It’s nearly impossible to find a place in Switzerland that travelers won’t like. And Basel is the third-largest town in Switzerland, nestled on the Rhine river. This city is famous for multiple things but its internationally renowned museums seek every traveler’s attention. Another aspect of this city that interests most travelers is its highly multicultural and creative nature. There are a number of places to visit in Basel that hold the charm to amaze travelers from all walks of life.
Top 10 Places To Visit In Basel
Let’s explore the top 10 places to visit in Basel, Switzerland.
1. Kunstmuseum Basel
The Kunstmuseum Basel is among the oldest museums in the country. It takes pride in preserving one of the widest collections of public art. This heritage site holds immense significance nationally and across Europe. The museum has a rich history dating back to the year 1671. It started with Amerbach Cabinet, a private collection of paintings of a lawyer named Basilius Amerbach. His museum was later purchased by the city of Basel to display it to the public.
Location: St. Alban-Graben 16, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Timings: 10 am – 6 pm (Monday closed)
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2. Basel Minster
Basel Minster also known as Basler Munster, is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Basel. What used to be a Catholic Cathedral now serves as a Reformed Protestant Church. Built between 1019 and 1500, it now stands as one of the landmark heritage buildings in the city. It is built in the Roman and Gothic architectural style. A highlight of this structure is its red walls and colourful roofs installed with sculptures.
Location: Münsterpl. 9, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Timings: 11 am – 4 pm
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3. Spielzeug Welten Museum
Spielzeug Welten Museum is popularly known as Toy Worlds Museum Basel. Obviously, a very interesting place for kids, this museum does not fail to excite adults too. You will be amazed to see the wide variety of toys accumulated and kept on display. There are over 6,000 toys, including dolls, dollhouses, shop models, toy animals, squishies, mini motor vehicles, and more. Aparts from toys, there are also some merry rides for people across age groups. One of the key highlights of this museum is its teddy bear collection. This is the biggest teddy gallery with a collection of over 2,500 of them. Facing the street are the 6 wide display-windows of the museum that run visuals from the current exhibition collections.
Location: Steinenvorstadt 1, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Timings: 10 am – 6 pm (Monday closed)
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4. Spalentor
Spalentor is one of the three remaining gates from the 15th-Century fortification in the city. Also known as the Gate of Spalen, this is among the places to visit in Basel at night. The left side of the gate has an old letterbox bearing the emblem of the Basel pigeon. The 15th-Century St. Peter’s Church and the 16th-Century Botanical Garden are also located on either sides of this gate. This is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world and is located within the compound of the University of Basel Botanical Garden.
Location: Spalenvorstadt, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
Timings: Open 24 hours
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5. Zoologischer Garten
Locally popular by the name of Zolli, the Zoologischer Garten is a large zoo in the city of Basel. Opened in 1874, it houses a huge variety of indigenous and rare animal species. From lion enclosures to monkey houses, from penguin vivariums to fish and reptiles ponds, all the animals are kept in their semi-natural habitats. Summer is the best time to visit this place as the weather is suitable for outdoor strolling.
Location: Binningerstrasse 40, 4054 Basel, Switzerland
Timings: 8 am – 5.30 pm
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6. Basel Historical Museum
Basel Historical Museum has three main sites, Barfüsserkirche, Haus Zum Kirschgarten, and Musikmuseet. It is regarded as the most important museum of cultural history on the Upper Rhine. Barfüsserkirche is where the main part of the museum is located. Musikmuseet or Musikmuseum displays a large collection of musical instruments. And Haus Zum Kirschgarten displays the domestic life of Switzerland.
Location: Barfüsserpl. 7, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Timings: 10 am – 5 pm (Monday closed)
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7. Jewish Museum
Jewish Museum or Judische Museum is one of the notable tourist attractions in Basil. It showcases valuable items that include exhibiting religious and everyday life relics. These items are aimed to introduce the Jewish history of Basel and this region to the visitors. The museum has tombstones dating from the Middle Ages and contemporary documents that are worth observing. It also preserves the Hebrew books printed by the famous printing houses of Basel. Apart from which there are several significant documents related to the two World Wars.
Location: Kornhausgasse 8, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Timings: 1 pm – 4 pm (Saturday closed)
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8. The Museum Of Antiquities And The Ludwig Collection
The Museum of Antiquities and the Ludwig Collection (Antikenmuseum and the Sammlung Ludwig) features antiquities from about 4000 BC to the 6th century AD. It includes Italian, Egyptian, Roman, Greek, and Etruscan works of art. It is among the top places to visit in Basel, Switzerland due to its historical significance. The museum displays wonderful gold jewelry, bronze and clay sculptures, and Greek vases. The Museum of Antiquities also operates the Skulpturhalle Basel, a sculpture museum located near Basel University.
Location: St. Alban-Graben 5, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Timings: 11 am – 5 pm (Monday closed)
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9. Old Town
Basel’s Old Town can be best discovered on foot since most of its sights are located near to each other. This part of the city falls on the west side of the famous Rhine River. A striking feature of Basel Old Town are the terrace houses that have been built in various shapes, shades and sizes. Walk through the old lanes of the town that takes you to some of the landmark sites.
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10. Basel Paper Mill
Basel Paper Mill or the Papiermuhle is the National Museum for Paper, Typography and Writing in Switzerland. Also known as the Swiss Museum for Paper, this place displays the old methods of manufacturing paper. You would find the machinery like water wheels and other tools on the exhibit. Divided into 4 floors, each one is dedicated to one aspect of paper. There are also several displays of historical posters.
Location: St. Alban-Tal 37, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Timings: 11 am – 5 pm (Monday closed)
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These wonderful places to visit in Basel literally takes you to the glorious past of the region. Both domestic and international travelers are kept hooked for a variety of options to enjoy and explore in this Swiss city. These exciting travel opportunities promise a full package of entertainment, fun and learning experience on your visit. It is a great destination for visiting with children too, as they engage, explore and play. So, what are waiting for? Plan a trip to Switzerland.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Places To Visit In Basel
How much is the entrance fees in the Basler Munster (Basel Minster)?
Entry to Basel Minster museum is free. But if you want to climb the tower, the charges are INR 250.
How many people can go up to the tower at a time?
Only 4 people at a time are allowed to go up the tower of Basel Minster. This is because the stairs on the tower are very narrow and the overall space inside is also less.
How can anyone come to the Gate of Spalen?
To reach the Gate of Spalen, you can either catch a bus on route number 80, from Basel SBB Station or take a tram from Basel Bahnhof SBB, get down at Basel Marktplatz. From there a 7-minute walk will bring to the Gate of Spalen.
Is there any entry cost being charged in the Zoologischer Garten?
Yes, the following are the entry charges for the zoo:
Family: INR 3,000
Adult: INR 1500/per head
Children: INR 500 – INR 1000
Can a person in a wheelchair enter the Zoologischer Garten?
Yes, Zoologischer Garten has been designed to accommodate people in wheelchairs too. They can easily move around and explore the zoo. There are only a few animal houses, for example, the Birdhouses, that has stairs.
What is Basel famous for?
Basel is famous for art-rich history and culture, mainly reflected through their vivid art galleries, theatres, museums, and opera houses. There are numerous museums in this small city of Switzerland including the Spielzeug Welten Museum, Jewish Museum, and Paper Museum.
Is visiting Basel pocket-friendly?
Basel is an expensive city to visit, especially when it comes to food, the prices are higher than in other places in Europe.
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