’s older sections date from the 14th and 15th century.  Recent restorations make Basel an attractive and interesting place to explore.

Reaction ferries.  People on foot can cross the wide Rhine River on current-powered reaction ferries.  The ferry is tethered to a cable and, by angling the boat into the current, the ferryman steers the boat to the opposite shore.  Although the Rhine is still a busy river for transport, it is nowadays clean enough that locals float down the river on hot days.

Greater and Lesser.  Basel Minster, built between 1019 and 1500, dominates the skyline of Greater Basel.  Five bridges connect the higher shore of Greater Basel with the lower shore of Lesser Basel.  Pictured is the Wettsteinbrücke (Wettstein Bridge.)

St Alban-Tor.  The restored gate and tower of St Alban’s marks one of the original access points to the walled city of Basel.  Dating back to 1400, the gate now leads to a charming older section of Basel.  Visitors can climb the many steps and ladders to the belfry, where the bells mark the hour (very loudly, as we found.)

City walls.  A short but impressive stretch of the only remaining section of the original walls that once surrounded the city.  The walls are among many of Switzerland’s heritage sites of national significance that are located in Basel.

Roman ruins.  The open-air museum of Augusta Raurica contains the excavated remains of a 2nd-century BC Roman town.  In addition to the theatre (shown here while being set up for an event), visitors can see the remains of a temple, an aqueduct, several commercial buildings, an arena, and more.  Augusta Raurica is 20 kilometres east of the centre of Basel and can be reached using public transport.

Travel note:  The Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg Airport is just across the border in France, while the larger Zurich Airport is 90 kilometres east of Basel; there is a direct train link to either airport from Basel.  Locally, Basel has an extensive public transportation system of trams.  Hotel guests are provided with a Basel Card, which gives visitors free use of public transportation.