Nice experience!…read more Entry is uncomplicated and lockers are provided for large bags/purses. Bathrooms are easily accessible. There's also a restaurant on the premises, which is really convenient. Great place to visit, especially if you're an art lover.

"Give me a museum and I'll fill it." -Pablo Picasso…read more It took a bit to find the galleries that I wanted but once there, wow. This is the art I love to see - impressionists galore! On a Tuesday morning, it was pretty quiet without schoolkids or large groups. There was nothing distracting me from enjoying the art. The exhibit of existentialist Bernard Buffet works was magnificent with a number of his pieces. Andy Warhol considered Buffet the "last great artist of Paris." Beyond that, Cy Twombly, Edgar Degas. Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, Paul Cézanne, Vincent Van Gogh (I've never seen "Marguerite Gachet at the Piano" before and the "Self-Portrait with a Japanese Print" was amazing) , Claude Monet, Piet Mondrian, Marc Chagall, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse (paintings *and* sculpture!), Alexej Von Jawlensky's "Self-portrait") and more. What museum would be complete without works by Pablo Picasso and Alexander Calder and Salvador Dali? So much to see, so much to enjoy, so much to appreciate. It is one of the greatest art museums in Switzerland and I had a tremendous visit. Gift shop has lots to purchase but the prices for even the smallest prints are very high. I didn't even get a postcard today. [Review 21230 overall - 78 in Switzerland - 195 of 2024.]

Beautiful botanic garden in Basel. What a pleasant surprise to stumble across this garden while we…read morewere visiting for two days.

How is this free? This was such a delightful part of a day sightseeing and exploring Basel. The…read morebotanical garden at the University of Basel is located right next to a public transit stop by Spalentor Gate, which makes it quite easily accessible. I was surprised to learn that it's one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world! There are multiple greenhouses to explore and some nice outdoor areas to look at. There's one greenhouse that is quite large and it feels like you're walking through a jungle when you're exploring it. It even has a glass spiral staircase where you can go up and get a better view of the flora. There were several birds inside this greenhouse also and it was fun trying to spot them. I think that it's wonderful that the university offers this experience to anyone who wants to visit. Definitely check it out if you're in Basel.

Word to the wise: google what the ticket price is before going to the theater. While I recognize…read morethat Switzerland is very expensive, I was still shocked by the ticket prices: $43 USD (38 CHF) for 2 movie tickets. And what do you get for $43? Small, dirty (had to clean off chairs ourselves) theater with assigned seating. Me thinks not.

big complex inner city. pathe group.read more

This carnival is the highlight of this plucky city. The…read moremasks, the costumes, and the endurance of the performers, who parade around the city playing their piccolos, trombones, and heavy drums, are equally impressive. Regardless, you will not be slow to notice that confetti is by far the main character in this event. Tons of confetti. Numerous tons of confetti. So much that a few hours into the parade -which extends for all 3 days- a one-inch layer of colored paper will accrue on the ground all over the city. The ubiquitous confetti segues smoothly into people considering the whole town is basically one giant trash can and the confetti is soon sparkled with shattered bottles and glasses, tissues, napkins, pretzels, you name it. As you can guess most of this trash is blown away by the wind into the Rhine and the whole thing is just gross. You would think that the Swiss of all people would be more aware of the environment. Apart from this huge detail, the event is nice although the city isn't at all. It's an industrial rundown city with little to offer to the tourist that you can't find in any other old European town. Plus people aren't that friendly; as a tourist, I didn't feel expected. Shopkeepers do not speak English and the prices are ridiculously high.

Gotta try it once!! Amazing atmosphere around the City.read more

my only complaint is that i wish it was bigger! the exhibitions change quite frequently, so i hope…read moreto return a few times.

We recently went on a Viking cruise, which embarked from Basel. We decided to go in a couple days…read moreearly to adjust to the time change, and to wander around the city of Basel. And in a stoke of luck, it just so happened to be during their annual Autumn Fair. We learned that it's the oldest fair in Switzerland, and has been running since the 15th century. It was awesome. They actually hold it in several different areas of the city (6, I think), but we only visited three of them. Tons of local things to eat, handmade crafts to buy, entertainment here and there, and plenty of carnival type rides. If you plan a trip to Basel, plan it around the beginning of November so you can check this out. It may just be on our list for a trip to Switzerland that we would start or end in Basel....during this fair.

I happened to be in Basel for work in early November, and happened upon the Autumn fair. I learned…read morethat this is an annual tradition that has been going on for hundreds of years. I am rating this fair 'five stars' primarily due to all the foods I've tried. While many cuisines from around the world are represented, I just loved trying out some of the Swiss snacks! There was this small raclette stand at the messeplatz that I must have visited 4 times in 2 days. Then there was the sausage stand and the risotto and sautéed mushroom stalls. Also for the first time, on a super cold sprinkling night, I tasted warm sweet Gluhwein and it definitely made me feel toasty inside! The fair is literally everywhere throughout Basel. You can literally just walk around town and find yourself running into different squares and streets blocked off with stalls, booths and stands. Other than food, you can pretty much find all sorts of craft items, books, kitchen stuff, etc.. I really enjoyed waking through the different areas throughout my two nights there and would so recommend it for people to visit if you happen to be in Basel during that time of the year.

It's relaxing and laid back small cafe. Server was very friendly and attentive but cappuccino isn't…read morevery good.. Good place to sit down to have cafe or tea quietly.

we sat upstairs on the Hinterhof "Dachterasse". In my opinion one of the best locations to enjoy a…read moregood cocktail in summer with some friends! unfortunately this summer (2015) will be the last time they offer that and it gets closed afterwards....

Rich historical museum in the heart of Basel. Wandering around Basel on a cold, rainy November day,…read morethis museum was more an escape than a planned activity. But it was serendipitous because this museum has a lot to offer. First off the setting: a former church, it retains all the earlier beauty of its religious bones. How many museums have vaulted ceilings and archways like this? The museum is focused on Basel's history from Celtic times to today; we found some of the religious objects to be magnificent, as are the amazing tapestries. Explanations of the exhibits are naturally in German, but translation tablets are available at the front desk. Well worth a lengthy visit.

A nice museum in Basel city center, we went on one of their free Sundays which was an added bonus…read more Plan to spend about an hour or so here; they have nice permanent exhibits as well as some temporary/travelling installations. Friendly staff, impressive organization and exhibits.