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.

if you are in Basel during the summer, you MUST swing by this outdoor event. "Chill on the Rhine"…read moregoes on from the start of July through the end of August. you've got DJs playing music outdoors. not raging party music, but more lounge/chill stuff, jazz, blues, and more. of course, I'm sure that just experiencing it one night means there could be different music on other nights, so your mileage may vary. projectors and concert-quality lighting rigs illuminate and highlight the old buildings along the Rhine in unique and awesome ways. of course, what would a festival be without alcohol? there was plenty of beer! and it's not expensive either - just remember to redeem your tokens at the end to get your deposit back (it's to prevent people from throwing cups all over and making a mess). crowds vary - there's a big college-age population in Basel, so you get the students, but you also get all kinds of random people who come out to enjoy the good weather and positive atmosphere. no one's raging, people are just hanging out, enjoying some food and drinks. just an FYI - their website is no longer active - they had the event when I was in Switzerland back in 2008, and my research on the interwebs shows they've had it every year up until 2011, so perhaps the domain expired or something. check up before you go to verify if they're still having this - and if so, definitely attend!

This is a rather unique place. I am generally not a fan of contemporary design but this museum…read morealmost made me a convert. The arrangements were quite appealing and presented delightful ideas with respect to the use of space. The synergy of the pieces used was striking at times. Some of the displays on the side of the building that faced the pastoral surroundings across the road were very relaxing in their presentations. The wall-length windows allowed one to look out over the bucolic environs. You'll be tempted to sit all day staring out the window in those corners of the museum as they are intrinsically relaxing, playing to something seminal in the human spirit. The arrangement inspired by Alice in Wonderland was particularly memorable as it was undoubtedly one of the more peculiar designs on display. Eccentricity certainly comes to mind when in that portion of the museum. The verbiage providing historical perspectives relative to the evolution of design ideas was also of interest. If you are in the Basel area and have some time, this place is worth a visit, even if you're not particularly an interior design buff. It will only take 60 - 90 minutes to stroll through at a casual pace. If you are so inclined, there is also a nice café where you can get a coffee and sweet treat (or even lunch) to add to the enjoyment of your visit.

Wow what a gem! It's a little work to get here and it is outside of town. It is part of the…read morefactory complex and u don't often get to see a Gehry-designed museum in the middle of a beautiful countryside with vineyards in the background. The site is actually a collection of world class architecture literally set in a field in the middle of no where. The main museum hosts rotating exhibits focused on various designers. It is a wonderful space for that. There is a nearby restaurant and also a custom house where u can order vitra furniture. If uv ever wonder what all those iconic modern designs are. This is the place to learn how an Eames chair got to well an Eames chair ;-) While out of the way if ur visiting basel it is well worth the trip.

Loved this Christmas Market! It was my first market experience in Switzerland, and the abundance of…read morefondue is reason enough to love it. Plenty of colorful stalls, lovely decorations, and people watching to occupy hours here. It is the perfect way to get into the festive mood of the season! Buy yourself a hot wine and enjoy the sights and sounds.

My first time visiting the Basel Christmas Market. I enjoyed it - decorations, atmosphere,…read moreChristmas spirit, family activities - good for children, crafts, food and wine. We went with 4 adults and 3 children. All enjoyed the evening.

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!

My fourth Christmas market after Baden-Baden, Colmar and Mulhouse, Basel's Weihnachtsmarkt is the…read morelargest and most extensive. Taking up a number of large squares in the city center, you'll find kiosks with all sorts of things. Spices, candy, chocolates, trinkets, gloves and scarves, carved wood, Christmas tree ornaments, cookies and more than I can possibly list. Dipping into the single digits (Celsius), one of our first stops was a mulled wine kiosk (and I don't know if the Swiss call it vin chaud or glühwein) that was one of the better hot wines on this trip. And with it, we stood in a "feuerstube" (warming shed) that had a fire going. Toasty! Quite busy at most of the vendors despite the light but cold drizzle and lots of folks at the marshmallow toasting pit. I bought a few more things to fill the suitcase and enjoyed my first visit! [Review 21206 overall - 56 in Switzerland - 170 of 2024.]

I so enjoyed exploring the Basel Christmas Markets - they were charming and approachable; not too…read morespread out or so large that you didn't have a chance to feel like you saw it all. Lots of friendly vendors excited to share their offerings. The booths themselves are also impressive in their decor - take time to look up at the roofs to see how different vendors celebrate the season. All of this, of course, is made better with a hot drink and snack in hand!