Basel is the third largest city in Switzerland, which with its 170,000 inhabitants must be considered a small city. In any case, the city is one of the most important in the country when it comes to cultural events, and has a rich history that comes to life through both architecture and art. The city’s central location in Europe provides a stable climate with a lot of rainfall, while the temperature in the summer months makes it warm and pleasant to travel in the city streets.

Most tourists who travel to Basel do so in the period May to September, where the temperatures can in many ways be compared with the Norwegians. It is first and foremost art and history enthusiasts who will enjoy a trip to Basel, which has many extensive exhibitions and museums, but anyone who appreciates a beautiful, European city will have a pleasant stay here.

Recommended hotels in Basel

• Hotel Basel-Hotel Basel is a great four star hotel with a central location right in the heart of Basel. Perfect location for those who want to explore the city on foot. Here you are a short walk from a number of sights. The hotel maintains a good standard with modern rooms and good facilities.
• Nomad Design & Lifestyle Hotel- With the address Brunngaesslein 8, this hotel is centrally located in the center of Basel with a short walk to several of the sights of the city. Modern hotel with good atmosphere and friendly service.
• Hyperion Hotel Basel– Nice and modern hotel in the center of basel. Located close to the conference center in Basel. A good hotel at a relatively reasonable price.

Travel to Basel

The distance from Oslo to Basel is only 160 km, but it is rarely easy to find direct flights to the Swiss city from Norway. Therefore, one must expect a trip of 3-4 hours, but Basel is still a popular destination for a long weekend . Switzerland has not switched to using the euro as its currency, and consequently the Swiss franc is the official currency. At the time of writing, one franc corresponds to almost seven Norwegian kroner.

For a Norwegian, the prices in Basel will be perceived as reasonable, but not as cheap as in, for example, Poland. You can eat your fill at a decent restaurant for around 150 kroner, and both wine and beer are cheaper in a restaurant than in Norway, but far from shockingly cheap. Basel is a safe city to travel in as a tourist, and you do not need to take other precautions than what you usually do when traveling out of town.

Hotels and restaurants in Basel

The center of Basel is divided into two by the beautiful river Rhine, and one can consequently settle on one of the two sides of the city. Most tourists want to settle in the “old town”, located on the south / east side of the city, with most sights and historical attractions. Here there are many affordable tourist hotels as well as some more expensive and luxurious ones.

How many dishes do you know from Swiss cuisine? Probably very few, although the country is known for its cheese. In any case, this does not mean that there is a bad restaurant offer in Basel. As an important cultural city, good food is also important, and there are many great restaurants in the city. Not least also a lot of fast food chains and “simpler” restaurants, with varying menus. In short: you will find most of the food in Basel!

Attractions in Basel

Basel is an optimal destination for a long weekend filled with museum visits, historical sights and good food. As the Swiss’ most important cultural city, it is very exciting to experience here.

Churches in Basel

Basel is a city rich in history with many well-preserved memories from several centuries ago. St. Martin’s Church is perhaps the most important, which has stood on the site since the 14th century. Also see the Gothic St. Leonards Church, as well as the relatively modern church of St. Antonius Church, which was built as late as the 20th century. St. Peter’s Church is a well-preserved memory from the Renaissance in Basel, and it was built in the 16th century.

The market square and the town hall

The very center of Basel, where there is always a bustling crowd during the summer, is the “Marktplatz”. It has for many centuries been a center of the city both in terms of trade and politics, and the city hall has since been here. The building that stands there today was built in the 16th century, and is a sight in itself, at the same time as something exciting always happens in the extensive marketplace.

Museums in Basel

Basel is also an exciting city for those who like to go to museums. The most visited and largest museum in the city is simply called the Art Museum. It has an impressive collection of works from the 20th and 2000s, featuring artists such as Auguste Rodin, Paul Klee, Alexander Calder and Vincent Van Gogh. Also take a trip to the Kunsthalle, which is located next to the former museum. Here, local artists have exhibited their work since 1872.