Blockhouse with 3 bedrooms

Cozy wooden house in a suburb of Basel. Only 20 minutes by car or 25 minutes by tram to the center of Basel. I normaly stay in room nr 3. I am here to help, but will only participate as much as wanted. I certainly won't disturb anyone. Cozy wooden house in a suburb of Basel. Only 20 minutes by car or 25 minutes by tram to the center of Basel. - 3 bedrooms 2 rooms with a bed 140 x 200 1 room with 2 single beds 90 x 200 - 1 sofabed in the open galery Only if agreed upon: 1 additional room with a large bed (two mattresses) 2 x 90 x 200 - 2 bathrooms (1 on first floor and 1 on ground floor) - livingroom - kitchen-/dining room - room with dart and pool billiard - large balcony - garden with grill. Room nr 1 and 2 are on the first floor, room nr 3 is on the ground floor and room nr 4 in the basement (with daylight). Perfectly equipped with heating, TV, DVD, iron and ironing boards, wardrobes, hoover etc. The kitchen is also very well equipped. - dish washer - Nespresso coffee machine - water boiler - toaster etc 7 x 24 Basel (http://wikitravel.org/en/Basel) Basel is one of the important cities of Switzerland. 1.Background One of Switzerland's underrated tourist destinations, Basel has a beautiful medieval old town centre, a vibrant Carnival, and several world class art museums built by architects like Renzo Piano, Mario Botta and Herzog & De Meuron. Basel is also rich in architecture old and new, with a Romanesque Münster (cathedral), a Renaissance Rathaus (town hall), and various examples of high quality contemporary architecture, including more buildings by Herzog & De Meuron, Richard Meier, Diener & Diener, and various others. Mittlere Brücke [middle bridge] in Basel Located in the Dreiländereck (three countries' corner), Basel is a gateway to the Swiss Jura mountains and nearby cities of Zürich and Lucerne, as well as the neighbouring French region of Alsace and the German Black Forest. If interested in a trip to the country side visit Sissach a nice little town about 20 minutes from Basel. There are a number of things to see and do if you have a few days to spend. Understand Dreiländereck, borders of Switzerland, Germany, and France meeting at the Rhine harbour of Basel The town of Basel lies in the north-western corner of Switzerland. The town shares borders with France and Germany and is the heart of this tri-national region - the Dreiländereck (three countries' corner). Besides its own attractions it can serve as a good entry point to the Alsace, Black Forest regions or the canton of Basel-Land. A Basilisk, the mythical dragon holding the coat of arms and protecting the city The Rhine curves through the city and divides the town into two parts. Situated on the south and west bank is Grossbasel (Great Basel) with the medieval old town at its center. Kleinbasel (Little Basel), featuring much of the night-life, is on the north bank. Wettsteinbrücke in Basel Visiting Basel can be a holiday for your vocal cords if you plan to absorb the beautiful art in silence exhibited in the many first-rate museums. Once a year it also hosts Art | Basel (see Do) which is the world's premier fair for modern classics and contemporary art. Basel has one of the most amazing carnivals you're likely to see, called Fasnacht. If you're there during the "three loveliest days" of the year, prepare to be amazed, and don't expect to be able to sleep. (See Do, Festivals). BaselTourismus , +41 61 268 68 68, the local tourist information service, has several offices, including at the main station, Bahnhof SBB, and in the city centre, in the Stadtcasino building at Barfüsserplatz, directly across the street from McDonald's. To organize guided tours, you can also visit the office at Aeschenvorstadt 36, +41 61 268 68 32. Life in Basel, provides information for people who are thinking of moving to Basel. The site provides important information on day-to-day living in the city, where to go and how to integrate easily. Basel is a cosmopolitan city because of its university and industry and its proximity to the borders of France and Germany. The official language of the city is German, but the majority of the population speaks Baseldytsch, an Alemannic dialect, as their mother tongue. German is taught in schools and fluently spoken by virtually everyone, so if you speak German and they notice that you are a foreigner, they will most likely answer you in German. Also widely spoken are English and French, both of which many people are able to communicate in comfortably enough to deal with everyday interactions and will gladly work to understand you. Borrowed French words are fairly common in everyday conversation; for example, Baslers often bid each other farewell with the French "adieu". Basically, the average Basler understands and speaks fluent Baseldytsch, German, English, and often French. 2.Getting in 2.1 By plane The Euroairport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is the only tri-national airport in the world. Built on French soil about 4km from Basel, it is connected with the city by a customs-free road. Several major airlines, including Swiss, Air France, British Airways and Lufthansa, serve the airport. Besides the national carriers, EasyJet is building up a larger base in Basel. Current destinations are airports in the surroundings of Berlin, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London, Alicante, Barcelona, Nice, Palma de Mallorca, Reykjavik and Rome. Another low-cost carrier is Air Berlin, which flies to many holiday destinations, e.g. some Greek islands and the Canary Islands. Moreover, Air Transat offers seasonal service to Montreal. In the arrival hall you can choose to go through the Swiss customs and take the customs-free road to Basel or to go through French customs. Some flights to the EuroAiport are described with Basel (BSL, Switzerland) as the destination, while flights from France or other Schengen airports usually indicate Mulhouse (MLH, France) as their destination, although it is the same airport. To confuse you completely, the airport has a third international code, EAP, although it is used less frequently than BSL and MLH. When searching for flights to Basel, it may be helpful to search for all three destinations. From the airport, visitors can rent a car, though the most comfortable ways of getting into centre are •Taking bus 11 from the French exit to the railway station in St Louis and changing to the Basel commuter train to Basel SBB station. •Taking the bus no. 50 from right outside the Swiss arrivals area to the Basel SBB train station. Most hotels offer a free mobility pass, which includes bus transport to and from the airport, so your printed hotel reservation might allow you free transport. Otherwise, you must purchase a two-zone ticket for CHF3.80 or the equivalent amount in Euros. This ticket can be bought at the machines next to the bus stop or at the SBB counter in the airport (in the arrivals hall, after the Swiss customs). The ticket or mobility pass must be shown whenever there is a control, but showing it to the driver is not necessary. The ticket is valid to anywhere in Basel, and you do not need to buy another ticket when you change to a tram. If you have a trioregio local ticket, you can also travel via St Louis as it is valid until Mulhouse, France 2.2 By train Basel Badischer Bahnhof Basel has two main train stations. The Basel SBB station is south of the city centre and the Basel Badischer Bahnhof (abbreviated Basel Bad Bf) are to the north in Kleinbasel. All trains call at Basel SBB with Deutsche Bahn trains also calling at Badischer Bahnhof. Swiss SBB trains depart from Zurich (53min), the Swiss capital Bern (55min) and Geneve (2½h) every half-hour. Slower regional trains connects with most major Swiss cities, there is at least one departure every second hour. Deutsche Bahn runs high-speed ICE trains every second hour from Berlin (7h) via Frankfurt (2½h), which itself has plenty of trains heading for Basel. Paris is only three hours away with the high-speed TGV trains of SNCF. Basel can be reached from most other major French cities with a simply change in Mulhouse which is connected by frequent regional trains. Other cities with direct connections include Brussels (6.5h), Luxembourg (3h20) and Milan (4h). Basel is also a hub for night trains, services are nightly from Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen and Prague with City Night Line. A long-distance night train from Moscow via Minsk and Warsaw is also available. 2.3 By tram Basel is one of only two places on earth where you can cross an international border on a streetcar, or tram. Tram route 10 crosses the Swiss-French border twice, passing into and out of French territory. So it is possible to travel to Basel by tram from the French commune of Leymen. Unfortunately, Leymen station is not connected to the rest of the French railway network. The international tram line is operated by BLT, public transport company. 2.4 By car When arriving from Germany via the A5 highway, you pass the border control near Weil am Rhein just outside Basel and enter the city via the same highway, now named A2/3 (you're in Switzerland), which passes north of the city center and continues on to other Swiss cities, including Zürich, Berne, and Lucerne. To get to the city center in Grossbasel (the larger section of the city) look for signs to Bahnhof SBB; if you want to arrive in Kleinbasel (the smaller part on the other bank of the Rhine), look for Messe Basel. Arriving from Zurich or central Switzerland, you are on the same A2/3 highway, just in the opposite direction - same exits. For parking in the city, see below Get around - By car. If you drive into Basel, make sure you have a valid Vignette (toll sticker) if you drive on the Autobahn! The Vignette costs CHF 40 and is valid for the calendar year indicated on the sticker. If you do not and are caught without one, expect to pay a fine of CHF 100 plus the cost of a Vignette. Like Germany, Switzerland has an Autobahn. In Switzerland there are always speed limits and they go as high as 120 kilometers per hour (75 miles per hour). Unlike in the United States, it is actually uncommon to see police waiting for speeders. However, where they lack in police presence, they gain in automatic speed traps. Often found in school zones and tunnel entrances, these speed traps will send hefty speeding tickets directly to your mailbox with a picture of your face. Switzerland has strong laws for drivers to halt for pedestrians at crosswalks. Therefore, it is crucial to keep an eye out for pedestrians at crosswalks because they will often cross the street without warning or even checking if it is safe. 2.5 By boat The Rhine is navigable to Basel, and in the summer cruise ships operate on from Amsterdam to Basel, with intermediate stops. 3.Get around 3.1 On foot This is the standard mode of travel for many within the city. Old Basel isn't very large and there are many narrow and winding side streets with incredible slopes. The State Archives, a mock-medieval 19th Century structure in an alley on Münsterberg The shopping streets in the old city are closed to car traffic. Tourists will walk a lot - and be pleased and impressed at every turn. But the walking can be a bit strenuous after a while, particularly when walking on cobblestone alleys in the old town, which can also get quite steep. Walking around Basel can be a real cardiovascular workout for some if you wander off the main streets - but it's the best way to experience the city. WARNING: Trams have the right of way over just about everyone - all the time. Keep an eye out for them as you cross a street, including on pedestrian crossings. 3.2 By tram and bus Basel has an extensive tram (light rail) and bus network. The bright green trams and buses are the greatest amenity you can imagine: absolutely prompt, relatively inexpensive, clean and very convenient. Each stop has maps of the public transport system and a listing of arrival times. Tickets •Ticket Machines: Buy single tickets here, there is no vending inside the trams and buses. Every stop has one - bright green as the trams. They take both Swiss Francs and Euros. Some train station vending machines also sell tickets for trams and buses. Inside the city limits, all destinations farther than 4 stops away are 1 Zone, cost 3.40 Francs. As long as you are traveling away from the stop where you got on, you can ride on the same ticket for as long as the ticket is valid. The fare for buses and trams is the same and transfers (changing) is free. There are also special buses that connect to nearby towns in France and Germany. •Mobility Pass: All hotels in Basel, including the youth hostel, offer each registered guest a free "Mobility Pass" upon check in. This gives free unlimited travel in Basel and suburbs (including to and from the airport) for the duration of their stay. This is easily worth the price of a lunch every day you stay. (If you have written confirmation of a hotel reservation you can also use this to travel from the railway station or airport to your hotel. At least one respected hotel in Basel advertises this fact on their web site.) •"BaselCard": Provides free unlimited travel in Basel, free boat cruise, city tour and entry to the Zoo. It also gives you discounted access to most museums, boat cruises, restaurants, shopping and cinema tickets. 24 hours costs 20.00 Francs for an adult. •Day Pass: You can also buy one-day passes (Press "Tageskarten" then "Basel + Agglomeration" buttons on the touch-screen ticket machine) with the same validity as the "Mobility Pass" above for CHF 8.00; and multi trip tickets or multi-day tickets. •Winter in Basel's old city center •6-Trip One Zone Multi-Ticket (Mehrfahrtenkarte): 6 trips for the price of 5. Worth buying for a group or if you plan on spending more than a couple of days in Basel. Available at every kiosk in town and at ticket machines which have a credit card reader. Not significantly cheaper but it saves you having to fiddle around with change. •Halbtax-Abo: If you own a Halbtax-Abo (half-tariff card) issued by Swiss Railways SBB, you can buy half-tariff tram tickets as well. (The cost of the Halbtax-Abo is CHF 150, worthwhile if you plan to spend more than 300 CHF on Swiss train tickets during your trip or within one year - which can happen quite quickly). Tram and bus travel is on the honor system. Nobody collects your ticket. Periodically, a number (4-8) of "tram police" (undercover agents) board a tram and quickly examine everyone's ticket before the next stop. If you don't have one, there is an on-the-spot fine of 80 Francs. Even in this exercise, there is efficiency - if you don't have cash available you'll be given the option to pay later at the office on Barfüsserplatz, but then it will cost you 100 Francs. Handling trams and buses To open the door from outside press the button near the door on newer (low floor) trams, or the orange lit button beside the door on older trams and buses. Inside, press a button on the door of the newer trams or the small black button on the grab rail near the door on older trams and buses, and the door will then open automatically as soon as the tram stops. Doors close automatically before the tram starts moving. Hold on! Trams accelerate quickly and brake quite abruptly. Upcoming stops are announced by a recorded voice in Standard German (as well as English and French at main stops) along with the numbers of connecting trams at that stop. Trams change routes slightly at certain times of year (summer, Fasnacht). This will be signposted at stops, and usually also on the overhead screens that display departure times - see photo (look for a scrolling message highlighted with ***). Trams and buses - always on time! If a tram is temporarily diverted because of an accident this is announced inside and at stops over PA - but in Swiss German: ask a fellow passenger or the driver if it's Greek to you. 3.3 By cycle Basel is a bicycle-friendly city, with many well-marked bicycle lanes throughout the city, and even traffic signals and left-hand turn lanes for bikes. While drivers are generally aware of bikers, be sure to use hand signals and ride defensively. Beware of the trams! If you are not careful, your wheels may also get stuck in the tram tracks and this can make you fly. Helmets are not required (although recommended), but lights and bells are. The Swiss are quite keen cyclists, so don't be surprised when an old lady goes flying past you on her bike while going uphill. Besides local commuter bike lanes, there are specific bike trails that connect to other parts of Switzerland (via the Veloland Schweiz network, (recommended for overland bicycling tours). These bike trails are indicated by signs at some intersections. Bike Rental Bikes can be rented locally from the Rent-a-Bike underground bike park, +41 51 229 23 45, at Centralbahnplatz, underneath the Basel SBB railway station. 3.4 By boat Münsterfähri - the ferry below the Cathedral •You can be carried across the Rhine by Fähri, one of Basel's four small ferry boats, which, hanging at a steel rope, are silently drawn by the current between the two banks of the river. One river crossing costs CHF 1.60 for adults and 0.80 for children. The most popular one may be the one that starts in Grossbasel just below the Münster. •Various day excursions up and down the Rhine, on large motor boats, are offered by Basler Personenschiffahrt, Reservations phone +41 61 639 95 00. Boats depart from Schifflände, near the Grossbasel end of Mittlere Brücke. 3.5 By car Driving in Basel is not recommended for visitors, as inner city streets can be confusing - and are shared with trams (note that cars must yield to trams). Parking in the old city is relatively expensive and scarce. Most mid-range or luxury hotels have or help with parking. In addition, there is a network of clean, safe (and payable) public garages at the periphery of the city center, generally open 24/7. If you stay for the day only and are driving via highway into Grossbasel, try Centralbahnparking near the SBB Station; if you're entering in Kleinbasel, try Parking Badischer Bahnhof, near the German railway station. Closer to the city center in Grossbasel are Steinen Parking at Steinenschanze 5 and Elisabethen Parking, at Steinentorberg 5, and in Kleinbasel Messe Basel Parking at Messeplatz. A handy website with availability and driving directions to all public garages can be found here:. 4.To See 4.1 Old Town Attractions Most of the "old town" attractions in Basel are in a walkable area between the Basel Zoo (just south of the Basel SBB train station) and the Rhine. Since most stores are closed on Sundays, it is a good day to plan to see one of the many museums, which are usually open. Basel and surroundings have over 20 museums, and many of these have a free opening hour at the end of the day. •Münster and Pfalz. •The Münster seen from KleinbaselWalk up cobbled streets and alleys from Marktplatz or Mittlere Brücke to Münsterplatz (Cathedral square) to see Basel's Münster (cathedral), built 1019-1500 in Romanesque and Gothic style, and the medieval buildings lining the square. The Münster is open to the public. •Galluspforte / St. Gallus DoorIts highlight is the Galluspforte (Gallus portal) on the western façade, considered the most important Romanesque sculptural work in Switzerland. The main (south) façade also features numerous figures (mostly Romanesque), including St. George slaying the Dragon. The inside has, among other things, a lectern most delicately carved out of sandstone (19th century), and a crypt with tombs of early bishops of Basel. For a few CHF, you can climb St. Martin's tower (completed 1500), at 62 meters the shorter of the two towers - the other tower is St. George's, 65 meters, completed in 1492, after the 1356 earthquake destroyed an earlier version. Enjoy spectacular views over the Rhine, the city and Alsace and Black Forest in the distance. However, you must be accompanied in order to be allowed entrance (jumping risk). Views from the Pfalz (plaza) north of the the Münster and overlooking the Rhine are some of the best Basel has to offer. This is a nice place to have a picnic. •Elisabethen, Elisabethenstrasse. St. Elizabeth is relatively underrated in Basel guides and maps given its historical significance. Built between 1857 -1865, it was the first new Protestant church building in Basel following the Reformation and is considered the most important neo-Gothic church in Switzerland. •Marktplatz, Market square. Fresh fruits and vegetables, breads and pastries, flowers are available each working day. Considerably more vendors on Saturday morning. •Rathaus (Town hall). •Basel Rathaus / Town HallRight on Marktplatz, this beautifully renovated Renaissance palace is still in official use, but you can enter the courtyard on your own, or join a guided tour organized by Basel Tourismus, which also offers tours of other sightseeing destinations, such as the Münster (see below). •The Gates to the Walled City. A (third) ring of fortifications around the whole old city was constructed after the great earthquake of 1356, to provide security for the then roughly 20,000 inhabitants of Basel. A number of these gates can still be seen at the perimeter of what used to be the medieval city: Spalentor (tram no. 3 from Barfüsserplatz in the city center, direction Burgfelden Grenze), St. Alban Tor, near Aeschenplatz (tram no. 3 direction Birsfelden), St. Johanns Tor, near the Rhine, tram No. 11 direction St. Louis Grenze). 4.2 Museums Basel prides itself on having more than two dozen museums, covering a wide range of subjects, from art - emphasized below - and architecture to cartoons and even doll houses. Perhaps the most important ones are: •Kunstmuseum Basel, St. Alban-Graben 16, city centre, ☎ +41 61 206 6262. Basel's exquisite art museum houses an impressive permanent collection of 19th and 20th century works (including a whole room filled with masterpieces by Picasso), as well as an extensive collection of medieval and renaissance paintings from European artists (Hans Baldung Grien, Hans Holbein, among others). Under the same umbrella, but in a separate building, at St. Alban-Rheinweg 60 (10 minute walk from the main facility) is the Museum für Gegenwartskunst, which focuses - as the German name says - on contemporary art. Along with the Beyeler Foundation (see below), both collections are must-sees for art lovers. No photography. •Fondation Beyeler, Baselstrasse 101, +41 - (0)61 - 645 97 00, (take tram no. 6 towards Riehen Grenze to Fondation Beyeler stop). 10AM-6PM (W UNTIL 8PM). This elegant museum, located 15 minutes outside of Basel in the suburb of Riehen, was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano. It houses a world-class collection, assembled over half a century by Basel's pre-eminent art dealer Ernst Beyeler (see Art | Basel in the Other Events section). The names of its collection read like a Who-is-Who of the art world since the late 19th century. It is notable, among other things, for a permanent collection of works by color-field painter Mark Rothko and a vast nymphéas (water lily) painting by impressionist master Claude Monet. The Fondation usually also displays excellent temporary exhibitions. No photography indoors, photos allowed outdoors. •Museum Jean Tinguely, Paul Sacher-Anlage 1, +41 61 681 93 20. Tu-Su 11AM-5PM. A 15 minute walk east from Mittlere Brücke, following for the most part the promenade on the Kleinbasel bank of the Rhine, or take bus no. 36 . See some fantastic animated mechanical works at this museum dedicated to Swiss artist Jean Tinguely and other similar "kinetic" modern artists. Great for kids. It's allowed to take pictures. •Tinguely's Fasnachtsbrunnern / Carnival FountainThe building was designed by Mario Botta, whose other museum buildings include the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. 10 CHF adults, free for children up to age 16. No photography. Tinguely was one of Basel's most beloved artists, and another of his poetic machine sculptures, the Fasnachtsbrunnen (Carnival Fountain) can be seen on the plaza in front of Restaurant Kunsthalle on Steinenberg (see Eat), next to a large metal sculpture by American artist Richard Serra. It's allowed to take pictures. •Schaulager, +41 61 335 32 32, Ruchfeldstrasse 19, Münchenstein/Basel (10 minute tram ride from the city center with No. 11),. Designed by Basel's star architects Herzog & De Meuron, this extraordinary building houses the extensive back catalogue of the Emanuel Hoffmann Foundation's eminent modern and contemporary art collection. The Foundation, which is also a large benefactor of the Kunstmuseum and the Museum für Gegenwartskunst (Museum for Contemporary Art) was created by heirs to the fortune of the pharmaceutical multinational Hoffmann-La Roche (see Work). Schaulager literally means display-warehouse - and the building is indeed a hybrid between a storage space (cum art history research centre) and a museum, with changing temporary exhibitions. •HeK (House of Electronic Arts Basel) ☎ +41 61 283 60 50, Freilager.Platz 9, Münchenstein/Basel (8 minute tram ride from the city centre with No. 11). W-Su 12:00-18:00, Th 12:00-20:00. Switzerland's only house dedicated solely to the Electronic Arts shows regularly changing exhibitions and hosts a diverse range of events. •Kunsthalle Basel, Steinenberg 7, city center, +41 61 206 99 00. Tu–F 11AM–6PM, Th 11AM–8.30PM, Sa,Su 11AM–5PM. Basel's main non-commercial art space for changing contemporary art shows. Throughout the year, the Kunsthalle shows cutting edge international artists in meticulously curated shows. •Museum der Kulturen, Münsterplatz 20, +41 (0)61 266 56 00. Basel's ethnographic museum featuring exhibits from South America, Africa, East Asia and Oceania. The exhibits from the South Seas, Ancient America, Tibet and Bali are world-famous, as are its textiles. •Antikenmuseum Basel, St. Albangraben 5, +41 (0)61 201 12 12. Across the street from the Kunstmuseum there is one of Europe's largest collection of antiquities. It includes some Egyptian and Mesopotamian art, but its largest departments are those of Greek art. •Puppenhausmuseum Basel, Steinenvorstadt 1, located at the Barfüsserplatz. Boasts having the world's greatest collection of teddy bears as well as fascinating toy shops and doll houses constructed to the scale of 1:12. A great place for kids and adults alike. CHF 7 adults, free for children up to age 16 (if accompanied). •Basler Papiermühle, St Alban Tal 37. Entry CHF15 (with concessions). Working paper mill with comprehensive displays of paper making, printing, and binding. Many staff on hand to demonstrate the processes. 4.3 Equally interesting are the contemporary art spaces near Basel, all reachable by public transport: •Kunsthaus Baselland, St. Jakob-Strasse 170, Muttenz, 15 minutes by tram (no. 14 from Barfüsserplatz to stop Schänzli). +41 (0)61 312 83 88,. Tu, Th–Su 11AM–5PM, W 2PM–8PM. The Kunsthaus features changing exhibitions of contemporary art, particularly the Regionale, an annual platform for young artists from the Three Countries' Corner (together with the Kunsthalle Basel). It also houses the BEWE Collection (donated by collectors Bruno and Elisabeth Weiss), which focuses on the oeuvre of two renowned Basel based modernist artist groups: Rot-Blau and Gruppe 33. •Vitra Design Museum, Charles-Eames-Str. 1, Weil am Rhein, Germany, +49 7621 702 3200. No collection, only changing temporary exhibitions - see website. But worth the visit for any self-respecting architecture junkie: During a guided tour of the campus (Tuesday - Sunday, at 12PM and 2PM, 2 hours, call ahead), see Frank Gehry's first European building, and more structures by Zaha Hadid, Tadao Ando, Nicholas Grimshaw and Alvaro Siza. Bring your passport and take bus no. 55 from Claraplatz or Basel's Badischer Bahnhof to the stop "Vitra" in Weil am Rhein (15 - 20 minutes). You can also take the train to the trainstation Weil am Rhein. From there schedule a 15-minute walk to the museum. - Or take a taxi from downtown Basel (15 minutes). •Fernet Branca Musée d'Art Contemporain 2, rue du Ballon, Saint-Louis, France, +33 3 89 69 10 77. Changing contemporary art exhibitions, see website for schedule. This latest addition to the array of museums of the Basel region is reachable by a 10 minute bus ride from Schifflände (near Mittlere Brücke). Bring your passport and get off at the Carrefour stop (another 3 minutes on foot to the museum). 4.4 Other Worthwhile Sights and Discoveries •Basel Zoo, Binningerstrasse 40, +41 61 295 35 35,. Basel's most visited paid tourism attraction. It is the oldest and largest (by number of animals) zoo in Switzerland, with easy access by walking or tram from the central SBB station. For a zoo located in the center of a city it is big with great variety. Have lunch watching the elephants and take some time to see the monkeys solving problems for food in the Monkey House. •Rhine river. In warm weather, be sure to spend some time in the afternoon enjoying the sun by the Rhine, walking along the 2 mile/ 3 km promenade on the Kleinbasel board, or take a dip in it if it's really hot, as many locals do (see Sports in the Do section, and Stay safe). •A freighter making its way up the RhineWalk over the bridges: they offer excellent vantage points to see river - and river bank - life. Even better - cross the Rhine by Faehri. See Getting Around, By Boat. •The world-class construction projects at Voltaplatz. The first is the building of a tunnel under the city streets for traffic entering and leaving France. This traffic has been using surface routes to the bridge over the Rhine for decades. The project has been causing chaos for years, further complicated by the unearthing of ancient ruins in the excavation. Not be be ignored is the nearby Novartis campus reconstruction project. This immense building project will totally renovate the look of the campus and integrate with the tunnel project to create a revitalized and attractive neighborhood and serene parkland along the Rhine River. The sheer number and size of the construction cranes in this area is awesome! And the entire area is accessible and transportation continues to flow every day in the midst of all this construction. •Chase The Third Man? While Carol Reed's classic post-war film noir actually takes place in Vienna, you can recreate its dark atmosphere by taking a guided tour of Basel's underground sewerage system (don't worry, this being Switzerland, it's not overly smelly). After entering a tunnel at Heuwaage, you follow the Birsig river underground to its estuary in the Rhine. The 1 1/4 hour tour ends at Restaurant Safran-Zunft in the city center, where you are taken up into the light again - and to tasty snacks. Because the tour requires a group to justify the somewhat high cost of CHF 250.- (per group, not person) you should either find like-minded folks or try to join an existing group. Contact the urban planning firm Lindenberg 3, +41 61 683 56 52, for details and reservation. 5.What to do 5.1 Events and Festivals Basler Fasnacht This is Basel's version of Carnival, and a premier event during the year, lasting for three straight days, beginning on the Monday following Ash Wednesday. Don't confuse it with the more raucous festivals in traditionally Catholic areas, such as the German Rhineland (Karneval) and Munich (Fasching), or Carnival in Rio or Mardi Gras in New Orleans. It can actually have a kind of somber feel, although with a distinct poetry and subtle humour, which you may learn to like. Many locals are dead-serious about it, often preparing their costumes and practicing their skills on the traditional musical instruments (military drums and piccolo flutes) throughout most of the year. If you are not a Basler, avoid dressing up silly or putting on make-up, as this is neither customary nor appreciated by locals - who mostly prefer to stay among themselves for what many consider "the three loveliest days" of the year. But that's no reason to be discouraged (thousands of tourists aren't anyway), just have the right approach: Fasnacht starts Monday morning with an eerie procession called Morgestraich (MOR-GUE-SHTRICH): At precisely 4:00 AM, street lights are turned off, and hundreds of traditional bands (cliquen), dressed up in elaborate costumes and masks ("larven"), parade through the densely packed streets of the old town. Arrive well in advance - and on foot - or you will not get through to the city center. It's not recommended for the claustrophobic, although it is peaceful, despite the masses. Absolutely DON'T use flash photography! It ruins the atmosphere, marks you as a tourist and creates hundreds of instant enemies. Morgestraich lasts for about 2-3 hours, during which restaurants are open - if mobbed - and you can warm up with a traditional zibelewaie (a kind of quiche) and a mählsuppe (a soup made of sauteed flour). It's an acquired taste, so perhaps wash it down with a glass of white wine. Almost all of the restaurants mentioned in the Eat section below are open during Morgestraich - but perhaps don't choose McD. After Morgestraich, everyone goes home to get some hours of sleep - or sometimes to work, if you are a Basler. A Clique made up of Drummers and Piccolo Players There are similar parades, the cortège, by the cliquen on Monday and Wednesday afternoon, along a predetermined route through most of the inner city. Note again the elaborate costumes and masks, and the large hand-painted lanterns ("ladäärne"), the pride of each clique, often designed by a local artist. Each clique chooses a sujet (SU-SHEA), a motto that typically pokes fun at some (often local) political event of the past year and which is reflected in the costumes and lanterns. You don't need to understand the sujet to appreciate the beauty of the artistic renderings. The lanterns are also on display on Tuesday nights, at Münsterplatz. In the evenings, the cortège route is all but abandoned, and large and small cliquen roam through the smaller alleys of the old town (gässle). It is common for spectators who like the look or sound of one of the cliquen to follow it around on foot for a while. As the pace of the cliquen is a slow stroll, and as the music CAN be lovely, this may even be kind of romantic, particularly if you are holding hands with a date. But note that Fasnacht is nothing like Mardi Gras, so don't expect ladies baring their breasts. Overt sexuality is a no no, and aggressive attempts at picking up are frowned upon, as is binge-drinking. Remember: it's an almost somber if poetic affair. Try to blend in with locals, perhaps express some friendly curiosity about a costume or a sujet when talking to someone, and you are likely to have a much better time. Tuesday is the day of the children, and of the Guggemusig (GOOCKE-MOOSIC), noisy brass bands that intentionally play off key. On Tusday night at 10:00 PM, dozens of these bands play on two stages, at Claraplatz and Barfüsserplatz. This is the one day where things get much merrier, particularly in the more proletarian neighborhoods of Kleinbasel, where many of the Guggemusige have their home. •Chienbäse. •Burning BäseCombine Fasnacht with the amazing fire spectacle of Chienbäse (KHEAN-BA-SE) parade in nearby town of Liestal, capital of the neighboring canton Basel-Landschaft (15 minutes by train from the SBB Station), which starts at 7:15 PM on the Sunday evening preceding Morgestraich. Locals clad in (kind of) fireproof garb parade through the narrow and spectator-lined streets of the town, carrying large burning wooden brooms (bäse) above their heads. Other groups are drawing iron carts with huge bonfires - which they even rush through some of the old town gates, as the flames lick the structures above. There are a number of inconclusive interpretations of this pagan-seeming custom but, again, you don't necessarily need to understand any of them to appreciate the eerie and even mildly threatening beauty of the parade. •Fasnachtsbummel. The three Sunday afternoons following Fasnacht, the cliquen tour the countryside and small towns around Basel and return to Basel for a final large evening parade - the bummel (BOOM-MEL, engl. stroll). No costumes, just music. 5.2 Art | Basel and other art fairs •Art | Basel Mid-June. Co-founded by gallery owner Ernst Beyeler (see Beyeler Foundation) in the late 1960s, this is the world's premier fair for modern and contemporary art. Another event that seems to all but double the population of the city. The five day fair attracts major galleries and wealthy art collectors from around the world. ArtBasel showcases works by virtually every important artist from the late 19th century up to red hot trendsetters. Concurrently with Art | Basel, three other contemporary arts fairs are held in Basel each year, Liste, Voltashow and Hot Art. Liste and Voltashow feature international but generally younger and less established artists from around the globe, while Balelatina focuses on art from Latin America. All three "little sister" fairs tend to make room for (somewhat) more affordable artists than Art | Basel. Competition among galleries to get into Art | Basel is immense and prices for renting a booth astronomical. So expect the prices to reflect that. But Basel is well worth a trip just for this gigantic artfest if you are interested in seeing modern art, in being seen seeing modern art, and in buying modern art (if you can afford it). The international art world virtually takes over Basel for the week leading up to and during the fairs, with all kinds of art-themed parties and side events and much the same kind of beautiful (and somewhat self-important) people whose company you can enjoy, or not, in New York's Chelsea and London's East End. If you're serious about visiting the fairs, plan at least three days to see them all - Art | Basel alone is exhaustingly vast in scope and requires at least a day (unless you already know which Picasso or Rauschenberg you've got your eyes on). By the way, because of its immense success, Art | Basel has branched out to a second fair, Art | Basel | MiamiBeach, held in December in Miami, FL, by all accounts an even bigger zoo. 5.3 Other Fairs and Markets Hall 2 of Messe Basel •BaselWorld International Watch and Jewelry fair.. Late March-Early April. The world's biggest watch and jewelry trade show. The city's population more than doubles during this convention. The watch displays are particularly elaborate, with the exhibition space set up like an indoor version of New York's 5th Avenue. Art | Basel and BaselWorld shows take place at Messe Basel, Messeplatz (Kleinbasel) one of Switzerland's biggest trade fair venues, which also hosts several other trade shows throughout the year. •Basel Herbstmesse (autumn fair). Two weeks beginning on the last Saturday of October every year. Rides, booths, shooting alleys and lots of food in several locations all over the city, including Messeplatz (biggest site with most attractions, including rollercoaster and the like), Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz (where you get nice views from the ferris wheel). Recommended: the cosy market at Petersplatz, near the main University building, where you can take a leisurely stroll and buy almost anything you never needed - from china, spices and tea, hand-drawn candles, knitted sweaters, leather goods to the latest household cleaning tools - and of course tons of tasty fast food, from healthy corn on the cob to less healthy Wurst varieties. •Basler Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market). Last week in November until 23 December in Barfüsserplatz. 5.4 Theater and Classical Music •Theater Basel, box office +41 61 295 11 33, is a three stage public theater in the city center. The Grosse Bühne (grand stage), in the theater's main building on Theaterplatz, is primarily used for operas and ballet. The Schauspielhaus, re-opened in 2002 in a new building on nearby Steinentorstr. 7, offers drama and comedy plays (in German and sometimes Swiss-German). The Kleine Bühne, also in the main building, is used for smaller drama productions or other unclassifiable genres. The repertoire of all three stages typically features a mixture of classic European canon (plays by Schiller, Chekhov, Ibsen, etc., operas by Mozart, Verdi, and the like) and contemporary, sometimes experimental, shows that may defy genre borders. Even classical plays or operas will generally be given a contemporary treatment. Not for a traditionalist's taste but enjoyable for the adventurous spectator. Both the drama and opera productions garner attention beyond Basel and are reviewed by the German speaking press all over Europe. •Symphony Orchestra Basel (Sinfonieorchester Basel), is the opera orchestra of the Theater Basel (see above), and also performs classical symphonies and other pieces on the Grosse Bühne and in another venue, Stadtcasino Basel, which features an excellent grand auditorium. Tickets for the Orchestra are generally available via the Theater Basel box office (see above). Other theater venues include Fauteuil and Tabourettli, box office +41 61 261 26 10, two small stages in a medieval manor on picturesque Spalenberg 12, near Marktplatz, presenting (very) light comedy, usually in Baseldytsch, and some Fasnacht-related events during the season; and •Musicaltheater Basel, Feldbergstrasse 151, near Messe Basel, box office via Ticketcorner. 5.5 Dance, Rock and Jazz •Atlantis, +41 61 288 96 96, Klosterberg 13, city center near Heuwaage, is probably the most venerable venue for all kinds of popular music Basel has to offer. It's been around since the 50s and is, after many incarnations as a jazz club, theater, rock venue, now one of Basel's most popular dance clubs. A national and international set of DJs turns the tables nightly and finds an audience aged between 17 and 30. But the spirit of Rock is still alive, and the 'Tis also provides a stage for numerous local bands, with concerts taking place about five times a month. •Kaserne, Klybeckstr. 1b, Kleinbasel, +41 61 66 66 000. A concert (Indie Rock, Electronic Music, Hip Hop, Drum'n'Bass), theater and dance venue. •the bird's eye, Kohlenberg 20, city center, +41 61 263 33 41. A casual jazz club and home to mostly local talent. •Offbeat/Jazzschule Basel is a promoter of jazz concerts, often bringing big international names to the city. Concerts take place in various venues, including Stadtcasinoo and Theater Basel (see above). Check current programming via Offbeat, tickets also there, or at the Theater Basel box office +41 61 295 11 33. •Roche'n'Jazz. A jazz event every last Friday of the month, except September, starting at 4PM, in the galleries of Museum Tinguely (see See, Museums for address details). •Hinterhof, Münchensteinerstrasse 81, M-Parc station, +41 61 331 04 00. Live acts, bar culture, exhibitions. This place opened its doors in winter 2011 and has been vibrant ever since. Suitable for short visits to the rooftop bar and dancefloor, since they offer frequent parties with no entry fee. •Nordstern, Voltastrasse 30, Voltaplatz station, +41 61 383 80 60. Club & lounge with a reputation for good electronic music. Free entry Ragga & Dancehall parties on Mondays. •Das Schiff, Westquaistrasse 19, Kleinhüningen station, +41 61 631 42 40. Club, lounge & restaurant located on a boat at the port close to the German border. Keep one eye on the club program and watch out for the well-known international and local DJ's that frequently set foot on the boat to entertain the crowd on the small and often-packed dancefloors. •Kuppel, Annex and Acqua, Binningerstrasse 14, Markthalle station. Hotspot near the zoo and the old city center; very popular with a young crowd. They serve almost any musical taste here: HipHop, Reggae, Funk, Disco, Oldies & Alternative Rock at Kuppel and mostly Electronic at Annex. Acqua is part restaurant, part bar; chill out here in a unique environment and enjoy the DJs from a local radio station while they broadcast live from within the bar. •SkuBar, Petersplatz 1, Universität station, +41 61 267 30 06. This venue is run by students and open every Thursday evening during lecture period. Climb down the stairs to the cellar of the university and enjoy the cheap drinks and friendly people. The music played and live acts on stage are subject to constant, chaotic change. 5.6 Sports •For those who enjoy watching a fierce game of football, FC Basel delivers some of the best football (Am. soccer). Having claimed the Swiss Championship 17 times and the Swiss Cup in 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012, the team has also held its own in the European Championships. In the last few years FC Basel have proved to be one of the best teams in all of Europe. Home games take place in the spanking new St. Jakobs Park, Gellertstrasse 235, +41 61 375 10 10, designed by Herzog & De Meuron and completed in 2001. St. Jakobs Park is the largest park in all of Switzerland and FC Basel is known to bring in the most fans per game out of the entire Swiss Soccer League. •Kick a football or fly a frisbee in one of Basel's parks, e.g., Schützenmattpark, reachable by tram No. 8 from central Barfüsserplatz (direction Allschwilerweiher); or in Kannenfeldpark, reached by tram No. 3, also from Barfüsserplatz (direction Burgfelden Grenze), or tram No. 1 from Bahnhof SBB. •Ashtanga Yoga and Japanese archery, among other things, are offered by Unternehmen Mitte, Gerbergasse 30, +41 61 263 36 63 (see also the Drink section). •Swim the Rhine! While recommended only for good swimmers - and only during the height of summer, when the water temperature allows to actually enjoy it, it is a fun way of cooling off and getting free sightseeing of the medieval old town at the same time. There are several possible points of entry, including the Badhysli [bath house] Rheinbad Breite, St. Alban-Rheinweg 195, +41 61 311 25 75, on the Grossbasel bank of the river. Exit at the Badhysli Rheinbad St. Johann, St. Johanns-Rheinweg, +41 61 322 04 42, also on the Grossbasel bank, roughly 2 km /1.2 miles below the Breite bath. Alternatively you can also enter the river on a variety of points on the Kleinbasel bank of the river, where the water is accessible along a promenade of about 3 km / 1.8 miles. Since you'll be swimming with the current, you will have to either carry your clothes along in a sealed plastic bag (the Tourist Office sells bright orange ones), or be prepared to walk back in your bathing suit. It is probably best to take a swim with a local. The water is generally considered pretty clean, but you may wish to inquire about current conditions (including the strength of the current and other possible hazards) with one of the Badhysli. See also the Stay safe section below. Each August, there is a popular Rheinschwimmen with up to 3000 participants and accompanying boats providing some security. You can also just sunbathe and take a dip without swimming very far at either of the Badhysli, which both feature outdoor restaurants (with limited menus), showers, and locker facilities. •There are also several outdoor pools, including Gartenbad St. Jakob, St. Jakobs-Str. 400, +41 61 311 41 44, Gartenbad Bachgraben, Belforterstr. 135, +41 61 381 43 33 and Gartenbad Eglisee, Egliseestr. 85, +41 61 267 47 47. But while these are popular as well, they are far less exciting than a swim in the Rhine. •Wintertime offers ice-skating on a number of large rinks: Eiskunstbahn Egliseee, on the grounds of the swimming pool of the same name (details see above); Kunsteisbahn Margarethen, Im Margarethenpark, +41 61 361 95 95; or Genossenschaft St. Jakob-Arena, Brüglingen 33, + 41 61 377 51 74 (next to the St. Jakob public pool). All but St. Jakob-Arena are open only in the wintertime. Restaurant Kunsthalle (see Eat, Splurge) has in some past winters also set up a romantic ice rink in their garden. •Rockclimbing or, for the less adventurous, hiking in the nearby Jura Mountains. Falkenfluh, near the picturesque little town of Seewen (about 15 km / 9 miles south of Basel, reachable by car or train and post bus) is a popular destination, featuring some 227 marked climbing routes, most of which are medium to challenging. To learn more about rockclimbing contact Irène & Martin Brunner, Rüttenenstrasse 19, 4513 Langendorf, Switzerland, +41 32 622 34 37. There is also an indoor rock-climbing center near the SBB train station, called K7. It is family friendly and offers courses. There is an even bigger climbing gym over the border in Germany, at Weil am Rhein with badminton, squash and ice skating facilities. 5.7 Learn •University of Basel (Universität Basel), +41 61 267 31 11. Switzerland's oldest university, founded in 1460. The main campus is on and around Petersplatz, reachable by tram no. 3 (direction Burgfelden Grenze, stop at Lyss or Spalentor). For student exchange or study abroad programs visit the University's website and go to International Students. Because of its close links with the Basel-based pharmaceutical companies Novartis and Roche (see Work), the University's school for molecular biology, Biozentrum, attracts many international doctoral and post-doc students and is considered one of the top schools in Europe in this area. •The University Library (Universitätsbibliothek), +41 61 267 3100 is near the main campus at Schönbeinstr. 18-20. You need not be a student or member to read inside or use the internet terminals, but you need a membership to borrow books. There is a café on the top floor, which serves coffee, snacks and even limited lunch options at reasonable prices. •Schule für Gestaltung Basel, Vogelsangstrasse 15, +41 61 695 67 Auto GPS: 47,498120 7,563160 Im Kirsgarten 8, 4106 Therwil, Schweiz There is a covered parking space for your car. ---- Public transport: 6 minutes to walk to the trainstation. With the tram it takes 20 minutes to the center of Basel, 30 minutes to the fair.