Basel overview

Basel is Switzerland’s bastion of summer spectacles. Nestled near the northern border of Germany and France, Basel boasts a surprisingly warm climate; much to the resentment of some southern Swiss towns. Although the town is largely German influenced, don’t be taken-aback if your perfect German linguistic talents are met with stares of bewilderment or confusion by locals. Most Baslers converse in a separate dialect, and to make things even more confusing, salute goodbye using French! Nevertheless, most locals can speak English, or at least broken English, so it’s probably best to stick with what you know. Basel contains one of the most enlightening Old Towns in Europe, boasting attractions like the Munster, Rathaus, Elisabethen and the ancient fortification walls. Museums dominate the cityscape, with over 20 located throughout Basel. Other things to experience while visiting Basel include swimming in the Rhine and exploring the famous Basel Zoo.