Beautiful Basel has a wonderful setting spreading out over both sides of the Rhine, stunning architecture, both old and new, an amazing collection of museums and art galleries and an historic Old Town which really knows how to celebrate Christmas. If you prefer your hotels old and elegant you’ll find many of the best places to stay in Basel are in the Old Town or Grossbasel on the south bank of the Rhine. But if you like modern design then spread your net just a little wider and you’ll find some really special properties on our Guru’s list of the best hotels in Basel.

Basel is a regularly overlooked destination, but it’s one of Switzerland’s most important cities, and the closest thing it has to a seaport. So there’s a wealth of history to be uncovered here, as well as some seriously impressive art museums, built by some seriously talented architects. Basel is a true delight for creatives...

If you’re a serious art lover then you’ll already know about Art I Basel, one of the world’s premier modern and contemporary art fairs, a five day event showcasing the work of virtually everyone in the art world dating from the late 19th century up to right now. Basel has numerous other festivals, including several great music festivals, an international jewellery fair, a wonderful Christmas market, an Autumn fair and Fasnacht, which is a bit like Carnival, but totally different and definitely worth reading up on if you’re planning to visit around ash Wednesday…

The treasures of the Old Town include a Romanesque Münster, the Renaissance Rathaus, or Town Hall, the main market at Marktplatz and the remains of Grossbasel’s fortifications.

Basel is in the north-west corner of Switzerland, neighbouring Germany’s Black Forest and the Alsace region of France, as well as being close the the Jura Mountains, Zürich and Lucerne.

Where To Stay - which neighbourhood?

• Altstadt Grossbasel, the city's Old Town, is ideal for those wanting to see all the sights and be surrounded by beautiful architecture.
• Altstadt Kleinbasel, located just across the river from the Old Town, is full of buzzing squares, bars and restaurants. There's definitely a distinctly Mediterranean feel to the place (for all the right reasons!).
• Gundeldingen is located slightly further out, and so is a fairly cheap place to stay. It's still a great spot - featuring a wide variety of cultural influences which are most reflected in the diverse array of eateries dotted around.

What Not To Miss

• If you're here for the art then it's hard to know where to start. The Kunstmuseum is an obvious choice, and it’s probably worth visiting the Museum Jean Tinguely, because it’s so unusual, the Vitra Design Museum and, at the opposite end of the scale the Antikenmuseaum Basel, the Foundation Beyeler and the Schaulager.
• Baseul Münster, complete with red sandstone walls, colourful roof tiles and an imposing structure, is one of the city's most unforgettable landmarks.
• Its main rival for that title would have to be the Rathaus (or Town Hall). This stunning 500-year old building has maintianed its vibrant red exterior throughout all these years, with striking pieces of artwork also adorning the outside walls. Plus, it's totally free to go inside and have a look around!

Don't forget that this city is busy especially around Christmas market time, and when the various fairs and festivals are on. Be warned, if you want to book a room in one of the best places to stay in Basel during any of these periods, you'll need to be organised and plan well ahead.

The best places to stay in Basel

Altstadt Grossbasel

• The Passage has a great location on the boudary of the the Old Town and the new city. The design is quite something, there are contemporary murals in chic rooms - but otherwise it’s all white on white. There’s a courtyard bar where they also serve breakfast, plus a large gym and sauna.
• The Hotel Basel also has a great location, this time in the heart of the old town, but the decor is very contemporary - expect white walls and the odd bright feature wall. There’s a gourmet restaurant.
• Der Teufelhof is a trendy art hotel with 33 rooms, which are decorated by different artists every five years, and two restaurants, one with a Michelin star. There’s also an in-house theatre and bar.
• If you like slick, minimalist design then Hotel D is for you. Right in the centre of town, the Hotel D has 48 large, contemporary bedrooms and wonderful city views. There’s also a sauna and gym, and it’s all environmentally friendly.
• The Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois is a spectacular riverside hotel dating back to 1681. Traditional, of course, it has 101 individually designed rooms decorated with antiques and warm colours. Some rooms have huge windows overlooking the river. Plus there’s a restaurant with three Michelin stars and a very elegant bar.

Altstadt Kleinbasel

• Krafft has been converted from a historic building in an amazing location, right on the Rhine. The conversion is quite Scandi in style, with light, airy rooms and parquet floors. There’s an elegant restaurant serving gourmet food, plus you’re close to the historic part of town.

Gundeldingen

• Basel Youth Hostel isn’t just for the young, this hotel has 66 chic, minimalist rooms - some dorms and some with their own private bathrooms and huge windows overlooking the Rhine. There’s a games room, bicycles and the restaurant offers four course dinners. Great for families too.

For An Apartment

• If you'd prefer the flexibility of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Basel is a year round destination, but if you want warm weather then you should visit in the summer months, with the average temperature climbing to 20°C in July.
• This however is peak tourist season, so for a quieter and cheaper alternative consider coming in the shoulder season months (May and October).
• If you're coming from abroad then you should fly into EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, located 3.5km north of the city.
• If you'd like the freedom of having a car with you then check out the selection available with our partner, Rentalcars.

Still not sure which is the best place to stay in Basel for you?

• Browse through our list of all the best places to stay in Basel.
• Widen the net to search through our list of the best places to stay in Zurich.
• Or, feel free to contact one of our friendly Gurus for advice.