48 HOURS


Basel is Switzerland’s cultural heart but it also offers visitors a surprisingly rich array of activities that range from an annual carnival and Rhine Swim to the renowned Christmas market, says Dave Richardson


Basel 48 hours A


FACTFILE


General Info: Time Zone: GMT+1 Climate: Continental European, with hot summers and cold winters. Basel Tourism: 0041 61 268 6858 www.basel.com


A trade manual in English can be accessed at http:// gruppen.basel.com/en/ travel-trade-services


Getting There:


Direct flights (about 1h 30m) SWISS from London City www.swiss.com EASYJET from Gatwick, from £92 return www.easyjet.com BRITISH AIRWAYS from Heathrow www.ba.com


A wider choice of flights is available to Zurich airport, from where Basel is easy to reach. RAIL EUROPE


quotes a journey time by Eurostar from London of 6h 25m, with a change of station in Paris to TGV Lyria. Return fares start at £145 www.raileurope.co.uk/trade


Where to book it: DERTOUR


020 3131 0536


Four nights at the Mercure Europe hotel cost £440 in August, including BA flights from Heathrow. It also offers the Swissotel, Dorint, Victoria, Hilton and Metropol hotels. www.dertour.co.uk


rt and culture lovers who have already experienced the main cities of Europe might easily


overlook the Swiss city of Basel when deciding where to go next. But the leading Swiss city for the arts can also offer much more including trips along the river Rhine and a wonderful Christmas market. Basel is a very international city being in


the north-west of Switzerland and on the borders of France and Germany, and it even has suburbs in each of these countries. With a population of under 200,000 it is very easy to get to know, and like all of Switzerland it is clean, efficient, courteous and with English widely spoken. It is also oddly quirky, with a large proportion of its people taking to the waters every August on the Rhine Swim. Basing yourself at a top hotel such as the Hilton, Swissotel or Dorint, you can spend a high-quality weekend taking in the many museums, galleries and sights. It has about 40 museums including the first public art museum in Europe, the Kunstmuseum, dating back to 1661. The Fondation Beyeler


discover much more of the Rhine, and join the locals to get changed in two bathing houses before taking a dip yourself – very refreshing in the summer heat. But if you go in winter, time a visit to


coincide with Basel’s Christmas festivities which get under way in November when the festive lights are switched on. In the heart of the historic Old Town at


“If you go in winter, time a visit to coincide with


Basel’s Christmas festivities which get under way in November when the festive lights are switched on”


and museum Tinguely are also musts, while there are many art works scattered around the city including an example by Picasso. The Basel Card costing e15 for any


24-hour period offers discounts on many of the city’s attractions. Basel people also like a party, its annual carnival being renowned throughout Europe. Sports are another strong point. When you’ve had your fill of art and


culture you will find a thriving gourmet scene, with Basel drawing its influences from not only Switzerland, France and Germany, but also from much further afield. In summer, the leisure scene is very much focused on the Rhine. You can take a local boat trip or use Basel as your base to


Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz – one of the most beautiful squares in Basel – is the enticing Christmas Market where arts and crafts from all over Switzerland are on display. Christmas tree ornaments can be found everywhere, along with linen, wooden figures, folk art, pottery, spices and wooden toys. Basel is easily reached from the UK with


flights from three London airports, including a new twice-daily service from London City by Swiss using ARJ 100 aircraft. The new flights bring the total of daily flights by Swiss from London to Switzerland to 36. Basel offers visitors a truly international experience, yet it is also very Swiss.


Basel is one of Switzerland’s urban gems and well worth a short-break visit whatever the time of year


Take to the water… Four river ferries have transported


passengers from one bank to the other since the middle of the 19th century, powered only by the natural current of the river Rhine.


DORLE SCHURMANN, SALES LEISURE, BASEL TOURISM


Let the train take the strain… A popular alternative, especially when


combining Basel with other cities in Switzerland, is to go by rail. TGV Lyria trains from Paris complete the journey in about three hours, and as you need to change stations in Paris after arriving on Eurostar, it’s a good way to spend some time here too. DAVE RICHARDSON


Have a picnic… Kannenfeldpark is one of the most


beautiful parks in Basel and a walker’s oasis. St. Johanns Park is right on the banks of the Rhine.


DORLE SCHURMANN, SALES LEISURE, BASEL TOURISM


www.sellinglonghaul.com • July/August 2012 18


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