Basel Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide

The narrow alleyways and hidden squares with over 200 fountains as well as the many century-old buildings and eye-catching sights such as the Town Hall or the Cathedral combine to make Basel’s Old Town one of the most beautiful and intact of its kind in Europe.

Together with the Mittlere Brücke, the Basler Münster (Cathedral) is probably the most famous landmark in Basel. With its red sandstone walls, colourful roof tiles and twin towers, no other building adorns the cityscape of Basel like the Cathedral.

The Pfalz viewing terrace in Basel offers fantastic views over the Old Town and as far as the border triangle.

The Spalentor (Gate of Spalen) is the most magnificent and impressive of the three city gates still remaining from the city fortifications dating from 1400.

In 1977 Jean Tinguely created sculptural machines in a shallow fountain where the stage of the old city theatre company once stood, and in the process gifted Basel a famous new landmark.

Hardly another monument in the city of Basel has become such a symbol of the city as the Mittlere Brücke. Opened in 1226, it is one of the oldest Rhine crossings between Lake Constance and the North Sea.

Messe Basel, Basel, Switzerland The new Messe Basel trade fair building is one of the city's newer landmarks. The central architectural urban feature of the hall complex, developed by Herzog & de Meuron, is the City Lounge.

The 31-storey tower on Messeplatz was designed by renowned architects Morger & Degelo & Marques and is an unmistakeable landmark of the city with its green-tinted glass and metal structure. In addition to a hotel and offices for many of the city's most prominent companies, the top floor also houses the BarRouge. From here there are breathtaking views of the city and of the neighbouring countries of France and Germany.

Museum Tinguely, designed by Ticino architect Mario Botta and opened in 1996, is situated right on the bank of the Rhine. It houses the largest collection of works by Jean Tinguely (1925–1991), one of the most innovative and important Swiss artists of the 20th century.

The museum in Riehen near Basel is internationally renowned for its outstanding exhibitions, significant collection of classical modernism and contemporary art, and its ambitious event programme. Today, the Fondation Beyeler’s collection includes more than 400 works by 91 artists. Each year, curated exhibitions present works from the collection alongside loans from other museums or private collections. The museum building, designed by Renzo Piano, is situated idyllically in a park with mature trees and lily ponds. Those wishing to linger longer can enjoy the Beyeler Restaurant in the park. Its location in a recreational area, with views of cornfields, grazing cows, and vineyards at the foot of the Black Forest, is unique.

The Roche Towers, designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron, can rightly be viewed as a modern landmark of Basel – but as the tallest office buildings in Switzerland, they can be seen far outside the city limits, too.

The Novartis Pavillon in the park of the Novartis Campus can be seen even from far away – especially at sunset, when an elaborate light show makes this fascinating building sparkle.

The Merian Gardens are a beautiful botanical garden, a historic park and a carefully designed place for relaxation on the outskirts of the city of Basel. They draw visitors all year round with their stunning array of blooms, unique variety of plants and impressive botanical collections.

Located in green parkland with many trees, the animal park has red deer, fallow deer, lynx, wild cats and wild boar. Stables and paddocks house donkeys, ponies, goats, sheep, rabbits and guinea pigs. There is also a generously-sized aviary, where adults and children can enjoy observing a large variety of birds. There are also ponds filled with swans, geese and ducks. Peacocks, storks and herons also wander freely in the park.