Basel my Favourite
by Ritchie_Lionheart
Most of the people just travel THROUGH Basel and very few stay IN Basel. But in my point of view, it is the most pleasant of all larger Swiss cities (Basel is No.3 in population after Zurich and Geneva).
Eating and drinking: Restaurants in Basel are generally TOO expensive: A coffee for CHF 4.00 (or USD 3.50), or two dl of red table wine at CHF 9.00 is a rip-pff, so look around, there are the more honest places. You can also take tram No.6 in 20 mins to Riehen Grenze, and cross the border into the town of Loerrach / Germany with its surrounding wine country and Black Forest hills.
And don't miss a Rhine cruise to Rheinfelden, a 2-hour trip to this historic city, left of the rRhine in Switzerland, the right in Germany.
Basel also has a very pretty old town and many museums that are worth a visit on rainy days. The Carneval in February, a Rhine cruis in summer
Basel Autumn Fair
by german_eagle
The Basel Autumn Fair (Herbstmess) is the oldest and largest fun fair in Switzerland, going back to the 15th century. It is great fun for young and old, families, groups of kids as well as seniors.
You'll see antique carousels as well as top-modern highflyers (see pics 1 and 4), booths selling things from delicious food (cheese, meat, chocolate etc) to anything you need or do not need. The fair is spread all over the old town to both sides of the river. I particularly liked the Petersplatz area right in front of my hotel. Not too loud, good food, beautiful antique carousel (pic 1). The young crowds prefered the Münsterplatz, Kasernenareal, Barfüsserplatz where the top-modern and more exciting attractions were.
The fair begins 14 days prior to St. Martin's Day and ends the third Sunday evening afterward. It is open at Petersplatz 11 - 20 h, at the other places until 22 h, on Fridays and Saturdays until 23 h.
Packing List
by sarahkathryn
Study Abroad Things that are essential if you are working/studying abroad for a significant period of time (ie more than a few weeks:
1. Comfortable day pack - I love my Vango one.
2. Personal CD player/mini disc and travel speakers, I'd be lost without them.
3. Guide book for the country you are living in, mine is now looking severely battered and is very well used.
4. The odd poster/postcard to make your room/slum/executive flat look a bit more like home.
St. Alban church and cloisters
by german_eagle
In the heart of St. Alban there is an old church of the same name (in need of restoration), reconstructed 1845, the interior renovated 1911.
Adjacent you find the former convent buildings - now apartments - and remains of the oldest (Romanesque style) cloisters of Switzerland. Right by the church and the cloisters chestnut trees on the former cemetery, now a short alley.
As you can see on the picture you can have a glimpse of the Romanesque cloisters - the scene is just picturesque and peaceful.
Unique ferry
by joanj
There are four ferries each situated approximately between two bridges that connect to either shore.
Each ferry is attached by a cable to a block ( see picture 2) that rides along another cable spanning the river (Rhine) at approx 20 - 30 m. high. To cross the river, the ferryman orients the boat around 45deg from the current, so that the current pushes the boat across the river.
It is a form of transportation that requies no other outside energy, being hydraulically driven.
Sign in with Facebook
Riehen, parish church and Alte Kanzlei
Predigerkirche
Mobility Ticket
Car-free downtown
