Photo Essay + Mini Travel Guide: BASEL

THE SHORT: Tram rides, Basel Zoo, Basler Papiermuhle (paper mill), Spielzeug Welten Museum (toy museum), Museum Tinguely, HITrental Marktplatz Apartments Hotel

Of all the cities we visited during our week-long travels to Switzerland, Basel goes down as the one where every single thing surpassed my expectations. It’s the type of travel miracle that seldom shows itself. So much so that Basel might just become my new favorite city to recommend for family travels going forth.

Why? Well, because it is lively, full of culture, super easy to get around, has an awesome art scene, and caters to one of my favorite travel activities – aimlessly walking around and people watching. It is the kind of place where you don’t have to compromise between adult fun versus kid fun. It is a little pricey much like the rest of Switzerland, but it felt completely worth our time and money.

First things first, the hotel. We stayed at the HITrental Marktplaz Apartment Hotels in the heart of the city. On the inside, it had two big bedrooms, three amazing balconies (!!!), living room, kitchen, dining, and one big bathroom. It came with daily room service and free laundry. On the outside, it overlooked a beautiful square full of restaurants, bookstores, and so much activity. It really couldn’t get any better.

Transportation is also super duper easy and free. The trams are abundant in every direction should one need a break from walking. Once when the rain felt persistent, we quickly Googled “scenic tram route” and spent the next hour on Tram #8, winding through beautiful neighborhoods and parks.

When it comes to food, Basel has so many good options. We ate dinner at Schnabel during our first night and absolutely loved all the traditional swiss food, the kind staff, and the ambiance. For our second night, we opted for noodles as requested by the kids and tried Nooch which was also really good (and again, great service). Chocolate shops and cafes are everywhere! We also made good use of the CO-OP grocery chain which supplied our breakfast each morning and also picnic foods.

Then there is the Basel Zoo, the Basler Papiermuhle (paper mill), Spielzeug Welten Museum (toy museum), and Museum Tinguely. I shared many pictures and information about the Zoo Basel in this previous post. In short, it is a beautiful zoo right in the city, with an even better cafe. It’s a no brainer of a destination if you ask me.

Moving on to the Basler Papiermuhle. It is an old medieval paper mill that is now converted into a working museum. It’s an immersive experience for young and old, and the kind that will totally make you lose track of time. I took a million pictures here but for your sake, I’ll try to edit my selection.

Within a short scenic walk of the Basler Papiermuhle is the Museum Tinguely. A collection of Jean Tinguely mesmerizing sculptors, it is the kind of museum that is really inspiring for kids who see unlikely ordinary objects combined to create art that is loud and noisy. Most pieces can be touched. The fountain outside is pretty cool. As is the META-MATIC #10 which allows you to make your very own original piece of art.