Basel has much to offer. I’ve lived there a number of years and still haven’t explored all its nooks and crannies. The museums alone would take quite awhile. Before hitting the caveaux (wine cellars) for a petite dégustation (tasting), brush up your wine knowledge. It’s said that these grapes are blessed by three suns: the one in the sky, the one on the lake and the one radiating heat from the dry-stone walls. The main grape is Chasselas, a very old variety producing crisp, flinty white wines with a fresh, citrusy nose. The fruity reds (Gamay, Pinot noir and Salvagnin) make up just 20% of production.

The photo of Basel Fasnacht looks to have actually been taken at Liestal, a town some kilometers away. Those fire brooms are part of that town’s unique and rather harrowing celebration, but they have nothing to do with Basel’s own Fasnacht, which is renowned in its own right. Make sure that you feel really comfortable in water, even at places where you cannot reach the bottom with your feet. With all the steps wrapped up, here’s something that you need to keep in mind if you’re planning to go swimming in the Rhine: Planning tip : If you want to save a few francs, regularly scheduled services plying the same route can be just as enjoyable and significantly less expensive. Break up the journey by using cheaper SBB trains and overnighting along the way. 4. Hike in the Swiss National ParkI hope this article summed up everything you need to know about swimming in the Rhine – the true Baseler style. If you’re an experienced swimmer with some tips, hidden gems by the Rhine and more…I’d love to hear about that! Do drop a comment below. 😉 To be honest, when Air Canada hosted its famed almost-annual travel agent “Race” early this fall, the airline could have sent participants by camel train to Timbuktu and they would have been thrilled, such was the enthusiasm by most for their first trip since the pandemic began. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case and instead, Air Canada selected beautiful, bountiful Basel, Switzerland, for its gala event. Nydegger noted that Canadians and international tourists know Switzerland for its nature and mountains, but also an incredible diversity that includes its “boutique” cities such as Basel – a “hidden gem” that isn’t as well known as Zurich or Geneva, despite its international reputation as a City of Art. Selina explained that the current is usually faster and water level higher than in this hot summer week, so what I had experienced was tame. I spent the afternoon with Selina both of us just in swimwear, not thinking twice about the fact we were walking around the city clad like this. Along the embankment on the Kleinbasel side of the river there are plenty of places to get into and out of the water.

Im still tryin to wrap this round my brain," one user joked. "Why hasn't the world found this out before?" Water sports of all kinds as well as bathing and swimming in the vicinity of the hydroelectric plant are forbidden. Sudden changes in the water level give rise to potentially fatal currents.Even if you don’t cycle the Rehberger-Weg you should still visit Foundation Beyeler. One of our favorite museums in Basel was the Contemporary Art Museum of Foundation Beyeler. Foundation Beyeler is situated on a beautiful property that contains the private collection of Hildy and Ernst Beyeler. I’ve always associated Switzerland with winter travel or suits on business trips but as soon as the temperature allows, Basel is all about bathing, barbecues and buvettes. In this city centre a swimsuit is the typical summer outfit.

Planning tip: Reaching the glacier is part of the fun. From Fiesch, take the cable car up to Fiescheralp, then beyond to Eggishorn for your first glimpse of the mighty Aletsch. 12. Walk among vines in Lavaux Planning tip : Lucerne makes an appealing base for exploring the lake, with its Old Town, medieval wooden bridge and promenade strung along the lakeshore. 6. Take the Eiger Express to Jungfraujoch At the point where Switzerland, Germany and France converge in the north, Basel dives into creative waters when it comes to avant-garde art and architecture, with a raft of galleries right up there with Europe’s best. But this city also likes to let its mind drift. You can drive the meandering roads that loop around 40km (25 miles) of shore or take the Lavaux Panoramic Train , but you’ll get a better feel for the Lavaux by heading out on foot. Little trails dip into the vines everywhere, but top billing goes to the 11km (6.8-mile) trail from St-Saphorin to Lutry, where you’ll take in stirring views, pretty villages and welcoming cellars.Basel may have a rich history, but it has embraced contemporary art with vigor. A great way to find hidden art in Basel is to take an Urban Art Tour with Artstübli Basel.

Depending on your entry point, you’d get the prefect downstream flow while the Rhine shows you around the city 😉 You’d enjoy the summer breeze and historic views of Basel while the water current guides you down the stream. If you’d like to experience Swimming in the Rhine with a bunch of other people who’re as excited as you are…here are a few options you could explore. Source: Spike Art magazine 1. Accompanied swimming in the Rhine Like I said earlier as well, it’s very important to get your entry and exit points right. Pre-decide the spot from where you’d b e exiting the river again. You have to plan this, as it takes some time to get all the way to the side. Before you dip in, please make sure that you follow the golden rules while swimming to ensure your safety. Swimming in the Rhine | All you need to know | My Swiss Story 10 Golden Rules to follow while Swimming in the Rhine: Detour : Break up sightseeing with a wild swim in the Aare River. When the weather warms, join the Berner for a cooling downstream float. 10. Ski or hike below the Matterhorn In the sultry, parle Italiano canton of Ticino in southern Switzerland, it’s the lakes that get all the love. But dip into Ticino ’s hidden valleys, and you’ll lose the crowds and find the region’s true pulse. Here glassy, jewel-colored rivers float past chestnut woods and incredibly pretty granite hamlets cresting hilltops (including Switzerland’s smallest, Corippo , with a population of just 15).Basel boasts the highest density of museums in Europe, with over 40 venues, plus countless galleries, located within its 37 sq.-km footprint. Top of the list, however, is the Kunstmuseum (Fine Arts), consisting of three buildings that house the oldest public art collection in the world, focussing on artists from the Upper Rhine region from 1400 to 1600 and the art of the 19th to 21st centuries. With 4,000 paintings, 300,000 drawings, plus videos and specials exhibits and collections, including names like Rembrandt, van Gogh, Dali, and Warhol, there is something for almost every taste. It is a small city, but Basel boasts 40 museums, countless theaters featuring musical theater, ballet, and stage productions. With 300 days of sunshine a year, Basel has plenty of outdoor festivals, cinemas, and markets. It has its own carnival too. Basler Fasnacht is a three-day festival that is the biggest festival in Switzerland featuring masked musicians and performers. The Münsterplatz holds around 40 stalls set out in a larger area so it’s easier to navigate through. You can also enjoy the amazing sights of the Rhine River and the Gothic Basel Minster. The smallest Basel Christmas Market Is the Claraplatz in Kleinbasel. However, it’s worthwhile visiting. Final Words on Basel Switzerland No country nails rail travel like the Swiss, where little red trains (polished and perfectly on time) chug from valley to peak with ease, leaving you to swoon over the Alpine scenery from the comfort of your panoramic carriage. Evoking a golden age of travel, Switzerland’s train journeys are hands down some of the world’s finest. There are higher mountains in Switzerland than those lining the fjord-like shores of Lake Lucerne , but none are more enshrined in flag-waving Swiss myth. Boat across the emerald waters of Lake Uri, and you’ll glimpse Rütli Meadow, the hallowed birthplace of the Swiss Confederation in 1291. You can also experience the Tellskapelle , a tiny frescoed chapel that is said to be where the apple-shooting hero and beloved Swiss rebel William Tell escaped from the boat of his Hapsburg captor, Gessler.