For trade fair visitors and city travelers

In the border triangle

Red Town Hall in Basel and forecourt

Something for everyone

Basel is a popular tourist destination in Switzerland, which has gained international significance thanks to its favorable location in the border triangle between Germany, Switzerland and France. Many companies have their headquarters in the Swiss metropolis, and the city is also visited by many business travelers due to its numerous trade fairs.

Our HYPERION Hotel Basel is located directly at the trade fair and is only a few minutes' walk from the old town, where sights such as the Tinguely Fountain, Basel Cathedral and the zoo await you. At 105 meters high, our hotel is not only an eye-catcher, but also Basel's tallest inhabited building. The international airport EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg is only 9 km away and can be easily reached by bus within 12 minutes from the main train station.

Exterior view of the hotel on the exhibition grounds

Exhibition center of Switzerland

Basel is the most important exhibition center in Switzerland, and top-class exhibitions such as Baselworld and Swissbau take place throughout the year. Visitors will find the HYPERION Hotel Basel an ideal starting point for trade fair visits or a stroll through the nearby old town. The cathedral, built from red sandstone and colorful bricks, is a landmark of the city. Many buildings in Basel date back to the 15th century and are excellently preserved.

Small specialty stores also make the Old Town an experience for shoppers, and you can take a break in the cosy cafés during your tour.

Excursions

around Basel

There are many wonderful excursion destinations around Basel that you can visit from the HYPERION Hotel Basel. We will be happy to help you with your planning. Visit Augusta Raurica, the largest archaeological park in Switzerland, where you can admire a Roman house and the theater, among other things. From your hotel in Basel, take a trip to Mulhouse in nearby France, where you can stroll through the idyllic old town or visit one of the technical exhibitions in the "capital of technology museums". Zurich, Bern and Ticino can also be reached quickly and easily from the hotel.

View of the Augusta Raurica seats from the side

Sightseeing in Basel

View of Basel Minster from the Rhine

Experiencing Swiss city technology up close

If you are traveling to the city on the Rhine, then you should not miss an interesting sightseeing tour through the city. As you stroll through the city, you will experience the special charm of Swiss cities at first hand as your gaze wanders over the most beautiful architecture. A photo of Basel Cathedral is always a great motif, but you shouldn't just look at sacred buildings such as St. Martin's or St. Elisabeth's Church from the outside either.

Inner courtyard of the town hall with Roman statue

Walk past architecture worth seeing

If you take a walk through the town, you will repeatedly come across architecture worth seeing along the way. Here you should take a look at the town hall on the market square and the Blue and White Houses on the Rheinsprung can also become a motif for popular vacation photos. Special highlights of the city are the city gates, and you should not miss a tour from the St. Alban Gate to the Spalentor and the St. Johanns Gate.

There is also a historic city wall in the city, which frames the old town of Basel. A particular highlight of the motifs in Basel is the Fasnacht fountain on Theaterplatz. Created by Jean Tinguely, a popular artist, the fountain is also known as the Tinguely Fountain.

BaselCard

As a guest at our HYPERION Hotel Basel, you will receive the BaselCard on arrival. This gives you free use of public transport and public WiFi throughout your stay. You will also receive a 50% discount on admission to museums such as the Fondation Beyeler or Augusta Raurica, as well as on admission to Basel Zoo and Basel Theater. The BaselCard also gives you a discount on discovering the numerous sights - whether on foot on a guided tour of the Old Town, by sightseeing bus or on a boat trip on the Rhine.

Family visits a museum and stands at the cash desk

At a glance

Excursion tips for Basel

Basel Minster

Landmark of the city of Basel

With its red sandstone, colorful bricks and slender towers, Basel Minster dominates the cityscape of Basel. It was built between 1019 and 1500 in the Romanesque-Gothic style. The cathedral square with the canons' houses is also worth seeing. The former bishop's church can be reached by car from the HYPERION Hotel Basel in 5 minutes. You can reach Basel Minster on foot from your accommodation at the HYPERION Hotel Basel after a 20-minute walk through the city center and over the Wettstein Bridge.

Basel Minster from below at sunset

Basel Art Museum

One of the oldest collections in the world

The Kunstmuseum Basel is the largest art museum in Switzerland and the oldest municipal art collection in the world. It exhibits paintings, sculptures, installations, drawings and prints from seven centuries. The Kunstmuseum Basel can be reached from your accommodation at the HYPERION Hotel Basel in 20 minutes on foot or in six minutes by streetcar.

Woman with dark hair looks closely at a painting

Basel Zoo

historic and modern at the same time

Basel Zoo is the oldest large zoo in Switzerland. Historic animal houses alternate with modern enclosures. In the African enclosure, for example, hippos, zebras and ostriches are housed in a common enclosure, just like in the wild. From November to February, Basel Zoo offers an eye-catcher for children: penguins walk in the garden at temperatures below 10 degrees. From the HYPERION Hotel Basel Zentrum, you can reach Basel Zoo in just 8 minutes by car.

Detailed view of a zebra head

Augusta Raurica

roman excavation site near Basel

Augusta Raurica is a Roman settlement to the east of Basel and is now the largest archaeological park in Switzerland. Among other things, there is a theater, a temple and various private buildings to visit. The excavation site also includes a museum. It takes about 15 minutes by car to get here from the HYPERION Hotel Basel.

Augusta Raurica from above with the Roman theatre in the middle

Tinguely Fountain

Basel's highlight in summer

In 1977, Swiss-born artist Jean Tinguely created a fountain with metal figures on the site of the old municipal theater. The water is pumped through movable elements - it hisses and splashes everywhere at the same time. Especially in summer, this fountain on the banks of the Rhine is a highlight for children in the middle of the city. From the HYPERION Hotel Basel, the Tinguely Fountain can be easily reached on foot or by streetcar in 15 minutes.

Metallic lion sculpture in the water

Opening hours

Basel's sights    |    When is what open?

Basel Minster

Summer opening hours

  • Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Sundays and public holidays: 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Winter opening hours

  • Monday to Saturday: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Sundays and public holidays: 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

During the fall fair

  • Monday to Friday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Saturday: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Sunday: 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

During the Advent season

  • Monday to Friday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Saturday: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Sundays and public holidays: 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

During carnival

  • daily from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Closed: January 1, Good Friday, December 24 and 25

Basel Art Museum

Visit the collection free of charge

  • Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 
    5 p.m. – 6 p.m.*
  • Wednesday: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. 
    (Kunstmuseum Basel | Gegenwart only open until 6 p.m.)
  • First Sunday of the month

Main building & new building

  • Monday: closed
  • Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Thursday to Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Present

  • Monday: closed
  • Tuesday to Sunday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

* Public holidays excluded

Basel Zoo

May to August

  • daily 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

March, April and September, October

  • daily 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

November to February

  • daily 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

The animal houses close 10 minutes earlier.

The ticket offices at the entrance close half an hour earlier.

Augusta Raurica

Museum & Roman House

  • daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Protected monuments and animal park

  • daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Closed on December 24, 25, 31 and January 1

Tinguely Fountain

Open around the clock

Further activities

Boy with a blue jacket looks out of the train window

Basel for families

From children's theater to wild swimming fun and from friendly dragons to a petting zoo - families will find the right destination for every mood and every weather in Basel. In addition to the many excursions for young and old, here are some of the special offers for children.

Discover the little dragon Basil with us on a treasure hunt through Basel, the Steinen bird park, the Aquabasilea adventure pool and much more.

Discover Basel for children and families here!

Red curtain is drawn by the director

Musical Theater Basel

Musicals and concerts

The Musical Theater Basel is one of the most beautiful and modern concert and theater venues Switzerland has to offer. Operated by Freddy Burger Management, the theater offers a total of 1,557 seats on 900 m². The theater is characterized by its changing programme with great and well-known productions and artists. Examples include West Side Story, Ballet Revolucion and performances by comedians such as Felix Lobracht. Major international productions are also shown with excellent technical equipment.

Old Town Basel

The gateway to Switzerland

If you want to see the most beautiful architectural styles from the many centuries on vacation, you will be drawn to the picturesque old town of Basel. The Swiss city on the Rhine not only boasts the Basel Cathedral. The town hall, which is located directly on the market square, is also worth seeing. The historic city wall with its imposing city gates invites you to explore. If you are interested in art and culture, you should not miss the museums and monuments in Basel's old town. Use the BaselCard to pay reduced prices for the sights in Basel's Old Town.

Crossroads in the old town of Basel, a yellow house in the centre
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