Things to see and do Basel

In Riehen, near Basel, this magnificent building was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, who also created the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Nestled in an English-style park, amid wheat fields and lily ponds, this luminous structure blends into the landscape, surrounded by a winter garden and the Villa Berower, home to the museum's restaurant. Here, nature, art and architecture coexist in perfect harmony.

Founded by Basel gallery owners Hildy and Ernst Beyeler, collectors of ^20th-century masters, the foundation, inaugurated in 1997, houses a vast collection of 400 works of post-impressionist, modern and contemporary art, plus 30 ethnographic objects from Africa, Oceania and Alaska, which are presented several times a year in changing exhibitions. Thematic exhibitions devoted to cities and artistic movements that played a decisive role in the development of modern art are also regularly organized. The founding couple had a clear vision for their foundation: an open, lively museum capable of inspiring a broad public with a love of art, and which would not only promote cultural education, but also encourage exchange. Today, the Foundation's worldwide reputation makes it one of Switzerland's most popular museums. It is also one of the most beautiful, thanks to the generous proportions of its halls, which display works of art in remarkable natural light.

St. Elisabeth's Church in Basel, saved from demolition in the 1980s, has become an emblematic venue for spirituality, culture and events. In the heart of Basel, it hosts parades, banquets and spiritual practices. A 215-step ascent leads to a breathtaking panoramic view. Switzerland's first "urban church", it celebrates diversity. Its history and architecture make it a jewel of Basel, open to all.

Discover the botanical treasure trove of the University of Basel, founded in 1589. Nestled near the Spalentor since 1898, its elegant Victorian greenhouse bears witness to its history. With over 8,000 plant species, explore desert ecosystems to alpine gardens. An ideal learning ground for students, its greenhouse collections, including the famous Victoria House, are fascinating. Outside, a diversity of trees invites contemplation!

Explore Switzerland's largest ethnological museum, with its rich collection of European and non-European cultures. Renovated in 2011 by Herzog & de Meuron, its architecture is distinctly ^19th-century. Discover a permanent collection and current exhibitions, offering an immersive experience to see the world from a new angle. Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the world's cultural mosaic.

Immerse yourself in the history of Western art at the Kunstmuseum. Three exhibition spaces: the main building (Hauptbau), the new building (Neubau) and the Kunstmuseum Gegenwart. The main building is a treasure trove of seven centuries of artistic history. Holbein, Van Gogh, Gauguin... The collection boasts over 3,000 works. The new building dazzles with its monumental staircase and streamlined rooms. The Gegenwart offers a plunge into contemporary art.

Basel Cathedral, the city's emblem, built between the ^12th and ^15th centuries with its pink sandstone walls, is a marvel restored after the earthquake of 1356. Its glazed tiles and asymmetrical spires make it unique. This Romanesque and Gothic jewel, built between 1019 and 1500, reveals a rich history and an abundance of treasures: crypt, dazzling stained glass windows, St. Gall door, sculptures and bas-reliefs. The terrace overlooking the Rhine, the "Pfalz", offers a breathtaking view.

Discover Basel's town hall, emblem of government and parliament. Its charm lies in its red façade, imposing tower and polychrome paintings. Don't miss the Council Chamber, the inner courtyard, the romantic arcades and the belfry with its panoramic views. Built after an earthquake, the Town Hall symbolizes union with the Confederation. The battlements bear the coats of arms of the cantons. In the ^17th century, Hans Bock decorated the façade with trompe-l'oeil. In the ^20th century, a wing on the left and a belfry on the right enhanced its grandeur.

Explore natural history at Basel's Naturhistorisches Museum! From dinosaurs to mammals, discover collections that have been preserved for centuries. Spend an unusual night surrounded by saber-toothed tigers or go fossil hunting for an unforgettable birthday. Whether you're fascinated by the animal world, hungry for scientific knowledge or amazed by life on earth, Basel's Naturhistorisches Museum promises an unforgettable experience.

It's the ideal starting point for the French who want to immerse themselves in Basel's lifestyle: all the information you need to discover this metropolis in pocket format, and a store brimming with gift ideas. Here you can buy your BaselCard, a real passport to the city: 50% discount on museums, guided city tours and free public transport. There are five free self-guided walking tours.

Located in the heart of the city, the museum displays a unique collection of 6,000 objects on 4 floors and over 1,000 m²: dolls and their homes, miniature teddy bears (the oldest date back to 1904) and contemporary models. The absolutely gigantic collection is not presented chronologically, but seeks to recreate a particular atmosphere. For all those who have kept their childlike spirit and appreciate the world of play.

Discover the world of Jean Tinguely at the eponymous museum designed by architect Mario Botta. This contemporary building pays tribute to the Swiss artist of perpetual motion. The central hall houses up to twenty mechanical sculptures, symphonies of moving metal. The exhibition "La roue = c'est tout" (The Wheel = That's All) until spring 2025 offers an insight into Tinguely's work. Explore his relationship between man and machine through interactive activities. From his fragile youth to his monumental creations, discover his career. The Chez Jeannot bistro invites you to take a gourmet break.

Discover the medieval paper mill, an exceptional site on the banks of the Rhine. Carefully restored, it offers an insight into the ancestral art of papermaking. Explore the four floors of interactive exhibits and workshops, from raw fiber to precious paper. Take part in demonstrations to relive history, with workshops designed for schools and groups. To prolong the experience, take advantage of the bar-restaurant with its terrace (open for lunch and afternoon meals).

Discover Basel Zoo, a biodiversity oasis in the heart of the city, with over 500 species from all over the world. Accessible from the SBB station and the city center, the "Zolli" is ideal for the whole family. Every day, the residents receive their food ration, offering a unique proximity. Pelicans and sea lions are fed at 3 p.m., with daily presentations and vivarium festivities at 3 and 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. In winter, don't miss the majestic penguin walk from the vivarium deck.

The Skulpturhalle Basel now houses over 2,200 casts, offering a representative perspective on ancient sculpture. This unique collection is one of the most prestigious in the world. Don't miss the extraordinary "Parthenon Project". Decades of painstaking work have enabled us to reconstruct, in the form of casts, all the remains of the architectural sculpture of the Athenian temple of the Parthenon, and a series of exact 1:20 scale architectural models offer a breathtaking vision of the temple's architecture.

Since 2016, the Gegenwart, part of Basel's Kunstmuseum, has been dedicated to contemporary art. Housed in a beautifully restored ^19th-century factory, it offers three levels of permanent and temporary exhibitions, including installations and videos. Lectures, debates and guided tours enrich the experience. Explore works by Beuys, Nauman, Trockel... as well as contemporary American art. The Gegenwart is not just a museum, but a promise of discovery, inspiration and wonder, offering a unique sensory and intellectual experience.

Discover Basel's Antikenmuseum, part of the cantonal administration, home to an exceptional collection of Egyptian, Greek, Italian, Etruscan and Roman works of art. Captivating exhibitions offer a unique perspective on antiquity. The Skulpturhalle features casts of ancient sculptures, including the Parthenon. Guided tours and workshops complete this immersive experience. The Antikenmuseum is a dynamic cultural venue to discover.

Before or after your visit to the Tinguely Museum, a very pleasant stroll is required in this park where it makes good sense to rejuvenate under the centenary trees overlooking the banks of the Rhine. The bravest will find a small staircase and the summer will be thrown into the Rhine to be drifted slowly to the Rheinbrücke or beyond. Don't forget your shirt and your little backpack (the Wieckelfisch) that will serve as a float and in which you will dry your clothes dry (for sale at the OT Basel).

Immerse yourself in the world of comics, caricatures and cartoons, unique in Switzerland. The Cartoonmuseum Basel offers 3,400 original works of art on three floors of a modern building. This collection is the fruit of a passion and commitment to narrative drawing. With over 10,000 works, the museum celebrates the legacy of this art form. Thematic exhibitions, inspiring workshops, guided tours (in French) and artist talks enrich each exhibition.

Discover the Swiss Architecture Museum (S AM), nestled a stone's throw from the Tinguely fountain. It showcases the city's contemporary architecture, bridging the gap between those in the know and those eager to discover. Basel shines on the European scene with works inherited from modernism and recent creations. The S AM offers three major exhibitions a year, revealing the "History and Present of Switzerland". Debates, guided tours and enriching publications.

Welcome to Basel's Music Museum, housed in the former prison since 2000. With 3,300 exhibits, it houses the world's largest collection of musical instruments. On three floors, discover 650 instruments spanning five centuries of history, including the oldest drum (1571), a viola da gamba by Joachim Tielke (circa 1704) and the "Weber-Unika" orchestrion from 1925. Explore eighty-four refurbished cells with interactive displays and exhibits for complete immersion.