My favorite city in Switzerland, Basel is both a big city and a small one. It's a major metropolis…read morefilled with culture, entertainment, restaurants and history. It is super easy to get just about anywhere via tram that runs all day with an interval of less than ten minutes between. Cell service is excellent throughout the city, too! Great museums including the Tinguely and the Kunstmuseum. Fabulous craft beers. It's close to the Alsace region of France so the wine shops are plentiful and relatively inexpensive. Christmas markets run from the end of November to early January. Fabulous access via rail with SBB, SNCF and DB from other major cities in Europe. And the EuroAirport has access to all the major European hub cities. Basel as a city dates back to the fourth century thanks to a fort built here by the Roman army and a church in 346. City walls started in 1230 and there was the usual antisemitic massacre in 1349. Basel joined the Swiss Confederacy in 1501 and the SBB railway station was built in 1907. Bombed by allied forces during WWII, but after the war, the city rebuilt and culture returned. Today, it is vibrant, cosmopolitan and exciting. It's not Zürich or Geneva. It's Basel! [Review 21237 overall - 84 in Switzerland - 202 of 2024.]

Love Basel - I don't feel like it gets as much love or attention as other cities in Switzerland,…read morebut it is a wonderful blend of nearby cultural influences making a unique local flavor. It is a fairly large city but still feels intimate at times; I never felt overly crowded by people. Very walkable coupled with solid public transportation options throughout makes it easy to explore all Basel has to offer!

It's the Town Hall that's in the heart of Old Town Lucerne. The Rathaus tower is very recognizable…read moreand can be seen from across the river. You'll get there easily by taking the bridge (Rathaussteg) over to Rathausquai. The restaurant and brewery are alongside the river at the bottom of the steps. The steps at the foot of the bridge will lead you up to Kornmarkt square where you can see the tower. There's also a way to get there without taking the steps by way of Chapel Bridge. It was built in the early 17th century by an Italian architect in the Renaissance style. We didn't get to go inside the building. I think the only time to visit is when there is an event. The rooms can be rented out as well. I did find a virtual tour of the many rooms that can be rented on the city's website. I can totally see why it's popular for weddings after viewing the rooms. It's a nice historical building that is worth a visit as you're passing through the heart of the city. This is also where you'll find the beautifully painted Pfistern Restaurant. If anything, just seeing the watchtower & Guild house from the square is a treat.

7/10/2024 - A giant tower is a the landmark to locate the Rathaus. It's located in a small square…read morearound local shops and the river. Look for this photo below. It's a very colorful area.