Discover Basel’s Hidden Charms During Art Basel and Eurovision Season

As Basel gears up for the dazzling crowds of Art Basel and the Eurovision Song Contest, now is the perfect moment to explore the city’s lesser-known treasures. Beyond the world-class galleries and vibrant festival stages, Basel offers a wealth of local experiences that will delight every visitor with a taste for culture, history, and riverside charm.

Rhine Ferry Rides

Gliding across the Rhine on one of Basel’s traditional cable-powered ferries offers a serene counterpoint to the art world’s hustle and bustle. These boats quietly shuttle passengers between several landing stages—Mittlere Brücke, Wettsteinbrücke, and St. Johann—providing a scenic and cost-free shortcut from one bank to the other. Keep your camera ready for framed views of pastel-colored townhouses as you drift downstream.

Riverside Buvettes

Once you’ve disembarked, follow the riverside to discover the lively buvettes that line the embankment. These seasonal wooden bars spring up each summer, inviting passersby to linger with a cool drink in hand. Locals flock here to toast a warm sunset, and you’ll find that striking up conversation over a glass of Basel’s own Weißer or a crisp craft beer is surprisingly easy.

Markthalle Basel Food Courts

Food lovers will want to venture indoors to the Markthalle Basel, an architecturally stunning marketplace where multiple international food courts nestle side by side. From fragrant North African tagines to delicate Swiss chäs-platters, the Markthalle satisfies every craving. Don’t miss the opportunity to pick up fresh produce, handmade chocolates, or a spicy curry for a picnic in the nearby Kannenfeldpark.

Three-Country Corner

Basel’s unique position at the meeting point of Switzerland, France, and Germany lends the city a cosmopolitan flair all its own. A quick tram ride from the center will whisk you to the legendary Dreiländereck, where you can stand with one foot in each country. Border-hopping here takes only seconds, but the photo-op memories last a lifetime.

Old Town Wanderings in Spalenberg and Heuberg

Step back in time as you lose yourself in the winding alleyways of Spalenberg and Heuberg. This old quarter’s steep cobblestone lanes are lined with pastel houses, charming cafés, and artisan boutiques tucked behind wooden shutters. Whether you pause to admire a centuries-old façade or sample a freshly baked loaf from a family-run bakery, Spalenberg feels like a secret world hidden behind the city’s grand plazas.

Münster Cathedral and the Rheinsprung Viewpoint

For sweeping panoramas, climb the steps of Basel’s red-sandstone Münster cathedral. From its Gothic tower, you can gaze out over the red roofs of Grossbasel and the meandering Rhine all the way to the distant Jura hills. Afterwards, descend to the Rheinsprung, a rocky outlook just below the cathedral, where students and artists gather to sketch the same iconic view that has inspired painters for centuries.

More Basel Highlights

Beyond these insider tips, don’t miss the playful kinetic sculptures of the Tinguely Fountain, which dance with water and metal on the Theaterplatz. Art aficionados treasure the serene collections at Fondation Beyeler in nearby Riehen, while toy enthusiasts delight in the eclectic exhibits at the Spielzeug Welten Museum (Toy Worlds Museum). Families can’t resist the zoo’s exotic inhabitants, and chocoholics plan their itineraries around the city’s celebrated chocolate boutiques.

Video of the Tinguely Fountain in winter time:

Whether you arrive for cutting-edge art or Eurovision fan fever, embracing Basel’s local secrets will make your city break feel like a genuine insider’s adventure.

Basel Tourist Office Website: https://www.basel.com/en