Basel Journals

Basel-A Big Swiss City

An October 2000 trip to Basel by travel2000

Quote: Upon arrival at the train station, I couldn't help but think, "this is not the Switzerland I had in mind!" Basel sits on the border with France and Germany and has a tremendous cultural history.

Basel-A Big Swiss City

Overview

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Old town, of which Marktplatz is the center of action. This is the old town square with open-air market stalls and beautiful painted and decorated buildings surrounding. Crossing the river Rhein offers you a spectacular view of the city, old buildings on the river side, trees all in their Fall colors. Visit to the Vitra Museum was another highlight, even though it's actually over the German border. My photos are still being developed-please check back next week (Nov 13 week) to view them posted.Quick Tips: If you arrive by train, go to the Tourist Information office to pick up brochures etc but go to the Basler Kantonalbank counter to pick up your free Basel map. There is also an ATM machine ...Read More

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Central Hotel

Hotel

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First of all, hotels in Basel are very expensive. We happened to find this hotel off the internet, and we lucked out to pay only $105 per night. This is an interesting hotel-it is actually an annex to the 5-star Hotel Euler, right across from the train station on Zentralbahnhofplatz. What an excellent location. You check in at Hotel Euler. We were early so we left our luggage there. We were also able to use the concierge facilities to get our mobility ticket and directions and recommendations around town. Our room was on the first floor walk-up (they luckily brought our luggage up for us!) and was very nice! Full down comforters and pillows, satellite TV, modern bathrooms, wood armoire. Trams into old...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 5, 2000

Central Hotel
KUCHENGASSE 7
Basel, Switzerland 4002
41 61 2758000

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Migros

Restaurant

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This is a supermarket and food square inside the train station (it's next to the Brasserie and on the side of the bank branch). We came here to pick up dinner as we didn't want to spend $40 each for dining out. The food was really good-we got pig's knuckle, chicken wings, tuna salad and corn salad, as well as dessert and drinks. It was pouring rain and we ran back to our hotel. There we had a big indoor picnic on our down comforters in bed and watched CNN updates!

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 5, 2000

Migros
Basel Train Station
Basel, Switzerland

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Vitra Design Museum

Attraction

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This is the famous modern furniture manufacturer-made even more famous because of the world-class architecture on its beautiful premises. It is actually over the German border-take the Bus 55 from Clareplatz (try to bring German marks with you, or else the driver may not have change, or worse, you lose in exchange rates if you pay in swiss francs and get change in marks. This happened to me so please learn from my mistake!). There is a tour at 2pm, in German but the guide will give English explanations. There is architecture by Frank Gehry (the architect of the moment who built the Guggenheim at Bilbao), Zaha Hadid, Tadao Ando (this was his first building outside of Japan.) and Nicholas Grimshaw....Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 5, 2000

Vitra Design Museum
Charles-Eames-Str.1
Weil am Rhein, Switzerland D-79576
+49 7621 702 32 00

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Kunstmuseum Basel

Attraction | "Kunstmuseum"

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Though it is presently undergoing renovations, the ground floor is still opened with 20th century art. There is art by Picasso, Chagall, Léger, Mondrian, Dali and sculpture by the talented Alberto Giacometti. I spent about an hour there. I think I would enjoy exploring old town and the Vitra Museum more. There are more museums and a lot of modern architecture (especially by local team Herzog & De Meuron, who recently completed the new Tate Museum in London).

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on November 5, 2000

Kunstmuseum Basel
St. Alban-Graben 16
Basel, Switzerland 4010
+41 61 206 62 62

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Strolling through Old Basel

Story/Tip

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Start at the Marktplatz, explore the outdoor market. Then go around the area and check out the buildings and do some window-shopping. (There are department stores as well as some pretty ritzy boutiques in this area). Don't miss Münster von der Wettsteinbrücke aus (lovely castle-like buildings by the Rhein), Andreasplatz, Heuberg and St. Alban-Vorstadt (quaint small streets and steps).