Not sure what’s worth your time in Basel’s old town? Then you’ve come to the right place because this detailed guide covers all the most important landmarks in Switzerland’s capital of culture.
Basel’s old town is exceptionally charming with its cobbled alleys and unique landmarks. Iconic buildings, famous museums, and the best town squares are all included in this guide, so keep reading to see how to make the most of your time in Basel’s old town!
Table of Contents
Top Attractions in Basel Old Town
Basel Minster
The city cathedral is usually one of the most impressive buildings in town, and the Basel cathedral is no exception. It was constructed as a Roman Catholic cathedral but today it functions as a Reformed Protestant church.
The initial cathedral was built in Gothic and Romanesque styles between the 11th and 16th centuries. The construction took so long because the initial building was damaged in the 14th-century earthquake, and certain parts were rebuilt by Johannes Gmünd.
Basel Minster is best known for its red sandstone construction, which makes it very easy to spot. The red sandstone is not only clearly visible around Basel, it is also extremely rare amongst European churches.
Guided tours of the church take place every Saturday, and they last for only about 30 minutes. There’s a fee of 7 CHF for adults, while kids can join the tour for free. There’s a limit of just 15 people per tour, so I’d highly recommend you reserve a spot in advance if you don’t want to miss out.
You can skip the tour entirely if you want and just climb the cathedral tower – this will cost you 6 CHF and reward you with magical panoramic views of Basel’s rooftops.
Barfuesserkirche (Basel Historical Museum)
Basel Historical Museum is an iconic city landmark you absolutely shouldn’t miss. It’s been inside a former church since 1894, so not only can you learn about the history of the city, but you also get to tour a Franciscan church!
The main part of the museum is inside the church, but there are additional exhibits at two other locations in the city. The Barfuesserkirche part of the museum houses a huge collection of items that detail the cultural history of this city. This includes objects that document the everyday lives of locals from centuries ago, but also some unique items like the Amerbach cabinet of curiosities.
Entrance to this museum is 15 CHF, but that doesn’t include entrance to any special exhibits. Also, this covers only entrance to Barfuesserkirche – if you want a combo ticket that also grants entrance to Haus zum Kirschgarten and Musikmuseum, you’ll have to pay 20 CHF.
- Opening Times: Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Entrance Fee: 15 CHF
Marktplatz
Marktplatz is a central square in Basel’s historic city. The square is surrounded by beautiful buildings that are representative of the dominant architectural style in Basel, plus it’s home to many shops and locales, from McDonald’s to a tea room. This is also an important public transportation stop – both trams and buses stop here, allowing for easy exploration of the old town.
The town hall building dominates the market square with its beautiful paintings and unique elements. Both the square and the town hall will likely be important landmarks during your trip, helping you instantly recognize where you are in Basel.
Also, it’s important to note that the square isn’t called Market Square for no reason. The daily market stalls are set up in the center of the square on weekdays, where you can shop for fresh produce, local delicacies, and flowers.
- Market Opening times: Tuesday – Thursday, 7 am – 2 pm, Friday & Saturday, 7 am to 6 pm (See Basel Stadt website)
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Andreasplatz
Andreasplatz is tucked away in a building courtyard and it’s not the easiest attraction to find in Basel. The entrance to the square is from Schneidergasse, right next to a local antique store. The first thing you will probably notice is the Monkey Fountain at the center of the square, so if you see it you’ll know you’re in the right place!
This square is home to several bars and restaurants that you can visit whenever. Try to get one of the outdoor tables, so you can enjoy the local delicacies while taking in all the details of this place.
On top of that, Andreasplatz occasionally hosts the Wild Plant Market, which manages to transform the entire space. Suddenly there are many carts with countless wild plants, and the city square turns into a small jungle.
Basel Town Hall (Basel Rathaus)
Basel’s city hall is over 500 years old and was built to commemorate Basel joining the Swiss Confederation in 1501. It is a rather underrated attraction for one simple reason. Yes, it’s the most impressive building on Marktplatz and a great representation of the architectural diversity in this city. However, most people will just notice the stand-out red sandstone facade and the paintings that adorn it, and think they’ve explored this attraction in detail.
What many people don’t know is that the building is open to visitors. You can go inside the courtyard and see even more beautiful paintings, which is definitely something you should do. There’s no entrance fee for this and it only takes a few minutes, but it offers an entirely different perspective on this lovely building.
Guided tours of the town hall are available on Saturdays. There are options for tours in English and German, and whichever one you choose the fee is 5 CHF for adults. Kids can join you for free, but you must reserve them a spot on the tour. Guided tours last only around 30 minutes, and they’re definitely worth your time.
This is also a functioning town hall and is home to the Basel City Cantonal Parliament
Museum der Kulturen Basel
Visit the Museum of Cultures if you want to know why the city is known as Switzerland’s capital of culture. This ethnographic museum is located just a short walk from the Basel Cathedral, so you can access it easily while you’re exploring the old town.
The museum has a collection of global artifacts and it often hosts special exhibits that focus on a certain culture. The special exhibits change frequently and the Basel Carnival collection is the only permanent exhibit in the museum. It’s truly a unique museum, and one of the most inspiring places you can visit in this town.
Basel’s Museum der Kulturen can be toured for a fee of 16 CHF, which gives you access to all the exhibits inside the museum. The entrance fee for the museum’s permanent collection is just 7 CHF, and it’s worth noting that you can get discounted or free entrance with the many travel and tourist passes that are available in Switzerland.
Tinguely Fountain
Tinguely Fountain is located in the same place where the Basel theater company stage once stood, and it’s an homage to the place’s previous function. The fountain, created by Tinguely in 1977, is shallow and decorated with machine sculptures that pay homage to the performing arts.
This is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, and it’s even better that it’s dedicated to theater. Basel is known as the capital of culture in Switzerland with its many museums and performance art venues, and the Tinguely fountain is just one of the landmarks that reinforces that fact.
The sculptures in the fountain are designed to appear as if they’re interacting with one another, which makes the entire landmark even more impressive. What’s even better is that the fountain stays on in the winter, and it’s not uncommon for some of the sculptures to freeze, which entirely changes the appearance of the Tinguely Fountain!
If you like what you see here, you should also visit the Tinguely Musem when you are in Basel, it takes these moving sculptures to the next level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Old Town in Basel called?
Basel Old Town is called “Basel Altstadt” in German or “Altstadt Grossbasel” is the name of the part of Basel it is located in.
Where is Basel’s old town located?
Most of Basel’s old town is on the left bank of the Rhine River. A small part of the old town is on the right bank, but that area encompasses mostly theaters and boutiques. The majority of the tourist attractions and landmarks are on the left bank, including all the tourist attractions mentioned above.
Is it worth it to cross the bridge to the other bank? Yes, because Mittlere Brücke is also a famous attraction in the old town! Also, the right bank offers sweeping panoramic views of the old town buildings.
Is Basel a walking city?
Yes, the old town of Basel is very walkable as you can explore the majority of it easily in one day. However, if you get tired, you can always jump on a tram or bus to get back to your hotel or the center of town.
What is the main street in Basel?
The main street of downtown Basel is “Freie Strasse” or Freie Street in English. It runs through the center of the old town area and is the main shopping area there.
