World-class museums and galleries and a fascinating mix of old and new
Perched along the iconic River Rhine, Basel is a historic city home to world-class museums, galleries and some cutting-edge contemporary architecture. Along the waterfront you’ll find atmospheric restaurants celebrating centuries-old cuisine as well as delightful cafes with impeccable views, making this Swiss city perfect for strolling.
Dominating the skyline are the distinctive red sandstone spires of Basel Minster that reach to the heavens above. More medieval treasures await as you wander through the city’s quaint alleys which mix seamlessly with structures designed by some of the world’s top modern architects including Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron.
Basel is also home to over 40 museums, covering all manner of interests. The Kunstmuseum has one of the world’s oldest public collections with artwork on display from such greats as Rembrandt, Manet, Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso, as well as more contemporary artists such as Joseph Beuys and Andy Warhol.
If you’re visiting around February, expect the streets to be awash with revellers celebrating the three-day Basel Fasnacht festival. Enjoyed by young and old, it starts at 4 a.m. and runs for 72 hours, with locals and visitors alike celebrating in their thousands with colourful lanterns, parades and medieval costumes and masks.
Luxury accommodation in Basel
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Trip inspiration
Where else to go in Switzerland
Bern and the Bernese Oberland
A city steeped in history and legend, Bern is a beautiful time capsule dating back to the late 12th century.
Discover moreGeneva
Snow-dusted peaks and brilliant green hills reflect off the smooth surface of Lake Geneva. Small villages wait to be discovered on the shoreline, while at the southern tip of the lake, the French-speaking city of Geneva entices with a fascinating history and vibrant culture.
Discover moreGstaad
Located near the Alpine passes in one of Switzerland’s most beautiful regions, Gstaad is a small village known for its high-profile guests, luxury hotels and high-end restaurants.
Discover moreLake Lucerne
Forested slopes roll down to the still turquoise waters of Lake Lucerne, snow-capped mountains soaring towards the sky in the distance and quaint villages peppering the shoreline.
Discover moreJungfraujoch and Interlaken
Jungfraujoch is a glacial pass found between the Jungfrau and Mönch mountains in the Bernese Alps. The heights themselves are visible from far away, displaying their awesome power with snowy peaks reaching high into the skies above.
Discover moreJura and the Three Lakes
In Switzerland’s northwest, reaching out into France, the Canton of Jura is characterised by green pastures and sweeping hills and forested mountains, with winding rivers punctuated by medieval towns.
Discover moreLausanne and Montreux
Nestled on the northern banks of Lake Geneva, Lausanne is a hilly city in the canton of Vaud. Set on a series of terraces, the charming old town sits at the top with the former fishing village of Ouchy at the bottom.
Discover moreSouth Western Switzerland
South Western Switzerland is a sublime corner of the country, crowned by the Italy-bordering Matterhorn whose iconic peak towers above the town of Zermatt.
Discover moreSt. Moritz
With backdrops of breath-taking forests blanketed in snow, and dramatic peaks cutting into cobalt skies, lakeside St. Moritz is as picturesque an alpine destination as you could imagine.
Discover moreTicino
Populated by great mountains and vast blue lakes, the enduring beauty of Ticino is one of old-world charm, but it certainly isn’t lacking in modern glitz and glamour.
Discover moreZurich
This majestic city stands proudly on the lower end of Lake Zurich, decorative spires piercing the clear sky.
Discover moreMeet your Europe team
When to visit
Basel is a great city to visit year-round. Walk along the river and enjoy al fresco dining in the spring and summer, and dip in and out of the museums and galleries whichever time of year you visit. During December there are excellent Christmas markets.
Switzerland is a year-round destination.
In winter it is a mecca for skiiers, and there are plenty of winter hikes and snowshowing activities on offer.
In spring and summer the meadows fill with wild flowers and the lakes look exceptionally beautiful.
Sightseeing
Year Round
Winter Break
December-April
Hiking
April-September
Plan your trip to Basel
Whatever you want from your adventure in Switzerland, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Jacada tailored a vacation to Switzerland for us that met all of our expectations and more. Our hotels were beautiful and centrally located, our guides and excursions were all amazing, and the logistics went off pretty much without a hitch. We would definitely book another trip with Jacada.
Great customer care and personalized experiences!
Kate and the rest of the Jacada team have done a fabulous job in planning and executing our Christmas trip to Switzerland. Last year they did an extensive trip of Asia for us. No detail is to small. Each trip has special experiences. They use wonderful tour guides and provide great information prior to leaving
Really great trip and every detail was perfectly planned! Thanks!!
"B+" When Jacada is at its best, it is truly a magical experience. It is not easy setting up dozens of interfaces and events and both Em and Melania did this very well. They cared deeply about pleasing us. Perfection is difficult to achieve though and I don't see that they have 100% control over all their partners and misc.…
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When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.
If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.