April 22, 2025, 12:38 pm | Read time: 6 minutes

Basel is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest this year, but travelers often overlook it. However, the city is not just an architectural gem. TRAVELBOOK reveals why a trip there is worthwhile beyond the ESC.

Architectural Highlights

Those visiting Basel with an architect’s eye will mark many more spots on the city map besides the St. Jakobshalle. Basel is considered the architecture capital of Switzerland.

With thirteen recipients of the Pritzker Prize, a prestigious award for architects who have built in Basel or the surrounding area, the city’s marketing promotes itself. Art and culture enthusiasts will also find a wide and diverse museum landscape, including the Swiss Architecture Museum.

Tallest Building in Switzerland

The tallest building in Switzerland is not in Zurich or the “federal city,” Bern, but in the city on the Rhine. The Roche Tower 2, a twin-tower office building of a pharmaceutical company built in 2022, reaches 205 meters and surpassed the first Roche Tower as the record holder three years ago.

The building was designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron. It stands just a few meters from the promenade along the Rhine, in direct proximity to old workers’ settlements.

Industry, art, and architecture are inseparably linked in Basel. The Tinguely Museum, designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta, is located next to the headquarters of “the Roche.” This is how locals refer to the pharmaceutical giant Roche, which also operates the museum.

The museum is named after Jean Tinguely, the Basel artist who created massive machine sculptures from scrap metal. Their purpose is solely to have no purpose. A look inside is worthwhile.

Still a Grimy Image

The premises of Roche’s competitor Novartis, also based in Basel, with its office and laboratory buildings, reads like a who’s who of international architecture. In addition to Herzog & de Meuron, Frank Gehry, Richard Serra, and Sanaa are represented there.

However, the industry also significantly contributes to Basel’s still somewhat grimy image. The history as a location for the textile, dye, and chemical industries is long, and the economy remains present. Basel is still associated with gray highway loops and smoking chimneys. Many tourists find it easy to quickly continue south toward Italy.

You Can Swim in the Rhine Today

Nowadays, the Rhine is clean enough for swimming without concern. During the bathing season, water quality is regularly checked at three different locations, says Yves Parrat. “The measurements show that you can refresh yourself in the Rhine without worry when the water is clear,” emphasizes the cantonal chemist of the Basel-Stadt Health Department. 

There are several designated swimming zones, one of them at the Tinguely Museum, and Rhine baths. Waterproof bags can be borrowed for free at the tourist information at Barfüsserplatz if you want to float in the river.

First-time visitors to the city center are also surprised by the medieval flair around the market and Barfüsserplatz. The Basel government and parliament meet in the red town hall, which is a visual highlight with its facade paintings. From the terrace of the nearby Münster, the view of the river and the right-bank Kleinbasel is wonderful. Here, the Rhine makes its famous bend eastward toward Lake Constance. 

Sponsorship by Pharmaceutical Industry and Banks

Also on the Münsterhügel, the Barfüsserkirche houses the Historical Museum Basel, which explores the city’s cultural identity. It is located at the intersection of Switzerland, Germany, and France.

Just a few minutes’ walk away is the opulent Kunstmuseum. It consists of an old building and a new building connected underground, which reportedly cost 100 million Swiss francs. Works by old masters like Holbein, Rembrandt, and Rubens, as well as modern classics like Gauguin, van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Roy Lichtenstein, and Andy Warhol, are all displayed there. And this is only possible with sponsorship from the pharmaceutical industry and banks.

But of course, industrial romantics are also catered to in Basel. They should visit the Dreispitz area, located somewhat outside the city. It was once the customs-free warehouse for Basel’s industry.

Today, a colorful mix of studios, universities, architectural firms, and museums has settled between aging factory buildings and disused tracks. Among them is the House of Electronic Arts, which deals with the societal impacts of new media and digital art forms. Also, the Kunsthaus Baselland for contemporary art, opened in 2024. Those who rush past Basel on the highway will miss all of this.

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Further Information for Basel Visitors

Arrival and Public Transport

Basel is accessible by ICE. Driving to Basel takes about nine hours from Berlin, five from Cologne, and three from Stuttgart. With a booked overnight stay, you receive the Baselcard, which allows free travel by bus and tram. It also offers half-price admission to museums.

Accommodations

Accommodation: The Basel Youth Hostel is located on the edge of the old town and offers double and family rooms. With the German youth hostel card, you save a few francs. The boutique hotel “Volkshaus Basel” was designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron; the “Arthouse Basel” was created by Basel architects Diener & Diener. The “Hotel D” is somewhat cheaper and conveniently located near the Rhine between Kleinbasel and Grossbasel.

Tours/Activities

Roche offers free tower tours through Basel Tourism. A Novartis campus tour costs 28 francs. Basel Tourism provides an overview of museums in Basel and the surrounding area on its website. Money-saving tip: Many Basel museums do not charge admission on the first Sunday of the month (does not apply to special exhibitions).

Basel on the Map

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