A Swiss town borders 2 other countries, making it the ideal base for exploring. Here’s what 6 days in Basel were like.

Basel is the ideal destination for art lovers

After wandering around Basel’s visitor center, it was clear that the town catered to art lovers.

Along shelves and through conversations, I was recommended to go to the Fondation Beyeler, a modern and contemporary art museum; Museum Tinguely, a permanent exhibit filled with artist Jean Tinguely’s tinkering projects; the Kunstmuseum Basel, the oldest public art collection. The list went on.

Basel is home to nearly 40 art museums. One museum will feature modern art and the next will house classics like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.

The art scene is what brought me to Basel. I had arrived for its biggest art celebration: Art Basel, an international fair where 250 gallerists feature 4,000 artists.

Then, I ended up in the Klybeck neighborhood. It felt like finding the town’s version of Wynwood, Miami, or Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Artist collectives dotted the streets, spray paint covered barren walls, and unusual (but delicious) restaurants were around every corner. I grabbed a drink on the deck of a grounded ship and eyed a nearby floating club that hosts DJ sets.

Finding Klybeck reminded me that I was just scratching the surface of what a city like Basel has to offer.

Escaping to France for a day

While Basel has plenty of appeal on its own, it’s also a starting point for discovering other regions.

One morning, I hopped on a 45-minute train ride. Before I knew it, I was in France exploring the town of Colmar. Known as France’s “fairy-tale town,” Colmar is framed in half-timbered medieval homes and early Renaissance buildings.

I left Basel with sights left unseen

As I spent my six nights in Basel, I was constantly reminded that I was in one of the world’s most expensive countries.

I took a two-and-a-half-hour journey to Kandersteg, which was worth every minute and every penny. The train ticket cost me $115, but the town and the nearby Oeschinen Lake were home to some of the most stunning views I’ve ever seen.

The expenses continued throughout my trip. The round-trip tickets to Colmar were $40, and when I discovered that meals like a simple veggie burger cost $30, I opted for pre-packaged foods from grocery stores and relied on my hotel’s complimentary breakfast instead.

But being in Basel has some financial perks. Visitors who spend a night in a local hotel get a Basel card, which grants them free use of the city’s public transportation and discounts on some activities. My boat ride, for instance, cost $12 instead of $24.

I found the ease of being close to other countries and stunning scenery worth the high costs.

The one thing I feel I missed during my Basel trip was a visit to Germany. Basel sits at the border of southwest Germany, and charming places like the spa town of Titisee or Baden-Baden are a two-hour train ride away. If I were itching for an adrenaline rush, it’d take an hour to get to Germany’s largest theme park, Europa-Park.

If it weren’t for the four-day Art Basel festival, I would have spent less time in Basel and more time using the charming city as a launching point to visit nearby towns.

Reflecting on the trip, two full days in Basel would’ve been plenty. Next time, I’ll rent a car and take an overnight trip to France’s wine region, visit other Swiss towns like Bern and Lucerne, and prioritize visiting a German spa town.

While Basel is full of culture and art, one clear advantage of the city is its access to various cultures, villages, and nature. For that reason alone, it’s worth a trip.