By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 11th July 2024 | Updated: 11th July 2024
If you are planning a trip to Switzerland, Basel may appear on your radar as the location of one of the international airports as well as being a perfect location to stay in order to visit the Alsace in France and the Black Forest in Germany. It is also one of the larger cities in Switzerland even though it is often overlooked for visiting in comparison to Lucerne, Zurich or Bern. So is Basel worth visiting?
Yes, and we don’t just say that as it is our home! With numerous festivals held throughout the year, including the world famous Basel Fasnacht and a few music festivals, on top of the wonderful Christmas Markets, as well as countless museums and art galleries all alongside a beautiful old town and peaceful parks and gardens, Basel is most certainly worth visiting.
We have put together the top things to do in Basel in another blog post, as there are a lot of great things that you can do in the city, so be sure to take a look at that, but there are a few events that happen in the city throughout the year that you simply can’t miss when visiting. If there isn’t anything happening when you visit, there are countless art galleries and museums that you can visit instead, (the Kunstmuseum, Natural History Museum and Tingley Museum are particularly good!).
Planning Your Trip? Use our favourite travel resources below:
Accommodation: We recommend Booking.com
Rental Car: We recommend Rentalcars.com
Flights: We recommend Kiwi.com
Tours: We recommend Get Your Guide
Is Basel Worth Visiting In January
January in Basel is often quite cold, and with the chance of snow, but that doesn’t mean you should discount visiting! There are a few Basel traditional festivals that you can get involved with, and if the weather is particularly sunny, sitting along the Rhine under a blanket at a cozy restaurant is always nice.
Weather: Highs of 5°C / 41°F and lows of 0°C / 32°F, with on average 9 days of rain.
Top things to do in Basel in January:
📍 Vogel Gryff – a Kleinbasel celebration held towards the end of the month along the Rhine, with a griffin, green man and lion, (bet that’s piqued your interest!)
📍 Longines CHI Classics Basel – world famous horse riding tournament
Is Basel Worth Visiting In February
February is when the city starts to come alive again after the winter, the days may still be short and cold, but with Fasnacht on the horizon February is a lovely time to visit Basel. If Fasnacht does fall in this month, be sure to book any accommodation and restaurant reservations early as it is one of the busiest times for the city outside of the Christmas Markets.
Weather: Highs of 7°C / 44.6°F and lows of 0°C / 32°F, with on average 8 days of rain.
Top things to do in Basel in February:
📍 Basel Fasnacht – carnival in Basel is one of the biggest events of the year, with exactly 4 days of utter madness, music and confetti by the ton. We’ve written a comprehensive guide to Fasnacht here, so be sure to check it out when planning a trip to Basel for it. (February or March depending on when Easter falls that year)
Is Basel Worth Visiting In March
The days start to get a little warmer in March, (although we often get the odd snow shower in March too!), making March a great time to see the city whilst hopping in and out of cozy cafes and local bars. Plus, if Fasnacht hasn’t been held in February then March is Fasnacht time.
Weather: Highs of 12°C / 53.6°F and lows of 3°C / 37.4°F, with on average 9 days of rain.
Top things to do in Basel in March:
📍 Basel Fasnacht (February or March depending on when Easter falls that year)
Is Basel Worth Visiting In April
April is a slow month for Basel in terms of events, but after Fasnacht, we Bebbi’s, (a Basel local name), need a month to recuperate! That being said April is a great time to visit some of the local gardens such as Merian Garten or Park im Grunen as they start to come back to full bloom after the winter. Merian Garten in particular has an incredible iris collection that often blooms in late April or early May depending on the weather.
Weather: Highs of 16°C / 60.8°F and lows of 6°C / 42.8°F, with on average 9 days of rain.
Is Basel Worth Visiting In May
Basel in May is when the city really starts to warm up, with sunny days perfect for sitting alongside the Rhine with a drink in hand, or if it is particularly warm, dipping your feet in the river!
Weather: Highs of 20°C / 68°F and lows of 9°C / 48.2°F, with on average 11 days of rain.
Top things to do in Basel in May:
📍 Open House Basel – ever fancies seeing what is behind the doors of some of the most well known and beautiful buildings in a city? Then Open House Basel is just the festival for you! Taking place over a few days each May, Open House is all about experiencing locations that you wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to.
Is Basel Worth Visiting In June
June is a great time to visit Basel, with various events happening across the city and more often than not some lovely weather. It is also the last month before the summer when the city can get busy with tourists, so other than the week of Art Basel, June in Basel is perfect for a trip.
Weather: Highs of 23°C / 73.4°F and lows of 13°C / 55.4°F, with on average 10 days of rain.
Top things to do in Basel in June:
📍 Art Basel – famous around the world, Art Basel is when the city turns into a giant art gallery for a week, with extensive events all related to art happening, including longer opening hours for art venues, outdoor art, (Parcours), and of course a massive exhibition of art at Messe.
📍 Glaibasler Bluesfescht – Blues music festival for one night only at the end of June
Is Basel Worth Visiting In July
July is often one of the warmest months in Basel, with highs officially in the late 20’s, but always seeming to hit the 30’s instead! There isn’t much going on in terms of events in July, but there is one week that is the highlight of many people’s calendars…
Weather: Highs of 26°C / 78.8°F and lows of 15°C / 59°F, with on average 9 days of rain.
Top things to do in Basel in July:
📍 Basel Tattoo – Nations from around the world descend on Basel for a week of music and parades through the city and at Kaserne. We’re talking about the biggest ‘Tattoo’ with countless bagpipes outside of Edinburgh! It is truly a spectacle to see and great fun for the whole city.
Is Basel Worth Visiting In August
August is a great month to visit Basel, even with more tourist due to the summer holidays across Europe. With numerous events happening across the city, from giant cinemas, to music festivals and of course Swiss National Day – which is unlike any other day in Switzerland!
Weather: Highs of 25°C / 77°F and lows of 15°C / 59°F, with on average 9 days of rain.
Top things to do in Basel in August:
📍 Swiss National Day (31st July / 1st August) – one of the most important events of the year across Switzerland is Swiss National Day, expect fireworks, music and street food into the night.
📍 Floss Festival – open air festival held on a floating stage on the Rhine for three weeks
📍 Allianz Open Air Cinema – held on Münsterplatz each August, this is the festival to experience new and old films a like on a giant open-air screen, all under the gaze of the Münster.
📍 Em Bebbi sy Jazz – Jazz music festival for one night only in mid August
Is Basel Worth Visiting In September
September in Basel is a quiet month in terms of events and with the summer holidays being over, so there are less tourists to share the city with, but it is still a great month to visit Basel, with warm weather and plenty of parks, gardens and museums to enjoy.
Weather: Highs of 21°C / 69.8°F and lows of 11°C / 51.8°F, with on average 8 days of rain.
Is Basel Worth Visiting In October
October in Basel is when the festive season really starts to begin, with a couple of big events on the cards. The weather does start to feel colder, but exploring the festive autumn markets filled with warming food and gluhwein makes it all worth while!
Weather: Highs of 16°C / 60.8°F and lows of 8°C / 46.4°F, with on average 9 days of rain.
Top things to do in Basel in October:
📍 Baloise Sessions – (October / November) – Baloise Sessions are all about getting the chance to see some of the best musicians of our time In an intimate venue right in the heart of Basel. We haven’t been lucky enough to snag tickets for this as of yet, but it is supposed to be a great night!
📍 Herbstmesse – (October / November) – Basels autumn fair that takes over the squares of the city, filled with fun fair rides, market stalls and food stands. You should try and get your hands on a Chäsbängel you will not be disappointed!
📍 Swiss Indoors Basel – This world renowned tennis event comes to Basel in October, so why not book tickets and see if you can watch some of the best tennis players around.
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Is Basel Worth Visiting In November
As well as the end of some of the autumn festivals that happen in Basel, November is also the start of one of the most well known reasons for people to visit the city, the Christmas Markets! Visiting in November is a great way to avoid most of the December crowds, plus it is a little warmer too.
Weather: Highs of 10°C / 50°F and lows of 3°C / 37.4°F, with on average 9 days of rain.
Top things to do in Basel in November:
📍 Baloise Sessions (October / November)
📍 Herbstmesse
📍 Christmas Markets – the famous Basel Christmas Markets run from the end of November through to just before Christmas, with three main markets at Münsterplatz, Barfüsserplatz and along Rheingasse for Adväntsgass im Glaibasel (November / December)
Is Basel Worth Visiting In December
December in Basel can only mean one thing – Christmas Market time! Be prepared for the crowds, as locals and tourists alike trapse through the various markets to find presents and eat winter delights such as heisser brunolino, winter biscuits and of course fondue. If you want to see more than just the Christmas Markets then be sure to catch the Harley Niggi-Näggi, (local Harley Davidson santa ride), or the Weihnachts-Drämmli, (Christmas Tram), as well.
Weather: Highs of 6°C / 42.8°F and lows of 1°C / 33.8°F, with on average 9 days of rain.
Top things to do in Basel in December:
📍 Christmas Markets (November / December)
Where To Stay In Basel
There are lots of accommodation options in Basel, from the high-end to hostels to B&B’s. We live in Basel, but can highly recommend the Movenpick Hotel which is centrally located, B&B Hotels, (it’s a brand that we have stayed in previously in Switzerland), or Hyve which is located in Gundeli behind the Basel Bahnhof. Check out more accommodation options below:
Is Basel Worth Visiting FAQs
How long do you need to visit Basel?
Basel is quite a small city in comparison to others in Switzerland, and you can definitely see the majority of the city in a day, but we would suggest spending at least 2 or 3 days in Basel so you can explore the city without feeling rushed.
Is there much to see in Basel?
Basel has a fair bit to see, including the beautiful Altstadt with the Münster and quaint cobblestone streets, various market squares, the River Rhine, numerous parks and gardens, (including the wonderful Merian Garten and Park im Grünen), as well as a lot of museums and art galleries too.
Which is better Basel or Geneva?
Basel and Geneva are two very contrasting cities, and although they are both well known hubs for different industries, (Basel for pharmaceuticals and Geneva for the EU headquarters and banking), that is where the similarities end. If you want a more relaxed city on a river then Basel is better, but if you want views of the alps along the largest lake in the country, then Geneva is for you.
Is Bern or Basel better?
Similarly to above, Basel and Bern are again quite different. One is the capital of the country with sweeping historic streets and a local mountain, whereas Basel is much more modern in comparison, (even with it’s Altstadt), with the tallest buildings in Switzerland dominating the skyline alongside the Münster. We thoroughly enjoy both, but think there is a little more to do in Basel…
How expensive is Basel?
Basel, like elsewhere in Switzerland, is quite expensive, but any trip there can be made much cheaper if you take advantage of public transport deals that hotels / B&B’s offer with overnight stays, (more often than not free public transport in the city throughout your stay in the city), as well as eating out at some of the cheaper food establishments, such as Markthalle and the riverside buvettes.
Conclusion: Is Basel Worth Visiting?
So is Basel worth visiting? 100% yes, with countless things to see and get involved in throughout the year as well as picturesque parks and squares to spend a few hours in, the historic old town and the lively new town, all of which show just how great Basel is to visit. Even if Basel was not our home, we would still recommend visiting.
All Our Switzerland Content
Here are a few other articles you may find useful for planning your trip:
📍 How To Visit Switzerland On A Budget
📍 The Ultimate Guide to Basel Fasnacht From A Local
📍 The Ultimate Guide To The Best Things To Do In Basel From A Local
📍 How To Spend A 4 Hour Stopover In Basel
📍 Can You See The Northern Lights In Switzerland? The Honest Truth By A Local
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.