Basel in Two Days: Top Attractions, Local Eats, and Easy Day Trips

Wondering if Basel is worth visiting, or how best to spend two days in Basel before or after your Rhine River cruise? You’re not alone! Many travelers overlook Basel, but this charming Swiss city on the banks of the Rhine River is packed with history, culture, and surprises - making it well worth including in your Swiss itinerary.

In this episode, I chat with Basel resident, Melinda Schoutens. Melinda shares her suggested Basel itinerary for two days, covering what to do in Basel for a day or more and how to make the most of your time in the Rhine River city.

We dive into the best hotels in Basel and walk you through the must-see sights, from the atmospheric Basel Old Town and the majestic Basel Minster, to photo stops at the iconic Mittlere Brucke Basel (Middle Bridge) and a stroll around Marktplatz. 

You’ll get tips for visiting the fascinating Basel Town Hall, exploring the city’s vibrant café culture with a sweet treat at Confiserie Schiesser, and catching a scenic ride on the Basel ferry river crossing.

Looking for unique museums in Basel? We chat about the innovative Jean Tinguely Museum and Fondation Beyler, and reveal how the Basel Card gives you free city transport and discounts on everything from museums to the fun Basel tour bus. 

Melinda also shares her favourite day trips from Basel including the ancient Roman ruins at Augusta Raurica, and the thermal baths at Sole Uno Rheinfelden.

We also cover big annual events like Fasnacht Basel (Basel Carnival) and the magical Christmas Markets, along with essential local tips on when to visit, where to refuel, and how to pack your Basel itinerary with authentic, memorable experiences - whatever the season.

If you’re planning a short stopover in Basel or building a full Switzerland itinerary, this episode has everything you need to make your two days in Basel unforgettable!

Happy travels,
Carolyn

👉 Show notes - Episode 193

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Transcript

Carolyn Schönafinger: Are you starting or finishing a Rhine River cruise in Basel and are wondering if you should stay in the city before or after? Or have you heard about Basel, but you're not sure whether it's worth including in your Swiss itinerary? Well, in today's episode, I'm joined by Basel resident Melinda Schütens to discover the many things to see and do in this beautiful city on the banks of the Rhine. Welcome to the Holidays to Switzerland podcast. I'm Carolyn Schönafinger, your Switzerland destination expert and the founder of holidaystoswitzerland.com. Each week, together with my expert guests, I introduce you to the Switzerland that I know and love and share inspiration and practical tips to help you plan your dream Swiss vacation. Before we dive in, a quick thank you to our podcast sponsors, Switzerland Tourism and Eco Rails. If you're planning a trip to Switzerland, you'll know just how much there is to consider. With so many incredible places to visit, figuring out your itinerary, booking accommodation, and choosing the right rail pass can quickly start to feel overwhelming. So that's where Eco Rails comes in. Their small group rail tours are carefully curated so that everything is taken care of for you.

Carolyn Schönafinger: From the moment you arrive at the airport, your accommodation, transport, daily breakfasts and dinners, scenic excursions, and a knowledgeable local English-speaking guide are all included, so you can simply relax and enjoy the journey. If travelling through Switzerland with a small group tour sounds like your ideal way to explore, you'll find more details via the link in the show notes, along with an exclusive 5% discount code. Now, let's get into this week's episode. Hi, Melinda. Welcome back to the podcast. It's lovely to have you here again. For our listeners who haven't heard you on the show previously, could you please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about how you came to be living in Switzerland and, and what you do over there?

Melinda Schoutens: Sure. First of all, thanks for the generous invitation, Carolyn. I appreciate being able to speak with you again. Yep. My name is Melinda and I'm an American who lived, moved to Basel almost 20 years ago. And the interesting thing about that is when my husband took a job contract, I had never been to Basel, but I said yes to the move. So before moving, I was filled with anxiety. What if the city's too urban? What if it's too big? What if I don't like it? But upon arrival, I quickly found out that it was quite manageable in terms of living in a city and I quickly fell in love. Basel has just under 200,000 residents, so it kind of feels like a village, but with a city pulse to it. It's very walkable, it's peaceful, and there's lots of little neighbourhoods and pockets of the city. Uh, so it's very livable. I'm a wife, I'm a mother, I'm an author, I'm an educator. So yeah, it's, that's a little bit about me.

Carolyn Schönafinger: Yeah, great. And just tell us a bit more about your role as an author, because I know from our previous chats on the podcast, you love the great outdoors, especially in Switzerland, and you've actually, with your husband, written some books about that. So please tell everyone more about those.

Melinda Schoutens: Sure. We wrote our first book and published it in 2019, and we have a series called Fresh Air Kids Switzerland. And there are 4 books in the series. We focus on 52 hikes for families with children, family-friendly hikes throughout Switzerland. We have one, Hikes to Huts. We have another one which focuses exclusively on winter. And then our final book was Adventures. So different adventures one can partake in throughout Switzerland. And our goal in writing the books, the books were to break down any of the unknowns or the barriers about exploring, hiking, staying. Staying overnight in a hut in Switzerland. And our goal is to really make it easy and as safe as possible for our readers, regardless if they're from Switzerland or not.

Carolyn Schönafinger: Mm. Yeah. That's very important, isn't it? Knowing, knowing how to approach the outdoors, you know, safely and so that everyone has a fantastic time. Great. Well, as a—

Melinda Schoutens: yeah, absolutely.

Carolyn Schönafinger: Yeah. Great. Well, as a resident of Basel, you were the first person that came to mind when I was thinking about this series, 2 Days in a City, um, or, you know, to help visitors plan out their itinerary. I think with Basel, I know a lot of people are perhaps starting or ending, uh, a European river cruise in the city. Others might be visiting some of the more popular places in Switzerland, and they don't sort of give Basel a thought. Why would you encourage our listeners to spend some time in Basel.

Melinda Schoutens: Yeah, I think you're right with that, Carolyn. It's a city that is often overlooked, which is good for its residents because we're not filled with tourists in some regard, but also it's a city that's friendly, it's walkable, it's absolutely beautiful. We border both France and Germany, so a day trip within either of those countries is certainly within reach from Basel. And I'll have to say that the river runs through the city. We live in just, I'd say, a 5-minute walk from the river, which is really fortunate for us. But to me, it's the pulse or the lifeblood of the city. It's used as a meeting point. People kind of gather along the shores of the river. In the summer, it's fantastic to see people swimming. Some people will commute to work via the river by swimming. Some people swim year round. So the river is certainly a lovely part of the city. Basel also has a real international flair. We have large firms that call Basel home, so that attracts a real global workforce. It's also very cultural for being a small city of just under 200,000 people. We have close to 40 museums. The city's rich with history and yearly events.

Melinda Schoutens: It has contemporary and old architecture. And overall it's just a really delightful city.

Carolyn Schönafinger: Mm. Yeah. I, I have to say that I had been through Basel many times before I actually stayed in the city, um, a couple of years ago and it, yeah, it really surprised me. It, uh, it's just, as you say, it's, it's got a bit of everything and the old town is absolutely beautiful and it's just so walkable, which makes it very, very tourist friendly, I think. So. Okay. So let's assume that our listener has 2 full days to spend in Basel. How would you suggest that they spend their first full day in the city?

Melinda Schoutens: Sure. Well, first of all, I'll give a couple of hotel recommendations, which even though we live in the city, we've had the opportunity to stay in a few hotels, but I would say my top 2, I'll give your listeners my top 2. One is Teufelhof. It has delicious meals, unique rooms. All of the rooms are different, all different and unique. The basement, which is really special, has a part of the old city wall in from Basel. So if you happen to stay there, ask to take a tour, just visit the wall cuz it's quite special. And then another one is a hotel, and please excuse, I'm not French speaking. So this is a French, um, pronounced hotel, but I'll do my best. It's Hotel Brasserie Au Violin, and this is a— they have such a delicious, delicious restaurant, just like Teufelhof. The rooms are really clean and fresh, and it's in a private setting and a very exclusive courtyard. So if you're looking for a quiet, a little bit away from the hustle and bustle of the city, this is ideal. But to start your morning off, when you stay in a hotel, Swiss breakfasts are like a large buffet.

Melinda Schoutens: But I would say take the time to really enjoy your breakfast. Switzerland does dairy remarkably well, and Carolyn, you can probably relate to this, but I think once you've had Swiss cheese and Swiss yoghurt, it's hard to have yoghurt or Swiss or cheese anywhere else. Take the time to sample the different cheeses, enjoy the yoghurt, have a nice cappuccino, enjoy the pastries, and really ease into your day that way. So that's how you would start. Most hotels will give you what is called a Basel Card upon check-in. And this card will give guests free access to public transportation within the city. So make sure you have that. Um, it also offers a lot of other discounts throughout the city, such as one person can get a 25% discount, 25% discount on museums or the Basel Zoo, which is a really fantastic place to visit if you're with children or if you happen to love animals. Um, you can take the Basel tour bus with that, and there are other attractions that do offer a discount with the Basel Card. So definitely do that. A tip is if you're visiting during the first Sunday of any month, all the public museums in Basel are free entry.

Melinda Schoutens: If you're not sure which museums are public, the hotel staff will probably point you in the right direction for that. So without that card, you don't necessarily need it, but you can visit those museums without having to pay the entry fee. And then I would recommend to get a map of the city., and you can get that from the hotel, or you can go to our tourist office, which is located in Barfüsserplatz. Great resource, very friendly staff. Pretty much anything you want is housed right there. It's in a very central location, but they'll also have a very readable map of the city. And then as you alluded to earlier, Basel's a walking city. So if you're able to walk and you're comfortable walking, in my humble opinion, it's the the best way to see the city. So bring comfy walking shoes, bring a reusable water bottle because the city, you'll notice there are fountains all over and those are drinkable water and it's usually cold and very fresh. So you don't have to buy bottles of water everywhere you go. Just bring your reusable water bottle and it's small enough that you can't really get lost.

Melinda Schoutens: Almost everyone speaks English and it's charming. It's small and there are tiny little alleyways, so it's great to just and see where the day takes you. And I'm not someone, I won't give you go here, here, and here. But what I will say is I'll give you some highlights, your listeners, some highlights of what they can discover, because I think there's something absolutely magical about discovery. So the one place that is definitely worth visiting is the Mittlere Brücke, and that means the middle bridge, and it connects the two parts of Basel. It's broken up into two parts. One we call Grossbasel, which is big Big Basel and Kleinbasel, which is small Basel. If you're walking from the big, big Basel to small Basel, there's this beautiful, and she's kind of hidden, statue. Her name is Helvetia, and she was the symbol used in Switzerland to kind of represent the country for hundreds of years. But there's this beautiful statue of her that sits on the banks of the river. And next to her are her spear and her suitcase. And I think it's just a really beautiful picture. It makes a beautiful picture, but it also kind of reminds us to take a moment to take in our surroundings.

Melinda Schoutens: So that's a beautiful place. Also, Marktplatz, which is a thriving market in the centre of the city, is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 to 2, and then Friday and Saturday from 8 until 5. But it draws in local vendors, so there's fresh produce, fruits and vegetables, fresh flowers, cheeses, specialty items from around the area. I will say it's expensive, but it's so beautiful. It makes a beautiful photo. It's great to kind of walk around. And just behind Marktplatz sits a very large stately red building, and this is known as the Rathaus. And this is Basel's government, and this is always open to the public for free. You can walk in the courtyard area and take a moment to really look at the picture and the, the pictures and the artwork in this area because it's really impressive. If you're really interested in learning more about Basel's government, you can organise a town hall tour for about 10 francs, and I'm sure that the tourist office would make that reservation for you or your hotel. So at this point you might need a break. Definitely get ready to eat and drink coffees in Basel cuz it's kind of a cafe culture.

Melinda Schoutens: So directly across from the Rathaus is this beautiful confiserie. It's called Confiserie Schiesser, and on the first floor sits the tea room. So from that location, if you're lucky enough to get a window view, you can look out across Marktplatz. And the Rathaus, and you can kind of see the, the city taking place while you're enjoying a coffee, a pastry, a chocolate. They even serve lunch or a glass of wine. So this is a really special place and it's very, very old and antique looking inside. So it's super special.

Carolyn Schönafinger: Mm. Sounds like the perfect place to, to have a break and, and watch, watch Basel go past in front of you.

Melinda Schoutens: Exactly. And that's kind of the magic of any city is that you can get different perspectives wherever you go. And I always encourage people to take them in. And when you're walking through a city, a lot of times we look in front of us or down, but take the time to look up because some of the architecture throughout the city is absolutely magnificent. And some of the buildings even have the dates etched or painted on them from when they were built, and you just start to see how old the city actually is. So it's very special in that regard. And walking behind Café Schilthorn is a tiny little street called Spalenberg, and this has a lot of little shops and hat shops and bakeries, but one of my favourite bakeries, and so if somebody is looking for maybe a pastry or a croissant to take with them, please stop here. Um, it's called Gilgen and it is, you'll identify it by obviously its name, but also the fact that it's the facade of the building is painted pink and green and it's just so sweet. But this is such a famous bakery in Basel that during the holidays when they have their specialty items, People will line up in the street to get in and they take you one at a time to place your order.

Melinda Schoutens: So it's so special.

Carolyn Schönafinger: Wow.

Melinda Schoutens: And my favourite pastry here is a sweet bread that contains marzipan and raisin and thinly sliced almonds, and it's called Russenzopf, and it's absolutely delicious. So I just had to say that.

Carolyn Schönafinger: Mm. Well, thank you for sharing that little local secret with us. I will, um, get you to give me the spelling of the name of, uh, that specialty, that little pastry, and we'll put that in the show notes so everyone can go and hunt one of those down.

Melinda Schoutens: Absolutely. And then when you walk up the street, you're in close proximity, just as a point of reference, to the University of Basel and then also the University Botanical Gardens. The botanical gardens are free. You can walk around them. They just rebuilt their greenhouse. So if you happen to be visiting in winter, It's kind of a nice place to warm up because it's kept very tropical in terms of its temperature, so it's lovely. There's a street which you're also in close proximity to, and it's where one of the old city gates— Basel used to be a walled-in city, so we have 3 remaining city gates that are still standing within the city. And the gate that is in this neighbourhood is known as Spalentor, um, Spalentor. It dates back to 1400. So if you wanna see a really impressive city gate, it's really beautiful. It's right in that vicinity. And then one of the most beautiful pedestrian streets in the area is right there, and it's Spalenvorstadt. It's just a gem to walk on. And for anyone who's a history buff or would like to see the other two city gates, they are in different neighbourhoods throughout the city.

Melinda Schoutens: But one is known as St. Johann and the other one is known as St. Alban. They're accessible by foot if you feel like walking a distance, or you can get there by tram. And if you happen to be in the St. Alban area, which is where one of the other city gates is, this is a neighbourhood. It's a quartier, a neighbourhood, and it's absolutely lovely. A lot of people will walk in this area because it has a real charm to it. It sits on the river. It's also close to our very old paper museum, and the paper museum is quite special because it still has the old water wheel that is in use. So that's just a really beautiful location. But once you walk down this neighbourhood, you're on the river and you'll see there's a little ferry that will take people from the Grossbasel side to the Kleinbasel side, or vice versa. We have 4 of these ferries throughout the city. And they only cost 2 francs to ride. But if you see it, you can even, they have a little bell. So if you see it on the other side, you can ring the bell and it lets the tech, the, the person who's operating the ferry know that you're waiting for a ride.

Melinda Schoutens: They'll come back over. It's a really lovely way and another perspective to see the city. You're right on the river. You can see the different views around you. It's very special. It's 2 francs. It's very, it's a novelty thing, but some people commute that way as well. So it's quite nice.

Carolyn Schönafinger: And it's, it's a good way to do a Rhine River cruise without doing an actual Rhine River cruise. Exactly.

Melinda Schoutens: And you know, sometimes if I have a meeting or something on the other side of the river, I live in the St. Aubin, um, quartier. So I'll walk down and take the ferry over to the other side because it's a lot quicker, but it's such a relaxing way to start your day, to have any part of your day, and you're just You know, it might take 10 or 15 minutes to cross the river, but it's so peaceful and it's really, it's really lovely. And if you take that ferry in St. Albans, you're now on the other side of the river. So if you were to go to the right, we have one of our famous museums, which is Jean Tinguely Museum. And, um, the Tinguely Museum is ideal for people who want an interactive museum. Jean Tinguely used to pick up, I don't wanna say trash, but old parts of metal and cars, and he would put them together. And then the museum really has a lot of interactive, I guess, creations that he created, but it's quite special. It's very different. And that's a beautiful building also along the banks of the river. Or if you go the opposite direction, you're walking along the Rhine Promenade and it's again, you'll see the Münster from afar, which is our old cathedral, and you'll see it from across the river.

Melinda Schoutens: So it's quite special. Um, and that's something else is our main cathedral in the city is known as the Münster, and the Münster is absolutely beautiful. The square in which it sits in is also quite impressive. You can walk through the, um, cathedral, you can pay a small fee to walk all the way to the top, many stairs, so you'll need to be fit to do that, but you can get up to the very top and look out as well. So it's definitely worth a visit. It's worth a visit walking behind the cathedral to see the view of the city and the river from there. And they also have an internal courtyard that you can walk through. So that's really impressive. And then the, the courtyard in which the cathedral sits, there are lots of restaurants, there are cafes, there's another museum. It's just a lovely area for strolling and walking.

Carolyn Schönafinger: Yeah, I think the, the architecture around there is, yeah, particularly lovely. It's such a, a relaxing sort of part of the city, even though, you know, it's just a couple of streets back from, from the bustle of the where Marketplatz, for instance. Yeah, it's, yeah, it's very nice.

Melinda Schoutens: Yeah. And it's, as you say, the, the hustle and bustle of the main street. Our main street in the city is known as Freie Strasse, and that's really filled with all of the shops, the chocolate shops, the clothing stores, our main kind of department store. So this, the Münster or the cathedral sits above that. And like you said, it's more of a quiet quiet area. It's really impressive. And as you're in the city, we have a very famous hotel. It's a 5-star hotel. I know I don't typically stay in 5-star hotels. I've never have, but it's a very special staple and institution within Basel, and it's known as the Three Kings Hotel, and it sits right on the river. It's very exclusive. But you can go there just for a drink and it has a really beautiful ambiance. It's kind of a nice way to end a day if you're interested in just a very different, beautiful experience. And right up from the Three Kings, there is an Italian restaurant. It's called Florentina Basel. It's very simple Italian fare, but what makes it special is there are a lot of seats that allow you to have the perfect view of the river.

Melinda Schoutens: So if you wanna stay there and you're thinking, you know what, I just would love a pizza for dinner. I'd love some really good pasta. This is a great place to go. I would recommend you make reservations in advance so that, and then request the window seat or request if it's nice weather to dine outside, because then you'll really experience that. There are also other restaurants that I do recommend. I will send them to you with the show notes, Carolyn. Thank you. But some of them have more typical Swiss fare if you're interested in that. But also the two hotels that I recommended, Teufelhof and Au Violin, they have fantastic food. So don't overlook those if you want to be closer to your hotel room, if you're really tired after a day of walking through the city.

Carolyn Schönafinger: Yeah, absolutely.

Melinda Schoutens: That sounds great.

Carolyn Schönafinger: Okay, so on day one, we've seen a lot of the city by foot. What do you recommend, um, that visitors do on their second day in Basel?

Melinda Schoutens: Yeah, great question. So I would start the morning with another slow breakfast at the hotel. And then day 2, I'm gonna give your listeners a few different options that they can choose from because like I said, Basel sits on the border of France and Germany, but there's also a lot to see within Um, it's not necessarily Basel, but just in the vicinity. So for those of your listeners who are history buffs, I think this is a perfect day excursion. It's roughly under 30 minutes from Basel. You can get there by taking a train and a short bus, but it's called Augusta Raurica, and Augusta Raurica is the site of old Roman ruins, and we still have an old amphitheatre that sits there. It's just so impressive. So people who are really fascinated by the Roman times, who wanna be outside a little bit in nature, this is the perfect setting for that. And for lunch, I would recommend you pack a picnic. So if you have a backpack, go to one of our local grocery stores. The Coop and the Migros are our two main stores. You can pick up a loaf of delicious bread, some local cheeses, olives, apples, fruits, whatever you want, and enjoy a picnic lunch at Augusta Raurica.

Melinda Schoutens: My second one, this is a bit different, but I'm an American and we have some friends who come over and this isn't an experience we have in America. I'm not sure about other countries, but there's a spa located in the town of Rheinfelden. Rheinfelden is less than 30 minutes from Basel, and the town itself is also along the Rhine River. It's a charming, beautiful little town, very quiet, but at the end of the main town sits a spa called Sole Uno. And this is a really special experience for those of us who are not European. We always have anxiety about, can we wear a bathing suit or not? Yes, you can wear a bathing suit. So that also makes it more enjoyable for most of us. Almost the whole spa you can wear a bathing suit. Areas that are not with a bathing suit, they let you know far in advance. It's marked on a door or whatever, but there's an outdoor pool. It's heated. It's Lovely. It's in a very private setting, so it's nature, it's relaxing. They have many steam rooms. They have rain shower rooms that you can enjoy. And my favourite area of the spa is on the lower floor.

Melinda Schoutens: They have what they call a very high-level salt pool. And so you float and then as you're floating, your ears, your ears are underwater, but they're piping in classical music. So it's so relaxing. I know that this may not be for everyone, but some people who really want a spa experience, it's, it's really lovely. My tip for that is bring your bathing suit and your toiletries cuz you can shower off and then walk along the main road through Rheinfelden. And through Rheinfelden there are lots of cafes. There are places you can have lunch. You could do a bit of shopping if you're interested. There's also a restaurant on site at Solo Uno. So you can eat there if you'd like to.

Carolyn Schönafinger: Mm. No, that sounds wonderful.

Melinda Schoutens: It's very relaxing. I know it's not—

Carolyn Schönafinger: it's not for everyone, but yes, like you, I do enjoy a spa experience. Yes.

Melinda Schoutens: Another one which is in Basel, and it's a museum, but it's on the outskirts of the city, is Foundation Beyeler. This is accessible by tram, so you can use that Baselcard to get you there. This museum is absolutely beautiful. Not only the artwork that is housed indoors, but the building itself is, I think, an architectural wonder. The grounds in which it sits on is in the most beautiful, pristine, relaxing nature. They have a lovely restaurant on site and they have a lot of beautiful exhibitions. So this could easily be a good half day, and by time you get there and enjoy the museum, have lunch, it's really special. And that's Foundation Beyeler. It's relaxing, tranquil setting. The other one is, and I'm sure you've covered this extensively, but for those visitors who are quickly coming through Basel, but then maybe moving on to another country, but feel like, oh, I wanna see a bit of the mountains and a bit of a lake. I really want that Swiss feel. The Lake Lucerne region is only about an hour away from Basel, and you can go to the Basel train station and go directly to Lucerne.

Melinda Schoutens: And this is where you'll see remarkable blue lakes, beautiful mountains. You can see the Alps in the distance. Pilatus also you can see, which is one of our famous, um, mountain areas. And I recommend for anyone who goes to Lucerne, obviously walk the old town., but jump on one of the boats to be on the lake. It's such a relaxing, special experience. If you can get the steamboat, that adds a little bit of magic to your journey, but it's really very special. And again, if you're only passing through Basel, but you still want that kind of Swiss Alpine nature lake feel, this is a great location.

Carolyn Schönafinger: Yeah. And look, it's, it's incredible that two, you know, such great cities are just an hour away by train. So you can really have that mountain outdoor experience even though you're staying in, in, in Basel.

Melinda Schoutens: Yeah, absolutely. And it's, you know, and about an hour by train. So it's very, very doable. And Lake Lucerne is just very picturesque and idyllic and feels very, very Swiss. And it's still one of my favourite locations within Switzerland. So it's definitely worth a visit. And then my final one, Carolyn, is an easy day trip to do from Basel is to visit Colmar, France. So if you have a listener who would like to get into another country, their time is limited, they can grab a train from Basel and be in Colmar, Colmar, France in about less than an hour. And I will say that Colmar is very touristy, but it's very picturesque. It has ancient homes and they're all painted different colours. I, I always say it looks like you're walking through a fairy tale. It's really sweet, really beautiful. The town is a gem with the traditional houses. It has canals that run through it and the area is a wine region, so it's known for some of its wine. So if you really like wine and food, definitely enjoy lunch there and, um, take in that experience because it's really, it's quite idyllic.

Carolyn Schönafinger: Wow. Yeah. You've given us some great, some great ideas there.

Melinda Schoutens: Yeah. You know, it's hard to, to say like one or two because again, Basel's location is so special in that we border two countries, but we're also in, in proximity to like Lake Lucerne, to other areas that are within reach. So, okay.

Carolyn Schönafinger: So for the folks that are listening who have only got one day to spend in Basel, And I'm sure they're now wishing that they had much longer, but if they do only have one day, what would you suggest they prioritise? What should no one come to Basel and leave without seeing or doing?

Melinda Schoutens: Yeah, I think you would have to definitely take in our cathedral cuz it's just very stately, really beautiful. Walking around the Münsterplatz is the area in which the cathedral sits. Going down, you can walk down then to Marktplatz and then walking through the city. I, I really think it's a city that's meant to be walked. As you walk, you'll discover different buildings, different architecture. Also because Basel is so international, something I just, it still captivates me is the number of languages you'll hear within a 5-minute span. So I always say, don't be plugged in when you're walking through the city. Take in the sounds. And the noise of the trams and the conversations people are having, look up and look at the architecture. So it's a very old city and coming from America, it still fascinates me how old it is. So really absorbing the beauty of the city by foot, I think you can't miss that. And if you have a map, they'll have the key locations that make the city, I guess the tourist parts of the city or the areas that people really wanna see. Take those in for sure. If you, unlike for me, for America, you can drink openly in Basel.

Melinda Schoutens: So if you have a, you know, a glass of wine along the river, that's a very normal thing to do. And it's a really beautiful way to end a day, maybe see a sunset along the river. That's quite magical to be able to do that. So I would recommend that, Carolyn.

Carolyn Schönafinger: Yeah, very good advice. Okay. So is there anything that we should know about in terms of seasonal operating dates or not-to-be-missed events that people might be able to incorporate with their, with their visit? Or is there a best time of year to visit? What sort of important info should we be aware of?

Melinda Schoutens: Yeah, that's a great question. Basel, for being a small city, last year we hosted major events. So I would recommend to your listeners when they're planning their trip to look at, and I will send you the calendar where most things are posted to see what's happening during your, you know, the time you're hoping to visit. Last year we hosted Eurovision, which is a major song contest. So almost all the hotels were booked out. Prices in the city were really quite high during that time. And then we also hosted the Women's Euro Cup. So for being a small city, we do host very large events. So take a look at that before you plan your trip. Another staple of Basel is we have what we call Fasnacht, which is Basel's Carnival, and this takes place every single year in February, typically February or March. And during this time, the city goes wild. It is a full party for 3 days. But during that time, a lot is closed down in the city. Public transportation stops running. Most of the shops are closed. This is really a time for the people to gather on the streets to celebrate.

Melinda Schoutens: It is so deeply embedded within the Basel tradition and also within Switzerland that if you wanna be a part of it, fantastic. But do be aware that the transportation will be limited throughout the city and a lot of shops are closed. Another big event we have is Art Basel, which will take place this year in 2026 from June 18th through June 21st. And this is a modern art event that takes place. The city comes alive in a very unique way. We have people who travel from all over the world to see the art at Art Basel. Um, I have friends who say it's the nicest time to do people watching in the city because you have anything from very eccentric outfits to the most beautifully dressed people. To, it's just really draws a unique crowd and the city really lights up during this time. And then the other two things I can say is that we have Herbstmesse, Herbstmesse, which is our fall festival. Um, and that takes place in the autumn. And then we have our Christmas markets. So those are lovely to see every year. They take up Münsterplatz. They're set up in different areas throughout the city.

Melinda Schoutens: Very, very special. And Carolyn, the last bit of advice I will give your listeners is some countries really are very heavy on air conditioning. And I say this to be very fair and honest because it's something we do warn our guests about. We in, in Switzerland don't rely heavily on air conditioning. In fact, a lot of hotels do not have air conditioning. A lot of indoor places do not also use air conditioning. So if you're someone who does not like the heat, I do not recommend a trip to a city during the summer months because the likelihood that your room will have air conditioning in a hotel is small. So then I would say the best time to visit is when we're experiencing our cooler temperatures. So the spring, maybe the late autumn, winter. If you're somebody who likes winter, then that's also fine. But if you really are allergic to the heat, I would not choose a time to visit the city during the summer months.

Carolyn Schönafinger: Hmm. Very good advice. All right. So any other tips for our listeners who are considering including Basel in their Swiss vacation?

Melinda Schoutens: Yeah, I think like you said before, I'll just probably end on that, is that it's a city that's often overlooked. It doesn't necessarily have the metropolitan flair. Flair of Zurich, but for people who wanna see a beautiful Swiss city without, I guess, the dense population and they wanna be in kind of more smaller, charming area, Basel is a fantastic hub. It's also a great location if you wanna quickly get into Germany, if you wanna go into France, very walkable. And like you said earlier, we can take the little ferries in Basel across the river connecting the large portion, the Grossbasel to Kleinbasel. But they also have boat tours that you can take along the Rhine. And one of my favourites is the lock cruise that goes from Basel to Rheinfelden. And it's just a nice way to see the river. It's picturesque. You get to go through one of the locks, which is where the water rises to bring the ship up and then releases it. It's quite impressive. So it's a nice way to see the river in a different context, be in the city, but then also go out of the city.

Melinda Schoutens: So yeah, that's my, that's my tip for you today.

Carolyn Schönafinger: That's fantastic. Thank you. There's so much there to, for people to, to choose from. I mean, we've, you've given them so many different options, so it's hopefully convinced everyone listening to visit Basel when they're in Switzerland. Now, for those folks who would like to perhaps get, grab a copy of one of your books or find out more about them, where, where can they get that info?

Melinda Schoutens: Uh, thanks. Our website is freshairkids.com. Our books are listed there. Um, they're also available in most of the Swiss bookshops, so they're available in English, French, and German, but you can also find information out on our website, which is freshairkids.com.

Carolyn Schönafinger: Fantastic. Well, thank you so much, Melinda, for giving us a glimpse into your home city and taking us on a virtual tour around all your favourite things to see and do. It's been lovely chatting to you.

Melinda Schoutens: Yeah, it's been a pleasure, and thank you again for the invitation. And I really think that anyone listening who does make the time and the effort to come to Basel, I don't think you'll be disappointed. It's a very special charming city for sure, and it's been a great place to call home. Thank you.

Carolyn Schönafinger: You certainly won't be short of things to see and do when you visit Basel, that's for sure. And if you're visiting in late November and December, Basel is also home to one of Switzerland's oldest and largest Christmas markets, which is just another of the many reasons to visit. You'll find more info and the links to all the hotels, restaurants, and places that Melinda mentioned in the show notes, along with other helpful resources about Basel. That's also where you can get a copy of my free Switzerland travel planning kit and guide. Those show notes are at holidaystoswitzerland.com/episode193. Thank you for your company today. I'll be back again next week with more Swiss travel tips and inspiration to help you plan your dream trip to Switzerland. Until then, tschüss!