48 hours in Basel
Have you decided to spend a weekend in Basel? That's a great idea! Here is the 48-hour programme for visitors to Basel that we suggest you follow from our Hotel Rochat.
First day
Morning - Stroll through the historic heart of Basel
Start your weekend in Basel with a stroll through the historic city centre. Just next to Hotel Rochat is a huge red building with highly original architecture: here you are in front of the famous Basel City Hall. During the week, you can even go inside the building to admire its inner courtyard and its Council Chamber. Its wall paintings are well worth a look!
Opposite the City Hall, don't forget to stop at the Swiss chocolatier Laderach, who makes our favourite chocolate!
Then take the Hutgasse and head into the pedestrian-only streets of the old town of Basel. Wandering about in this district is a delight: between the charming old facades, the many squares where the fountains take pride of place, and the small independent shops; you will have plenty to see! Don't forget to drop into Gerbergasse, to the Lackerli Huus store, to enjoy Basel's famous lackerli, delicious little biscuits!
Continue your stroll to Barfüsserplatz, one of the city's main squares, and then climb up to Münsterplatz. This is where one of the city's landmarks is located: the imposing Basel cathedral, which stands on a square lined with beautiful buildings.
Be sure to go around to the rear of the building to enjoy the terrace, with a view of the Rhine. This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful views of Basel and is the opportunity to take your camera out (once again) to capture a souvenir of your visit!
Do you see a boat below? Go down the steps from the terrace and take this ferry to cross the Rhine. It is unusual in that it is attached to a cable above the river and simply works with the current!
Afternoon - Explore Klein Basel
Here you are on the other side of the Rhine, in Klein Basel! This is a lively area where you
can find lots of bars, restaurants and shops.
In summer, you can enjoy the lively atmosphere along the banks of the Rhine as you walk along and have a drink on one of the terraces before you go for a swim in the river.
Yes, you read that, right! It is possible to swim in the Rhine in summer, provided you are a good swimmer. There is a route laid out in the city, showing you where you can enter and leave the water. You will see the people of Basel come swimming with their colourful waterproof bags, which both protect their belongings and serve as a buoy. It's a real summer tradition in Basel!
In the evening, don't miss a Ueli Bier at the Ficherstube, a must-visit Basel microbrewery you will find in Rheingasse, Klein Basel. You can dine there too, and the atmosphere is very friendly.
Second day
Morning - Top up on culture in one of Basel's museums
After a good breakfast at the Hotel Rochat, how about going to one of the 40 museums in Basel? The choice is huge here, in the cultural capital of Switzerland, and it would be a shame not to take advantage of your 48 hours in Basel to explore at least one (and more for enthusiasts). Examples include the Beyeler Foundation, the Kunstmuseum Basel, the Tinguely Museum, the Vitra Museum and the Musée du Jouet, the toy museum... The hardest part will be making your choice!
Afternoon - Discovering Basel's architecture
For this last afternoon of your weekend in Basel, we invite you to discover the modern and contemporary architecture Basel has to offer. The city is fortunate to have buildings by internationally renowned architects such as Herzog & De Meuron, Frank Gehry, Mario Botta, Zaha Hadid and Renzo Piano. The tourist office offers itineraries visitors can follow; all you have to do is let yourself be guided!
In the evening, go to the Bar Rouge and enjoy a drink with an impressive panoramic view of Basel and complete your stay in style. So, have we won you over?
