Situated on the Rhine, Basel is the third-largest city in Switzerland and has a strong sense of identity, partly because of its proximity to France and Germany. Everything in the city is connected to art. You will see this at the colorful, rough annual Fasnacht Festival. Here are some reasons why everyone should visit the city at least once.
1.Having a great art show
The citizens of Basel love art. In 1967 they voted to buy some of Picasso’s paintings, and when the famous Spaniard found out, he was so impressed that he donated three of his works to the city. This tells you everything you need to know about the Baslers and their love of culture, which are on display at many art museums in the city. It also hosts Art Basel, one of the world’s leading art exhibitions.
2.Being home to wonderful food markets
There are large markets in Basel. Especially in the city’s historic old city’s marketplaces, you can get fresh food or sample local delicacies. If it does not reduce your appetite, there may be a delicious smell of basil in the home market.
3.Basler Fassnacht, the biggest festival in Switzerland
Some would say that this riotous 3-day festival is the only reason to visit Basel. The carnival begins at 4 p.m. Masked musicians parade through the streets of the old city of Basel, where there are plenty of satirical poems and beer and food. It begins on the first Monday after Ash Wednesday each year.
4.Being linguistically appealing
Basel is a bilingual city, located very close to France and Germany. There is no dividing line between Switzerland, German (with many speakers), and French. But an interesting mix is still going on, and it stunts your understanding. If you want to speak any language or both, the best place to go is Basel.
5.Roger Federer was born here
Roger Federer, the golden boy of tennis, was born at the Cantonal Hospital in Basel. If you go to Basel during the next two years during the tennis season, you can see the legend, as he is committed to playing in the Basel Indoor Tournament for the next three events until 2019. “Basel is always one of the highlights of the year to play,” he said.
6.About 300 days of sunshine each year
Basel has a mild climate and is a great place to stay in the summer. The Rhine is becoming a popular destination for escaping the heat, and you will see plenty of people swimming in its waters. As the city is blessed with about 300 days of sunshine every year, you will get a little sunshine even outside of summer.
7.Basel Zoo
The Basel Zoo was first opened in 1874 and is one of the oldest and largest in Switzerland. Many endangered animals from around the world can be seen here. The zoo is a non-profit, and its funds are used to support conservation and breeding programs around the world. By 2024, the zoo aims to open the Oceanium, a large aquarium dedicated to showcasing the world’s oceans and motivating people to learn about their important role in the health of our planet.
8.Having excellent and discreet museums
You will only find art museums in Basel. There are more than 40 museums around the world. The world’s largest collection of teddy bears, an extraordinary walk through the history of drugstores, and a state-of-the-art natural history museum.
9.Historical architecture
The history of Basel is written on the streets of its old city. The intriguing Red City Hall will confuse you with its beautiful courtyard, and the Basel Cathedral will amaze you. This is especially true when you look at the city from the falls, a terrace above the Rhine.
10.Home to some of the best cinemas in the country
Basel is one of the largest and most selected cinemas in Switzerland. They cover musical theater and drama, opera, ballet, colorful stage productions, and modern accessories.
11.How to celebrate Christmas
During the festive season, Basel spends no less on the city, with more than 100 Christmas trees illuminated by fairy lamps and its streets. The famous Frey Strauss is set to become Europe’s longest-running jewelry show, creating a truly magical shopping experience. The incredibly popular market in Basel spread across two types of the historic ancient city, is one of the largest and best in Switzerland. Christmas here is an experience in Basel that should not be missed.
12.Being the perfect place to end a Swiss trip
Basel is a city on the edge of Switzerland, France, and Germany. (Basel Airport is actually in France). So once you explore the city, you can easily access the rest of Central Europe by air, train or any other mode of transport. You can easily reach Frankfurt, Paris or Milan in about four hours by express train.
