Wild Animal Parks in Basel

What would Basel be without the Rhine? Four passenger ferries cross the river from one bank to the other, using nothing but a steel cable and the current of the water. The ferrymen’s tradition of telling yarns during the journey has continued to this day.

Opened in 1874 and affectionately known as “Zolli” by the locals, Basel's Zoological Gardens are home to a large number of indigenous and exotic animals. With its fascinating park landscape and lovingly designed enclosures, Basel Zoo is well worth a visit at any time of year.

Wild Bee Lodges – Where Design Meets Urban Biodiversity: In the garden of Silo Boutique & Design Hostel Basel, designer and concept developer Sarah Rittmann has created a stylish retreat for wild bees: the Wild Bee Hostel. Five elevated lodges made of natural materials rest on slender wooden stilts, nestled within raised beds and planted cavities integrated into the structure itself. With a hexagonal form and varying nest hole sizes, the lodges cater to the needs of different bee species. Natural materials like bamboo, reed, hardwood, and clay offer ideal, disease-resistant nesting conditions. A rooftop garden and lush green cavities provide nectar-rich food sources – right at the bees’ doorstep.

Anyone who strolls through the historic old town, sees the lovingly decorated houses and the festively adorned shop windows, will be enchanted by the magic of Basel at Christmas time.

The Museum Tinguely houses the world’s largest collection of art by Jean Tinguely, famous for his moving mechanical sculptures. Interactive exhibitions explore his influences, the work of his contemporaries and the latest trends.

Globus has been an integral part of Basel city life since 1907. With the freshly refurbished store on Marktplatz, Globus blends its long tradition with future-oriented architecture and innovative retail concepts.

The Basel Historical Museum with its three sites is widely regarded as the most important museum of cultural history on the Upper Rhine. It collects, conserves, records and researches objects and artefacts of relevance to our cultural heritage for future generations, tells visitors the story of Basel, and is a place for discourse and engagement with both present and future.

In the vibrant city of Basel, the Lindt Boutique awaits you with a tempting range of exquisite chocolate creations. Immerse yourself in a world of enjoyment and discover Swiss chocolate art in its most beautiful form.

The Basel Historical Museum with its three sites is widely regarded as the most important museum of cultural history on the Upper Rhine. It collects, conserves, records and researches objects and artefacts of relevance to our cultural heritage for future generations, tells visitors the story of Basel, and is a place for discourse and engagement with both present and future.

Basel got a new landmark in 1977 when Jean Tinguely placed some amusing machine sculptures in an enormous pool of water on the site where the stage of the old city theatre was once located.

The Congress Center Basel is Switzerland's biggest congress centre in terms of surface area. Located directly alongside Messe Basel, it is in the immediate vicinity of a large number of hotels and a varied range of restaurants. A footbridge provides a direct link to the new exhibition building designed by Herzog & de Meuron, increasing visitor comfort still further and makes modern congress infrastructure exceedingly attractive. The 25 modern-rooms are noted for their multifunctionality and variable configurations and hold up to 10'000 people.

A detour to the Messeplatz exhibition space in Basel is always worthwhile - even when there’s no large-scale exhibition taking place. The spacious area at the heart of what’s known as Kleinbasel - little Basel, is surrounded by some mind-boggling architecture: The 105 sky-meter-high Morger & Degelo tower - and the new Herzog & de Meuron construction with its “window to the heavens.”

Over 2500 teddy bears, dolls, doll houses, little old shops and carousels: And it’s not only children’s eyes that light up on viewing objects in the Basel toy world museum. Here the lovingly exhibited pieces from all over the world touch the hearts of adults as well. By the way, this museum is a prime example of a building furnished to make people with disabilities feel at home thanks to easy access all over.

The Atlantis is a restaurant, concert venue and club all in one.

With its charming French gardens and English park with sculptures by Richard Serra – both of which can be enjoyed on Sundays – Villa Wenkenhof is Basel’s answer to Versailles in miniature.

As one of the few museums in Europe dedicated to this art form, the paper mill preserves historical techniques at an authentic site. Participants are shown these traditional techniques and given the opportunity to have a go at making paper and printing themselves.

The Carsten Höller slide tower, charming fuel station by Jean Prouvé and more: The architectural quality of all buildings on the Vitra Campus is fascinating. And, faithful to the philosophy of this establishment, it’s not only form that matters instead content and capacity. The Vitra Design Museum is in fact one of the most important exhibition centers for industrial furniture design.

Margarethen Ice Rink is set in beautiful Margarethen Park and offers two skating areas, one of which is covered.