The banks of the Rhine River in Basel, Switzerland.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
I spent six days in the Swiss city of Basel, exploring the town’s rich art scene.One of the city’s highlights is its proximity to France and Germany.One day, I was roaming a French town straight out of a fairy tale, and the next, I was on a Swiss hike.
When you land in Basel, Switzerland, you land in a Swiss fantasy.
Medieval buildings line the streets, Swiss delicacies like chocolate and Basler Läckerli fill window displays, and historic art is around every corner. And since Switzerland is home to several billionaires, you might bump into one checking into a ritzy hotel like Les Trois Rois or dining at one of the city’s 15 Michelin-starred restaurants.
But what also makes the city of Basel a dream is its access to other travel destinations. It’s where three countries — Switzerland, France, and Germany — converge.
I spent six days in Basel exploring the city, the region’s stunning nature, and nearby towns.
Side-by-side images of Basel, Switzerland.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
Basel is the ideal destination for art lovers
After wandering around Basel’s visitor center, it was clear that the town catered to art lovers.
Along shelves and through conversations, I was recommended to go to the Fondation Beyeler, a modern and contemporary art museum; Museum Tinguely, a permanent exhibit filled with artist Jean Tinguely’s tinkering projects; the Kunstmuseum Basel, the oldest public art collection. The list went on.
Basel is home to nearly 40 art museums. One museum will feature modern art and the next will house classics like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.
The art scene is what brought me to Basel. I had arrived for its biggest art celebration: Art Basel, an international fair where 250 gallerists feature 4,000 artists.
Julio Le Parc’s work “Zepelin de Acero.”
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
Between my time eyeing multimillion-dollar paintings and interacting with the fair’s large-scale sculptures, I discovered a city home to more than just canvases and sculptures.
I headed off on a boat ride down the Rhine River one morning. The river cuts through the center of Basel, and its banks are clearly the town’s gathering place.
Along the river, cement stairs teem with locals sipping wine, tourists smoking cigarettes, and groups chatting their mornings, days, and nights away.
In the summer, you’ll find residents floating down the river holding a colorful Wickelfisch, a waterproof swim bag. They might be off to work, heading home, or going to one of the town’s public baths — an experience I sorely missed due to poor weather.
By day four in Basel, I thought I had seen most of the city’s offerings. I tried popular restaurants, saw plenty of art, spent afternoons along the Rhine, and slept in the city’s famous Les Trois Rois hotel, which has welcomed royalty like Queen Elizabeth II and musicians like the Rolling Stones.
Side-by-side images of restaurants in Basel’s Klybeck neighborhood.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
Then, I ended up in the Klybeck neighborhood. It felt like finding the town’s version of Wynwood, Miami, or Bushwick, Brooklyn.
Artist collectives dotted the streets, spray paint covered barren walls, and unusual (but delicious) restaurants were around every corner. I grabbed a drink on the deck of a grounded ship and eyed a nearby floating club that hosts DJ sets.
Finding Klybeck reminded me that I was just scratching the surface of what a city like Basel has to offer.
Escaping to France for a day
While Basel has plenty of appeal on its own, it’s also a starting point for discovering other regions.
One morning, I hopped on a 45-minute train ride. Before I knew it, I was in France exploring the town of Colmar. Known as France’s “fairy-tale town,” Colmar is framed in half-timbered medieval homes and early Renaissance buildings.
A view of Colmar, France.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
Here, I tracked down French pastries, hopped on a trolly tour, and got lost in the picturesque streets. While I was less than an hour away from Basel, I felt transported to a place far, far away.
My biggest regret was not planning a longer visit. Colmar is on France’s Alsace Wine Route. Nearby are dozens of wineries that grow and produce some of the world’s best riesling and Gewürztraminer wines.
A street in Basel, Switzerland.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
I left Basel with sights left unseen
As I spent my six nights in Basel, I was constantly reminded that I was in one of the world’s most expensive countries.
I took a two-and-a-half-hour journey to Kandersteg, which was worth every minute and every penny. The train ticket cost me $115, but the town and the nearby Oeschinen Lake were home to some of the most stunning views I’ve ever seen.
Oeschinen Lake in Kandersteg, Switzerland.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
The expenses continued throughout my trip. The round-trip tickets to Colmar were $40, and when I discovered that meals like a simple veggie burger cost $30, I opted for pre-packaged foods from grocery stores and relied on my hotel’s complimentary breakfast instead.
But being in Basel has some financial perks. Visitors who spend a night in a local hotel get a Basel card, which grants them free use of the city’s public transportation and discounts on some activities. My boat ride, for instance, cost $12 instead of $24.
I found the ease of being close to other countries and stunning scenery worth the high costs.
The one thing I feel I missed during my Basel trip was a visit to Germany. Basel sits at the border of southwest Germany, and charming places like the spa town of Titisee or Baden-Baden are a two-hour train ride away. If I were itching for an adrenaline rush, it’d take an hour to get to Germany’s largest theme park, Europa-Park.
If it weren’t for the four-day Art Basel festival, I would have spent less time in Basel and more time using the charming city as a launching point to visit nearby towns.
Reflecting on the trip, two full days in Basel would’ve been plenty. Next time, I’ll rent a car and take an overnight trip to France’s wine region, visit other Swiss towns like Bern and Lucerne, and prioritize visiting a German spa town.
While Basel is full of culture and art, one clear advantage of the city is its access to various cultures, villages, and nature. For that reason alone, it’s worth a trip.
+ There are no comments
Add yours