November 26, 2026 – December 23, 2026
Basel Christmas Market
What this means for you
Bigger crowds are possible around the event.
What to do
Check the current status before you arrive.
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📷 Wladyslaw Sojka, Panorama von Daniel Baumgartner erstellt / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Basel, situated at the meeting point of Switzerland, Germany and France, is one of the oldest university cities in Europe, with a rich history stretching back to Roman times. Known as the world capital of art, the city draws visitors every year with the celebrated Art Basel fair, and its museums are among the most densely concentrated in the world. Stroll through the charming old town, take in the views of the Rhine and experience a unique blend of tradition and contemporary culture.
November 26, 2026 – December 23, 2026
What this means for you
Bigger crowds are possible around the event.
What to do
Check the current status before you arrive.
December 25, 2026
What this means for you
Closures of institutions and shops are possible on that date.
What to do
Check the current status before you arrive.
December 26, 2026
What this means for you
Closures of institutions and shops are possible on that date.
What to do
Check the current status before you arrive.
January 1, 2027
What this means for you
Closures of institutions and shops are possible on that date.
What to do
Check the current status before you arrive.
February 15–17, 2027
What this means for you
Higher prices and fully booked accommodation are possible on that date.
What to do
Check the current status before you arrive.
March 26, 2027
What this means for you
Closures of institutions and shops are possible on that date.
What to do
Check the current status before you arrive.
March 29, 2027
What this means for you
Closures of institutions and shops are possible on that date.
What to do
Check the current status before you arrive.
May 6, 2027
What this means for you
Closures of institutions and shops are possible on that date.
What to do
Check the current status before you arrive.
May 17, 2027
What this means for you
Closures of institutions and shops are possible on that date.
What to do
Check the current status before you arrive.
June 17–20, 2027
What this means for you
Higher prices and fully booked accommodation are possible on that date.
What to do
Check the current status before you arrive.
August 1, 2027
What this means for you
Closures of institutions and shops are possible on that date.
What to do
Check the current status before you arrive.
Everything you need for Basel in one place
Basel Cathedral (Basler Münster) is a former episcopal church built between 1019 and 1500, blending Romanesque and Gothic elements. It is instantly recognisable by its red sandstone walls, colourful patterned roof tiles, and two towers that define the city's skyline. The interior houses a crypt, a choir, and the tomb of Erasmus of Rotterdam, while the exterior features the Portal of St Gall and two cloisters adorned with richly decorated gravestones belonging to Basel families from the 16th to the 19th century. Behind the cathedral, high above the Rhine, stretches the Pfalz terrace, whose name derives from the Latin 'palatium', a reference to the bishop's palace that once stood nearby. The terrace offers sweeping views over the Old Town and the Rhine, and steps lead down to the landing stage of the Minster ferry.
The Town Hall (Rathaus) on Marktplatz square is the political centre of the canton of Basel-City, housing the Government Chamber and the Grand Council Chamber (the cantonal parliament). The main building, with its three pointed arches, was erected between 1504 and 1514 and subsequently extended, including a phase carried out in 1606–1608. Despite these additions, the façade presents a remarkably unified appearance, combining late-Gothic details with painted illusionistic architecture executed in the early 17th century by the painter Hans Bock. On the central arcade stands a bronze flood-level marker dating from 1537. Passing through the entrance gates, visitors reach an arcaded inner courtyard from which the tower added during a major renovation around 1900 can be seen.
Mittlere Brücke (Middle Bridge) connects Greater Basel and Lesser Basel (Grossbasel and Kleinbasel) across the Rhine. The first bridge on this site was opened in 1226, and basel.com lists it as one of the oldest crossings of the Rhine between Lake Constance and the North Sea. Initially used for local traffic, it became an important route for international trade in the 14th century, linked to the road over the St Gotthard Pass. The old bridge was replaced by a new one in 1905, when electric trams arrived in the city. Standing on the bridge is the Käppelijoch, a replica of the original bridge chapel, which served as the site of executions in the Middle Ages.
Augusta Raurica is a Roman archaeological site on the southern bank of the Rhine, around 20 km east of Basel, near the villages of Augst and Kaiseraugst.
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Basler Läckerli is a firm, spiced biscuit made with honey, almonds, and candied orange and lemon peel, often flavoured with Kirsch (cherry schnapps). The dough is baked in a thin sheet; while still warm, it is coated with a sugar glaze and cut into rectangles. The earliest recorded mention in Basel comes from a statement by the gardeners' guild dating to 1711, while the popular story placing its origins at the Council of Basel in 1431 is considered unlikely. The official tourism portal of Basel lists it among the city's culinary specialities.
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