Cheap Tickets to Basel

This Swiss city enjoys a scenic setting on the River Rhine and offers its visitors a blend of the ancient and the contemporary with an eclectic mix of museums for all tastes and an exciting annual programme of events. Located where the Swiss, German and French borders meet, Basel is the third most populated city in Switzerland. It can trace an occupation going back many centuries B.C. and eventually developed into a town around the site of a Roman castle. The city joined the Swiss Confederation in 1501, while the 20th century saw it become an important venue for peace negotiations and international meetings.

Things to do

The most historic attractions of Basel are located in the Old Town, with its beautiful medieval heart of narrow cobbled streets. This lies on the South bank of the Rhine. While having plenty of attractions of its own, the city is also a gateway to the Jura Mountains and the Black Forest in Germany.

• A cathedral with a beautiful roof

Full of art and history, the imposing Munster Cathedral also gives you great views of the city. Parts of it date back over 1,000 years and today it is an imposing red sandstone building with two towers and a magnificent roof decorated with an intricate rhombus pattern in red and green.

• A museum in miniature

The Spielzeug Welten Museum is one of its kind in Europe, with four floors dedicated to the dolls house. Children and the young at heart can marvel at these intricate miniature worlds as well as teddy bears and toys from around the world.

• Try your hand at paper making

The Paper Mill and Museum in the St. Alban quarter celebrates a city tradition dating back hundreds of years. Tour the paper mill and factory and browse its exhibits before having a go at making your own paper and trying out some printing techniques.

Calendar of Events

Basel's exciting annual programme of events has something to tempt everyone, whether it's celebrating Spring with Fasnacht, watching the annual Tattoo competitions or enjoying open-air jazz and theatre concerts on gentle Summer evenings. The end of the year is marked with traditional Christmas markets and finally the fireworks of New Year's Eve.

• The Basler Fasnacht. This colourful carnival is referred to as "the three most beautiful days". In February, floats and carriages, drum and piccolo bands and costumes of all sorts take to the streets for parades... and partying continues late into the night.

• Swiss National Day. This national holiday falls on 1st August and in this city is celebrated with water sports on the Rhine and festival stands lining the riverbanks and Mittlere Bridge. Spectacular fireworks displays end the day.

• Basel Tattoo: Unique in Switzerland, this open-air festival takes place through a week in July. Orchestras from around the world congregate in the city for elaborately choreographed marching band competitions while light shows add to the party atmosphere.