24 Hours in Basel

A perfect day in Basel is a clear-skied summer’s day, which I begin by jogging along the Rhein and letting myself float back in the refreshing water. All you need is a ‘Schwimmfisch’, a bag into which you can put your stuff so it doesn’t get wet, and off you go!

Back in dry clothes and hungry like a bear to boot, I have breakfast at café Huckebein, crossing the Matthäusmarkt to get there – or maybe I go to Avant Gouz, where you can have the most amazing pain au chocolat. Really, the entire Matthäus Quartier district is full of lovely cafés, so you can’t go wrong.

The district is also known for its wealth of boutiques, so after breakfast I head in the direction of the St. Johanniterbrücke to my first stop, the fabulous Marinsel, a little gem of a store where you can find beautiful fashion and accessories. The Spalenberg area is also overflowing with charming boutiques: when I’m looking for Scandinavian interior design, Interiør Butik is where you’ll find me; VIU is where I go for cool sunglasses, Tarzan for getting my hands on some new clothes; when I feel like a new book, I drop by the beautiful Kosmos bookstore. If you’re looking to bring home a souvenir, Basel is home to an extraordinary knifesmith – check it out!

Before my next stop – the flea market, which takes place every Saturday at the square Petersplatz – I treat myself to a little summer snack and have a scoop of ice cream from Glatscharia along the way. When I’m done rummaging around the flea market I feel like more outdoor activity. From the bridge Mittlere Rheinbrücke, a boat, a so-called ‘Rhyschiffli’, takes off from the Schifflände and drops you off again at the Birsköpfli, a huge meadow right by the riverside – this is the perfect place to lie in the sun and go for a swim. When I get peckish, I have a dish of antipasti from one of the ‘Buvetten’, typical Basel locales serving small dishes and wine – Verando Pelicano is a particular favourite of mine.

On such a perfect day in Basel, one thing you really shouldn’t miss out on is playing a round of Kubb, an outdoor game which is very popular locally. Just ask the locals about it, I’m sure they will be more than happy to show you how it’s played.

In the late afternoon I make my way towards the centre of town, passing the wonderful and romantic St. Alban valley with all its small bridges and canals. The beautiful Papiermuseum is also located in this area, where you can learn all about paper. Two other museums I really like are the Cartoonmuseum and the Vitra Design Museum. At the second one, make sure to grab a bite to eat at the lovely Depot Deli.

I hop onto one of the countless ferries going back and forth across the river and in no time am back in Kleinbasel, on the other bank. You can watch a phenomenal sunset here, from the terrace of the Kulturbeiz in the Warteck tower. Afterwards, it’s off to my favourite dinner spot in Basel, the restaurant Roter Bären.

In the summer, a beautiful end to a perfect day can be had with a drink at one of the Buvetten by the water or a concert at Patschifig, Marina or the Kaserne. If it’s raining, the cocktail bar Angels’ Share, the clubs Heimat, Das Viertel and Kaschemme are all options for a good time after dinner. For a really special party experience, you can board the Nordstern .

Last but not least, I have to mention my own start-up, localholic. We also give you the chance to move around town like a local. Experience tailor-made tours operated by Basel residents who love their hometown and are willing to share their knowledge with you.