By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 14 March 2020 | Updated: 2nd January 2026
With a beautiful riverfront, historic architecture galore and some rather nice coffee spots, Basel is somewhere we would happily spend a few days, (we’ve actually now moved to the city as of 2022!), however, our first trip to this wonderful city in Switzerland wasn’t quite that…
We were flying out of Basel having spent a long weekend in Colmar (read our itinerary here), and figured if we had a spare few hours, why not make the most of it and go exploring! So, without further ado, here’s how to spend a 4 hour stopover in Basel.
📍 4 Hour Stopover in Basel – 2 Hours: Marktplatz, Altstadt & Munsterplatz
📍 4 Hour Stopover in Basel – 1 Hour: The Rhine & Kleinbasel
📍 4 Hour Stopover in Basel – 1 Hour: Cafes, shopping & Freistrasse
If you have more time to visit Basel then be sure to check out our post The ultimate guide to the best things to do in Basel for all the best tips and things to do.
How to spend a 4 hour stopover in Basel
The first stop for most visitors to Basel will be the train station. From here you can drop any bags you have with you in travel lockers in the basement floor of the station and head out exploring with only the stuff you need. You can also buy tram tickets here as well.
Upon leaving the station, you can get across the city via numerous trams or buses. We would highly recommend hopping on a tram to Marktplatz from here to start your 4 hour stopover in Basel right in the heart of the city.
Stroll around the main squares and the Altstadt (2 hours):
Start your 4 hour stopover in Basel by heading to Marktplatz, Basel’s main square. Here wander through the farmers market that is often on the square and take a look inside the historic Rathaus (the Town Hall, which is the bright red painted building that you can’t miss!). Grab a bite to eat from one of the many market stands here before heading off to the next stop.
On the opposite side of the square from the Rathaus lies one of the most charming streets in the Altstadt, which is filled with beautiful architecture and small shops, Spalenburg. From Marktplatz head up Hutgasse before connecting onto Spalenberg, and enjoy venturing in and out of all the shops along this street. From the delicious Gilgen for pastries and sweet treats, up to Glausis for cheese before stopping by the famous Johann Wanner Christmas Shop.
After visiting Spalenberg, head back down to Marktplatz, then head out to the left of the Rathaus towards the river before turning up Rheinsprung to the Munsterplatz and the wonderful Basel Münster. On your way up this route be sure to stop by Mystifry, a small sweet treats and coffee shop, and grab something for eating with a view once you get up to the Munster. Follow the Rehinsprung up all the way until you reach the square where the beautiful Basel Münster is situated.
Here, if you have a bit more time, you can visit the inside the Munster and even climb up the towers, but if short on time instead head to the back of the Münster and to the Pfalz observation deck. Here is one of the best places in Basel to stop and have a snack with a view over the Rhine and into Kleinbasel.
River crossing and Kleinbasel (1 hour):
After taking in the view, you want to head down the steps that go around underneath the Pfalz and down to the ferry crossing to cross the Rhine via water-powered boat and explore Kleinbasel.
Once on the other side of the river, walk along the picturesque Rhine Promenade, enjoying the scenic views back to the Münster and the vibrant atmosphere. You may even spot some people swimming in the river if the weather is warm enough! If you didn’t grab a bite to eat previously, there are lots of options along here for food and or drinks.
Once you reach the Mittlere Brücke or Middle Bridge, one of Basel’s oldest bridges, cross over the river and head back to Marktplatz. See if you can find the famous Lällekönig just after you cross the bridge, it’s often overlooked!
Chocolate, shopping, and coffee (1 hour):
If time permits, now is the time to indulge in some Swiss chocolate shopping or enjoy a coffee and a pastry at one of Basel’s delightful cafés around Marktplatz or along Freistrasse, (a street just off Marktplatz), before hopping back on one of the trams to the station.
Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to get back to the airport, if going via the 50 bus, it takes roughly 20 minutes from the front of the Basel Bahnhof SBB.
Remember this is just a guide on how to spend a 4 hour stopover in Basel, so adjust the timings based on the opening hours of the attractions and the pace at which you prefer to explore. Basel has much more to offer, so if you have more time, consider extending your visit to fully immerse yourself in the city’s rich culture and history.
We have a guide for how to spend 1 to 5 days in the city, as well as where to go if visiting Basel during Christmas, (one of the nicest times of year to visit!). You should also plan a visit around the world famous Basel Fasnacht, which has to be seen to be believed!
How to spend a 4 hour stopover in Basel FAQs
How to get to Basel from Basel Mulhouse Freiburg Euro Airport
There are two options for getting from Basel Mulhouse Freiburg Euro Airport, by taxi, (which can be quite costly depending on where you want to go and time of day), or via the number 50 bus. The latter takes roughly 20 minutes to get from the airport to the front of the main train station in Basel, where you can then hop on a tram throughout the city.
How to get around Basel
To really maximise your time for a 4 hour stopover in Basel, you will want to make full use of the tram network that crosses throughout the city. From the main train station, Basel Bahnhof SBB there are numerous trams that run all over the city, including to the Marktplatz which is a great place to start your 4 hours from.
Is Basel Switzerland worth a visit?
100% and we’re not just saying that as we live there! Basel is off the typical tourist trail in Switzerland so although it can get busy in the warmer months, it is much less touristy than other destinations in Switzerland. Basel almost always has some kind of event taking place as well, so you can almost guarantee that a visit to the city will mean stumbling upon something great.
Basel Tours
If you only have a 4 hour stopover in Basel, an old town walking tour is a great way to spend one of those hours. Check out Get Your Guide for even more tour opportunities:
Conclusion: How to spend a 4 hour stopover in Basel
If that’s not enough exploring for a 4 hour stopover in Basel we don’t know what is! That being said, there is so much more to discover from this wonderful city so be sure to visit Basel fully when you have the chance too.
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.
