Switzerland is not a large country, but on your next Alpine travel adventure, you might not have the time to fully explore and appreciate more than a small handful of its storied, famous cities.
Zurich and Basel both rank highly among travelers of every stripe for their culture, history, beautiful sights, and fine food and activities. However, for as much as what unites them, much also makes Zurich and Basel very different places to be.
That’s what we are going to explore today! To make the choice between these two Swiss gems a little bit easier, let’s take a look at everything that you need to know about visiting either Basel or Zurich.
Table of Contents
Transport and getting around
Zurich
Hosting Switzerland’s largest international airport and its largest railway station, Zurich is the transport hub of the whole country and the first place in Switzerland that many travelers from abroad get to see.
This doesn’t change as you make your way from the gate to the city center. Zurich is famous for its smoothly-run, effortlessly charming tramway system that can ferry you almost anywhere you need to go within the city.
For outlying, more remote areas and the few neighborhoods not well-served by the trams, there are equally dependable bus lines.
Basel
While Basel can’t really compete with Zurich’s global importance as Switzerland’s biggest transport hub, it doesn’t exactly pale in comparison, either.
Thanks to its glamorous Central Station, Basel is known as “the Gate to Switzerland” and has welcomed millions of travelers from the north, west, and east for centuries. When entering Switzerland over land, Basel is the most sensible first stop in the country.
In and around town, Basel likewise employs a highly refined tramway network, in addition to buses. Because the city itself is smaller than Zurich however, you might not find yourself making use of public transport all that often — walking and biking are a lot more practical and widespread modes of transport in Basel!
Where to stay
Zurich
If you really want to experience the meaning of Swiss hospitality, Zurich-style, there’s no alternative to the exclusive Réserve Eden au Lac. Featuring an iconic Art Nouveau facade right by the Lake and a truly regal selection of rooms and suites, this is the most infamously luxurious stay you can find.
Packed with an on-site sauna and spa and the coveted rooftop cocktail bar and restaurant La Muña, the Eden au Lac is undeniably one of the most unforgettable places to stay for anyone who wants to experience the most beautiful views and the best in luxury that Zurich can offer.
Meanwhile, the Hotel Europe puts you right at the heart of the Old Town inside a restored 19th-century neo-Baroque chateau. Located around the corner from Bahnhofsstrasse, it places you within spitting distance of Zurich’s best shopping district, as well as important cultural centers like the opera house on Paradeplatz.
For a more contemporary flair, visit the Greulich, one of Zurich’s most unabashedly modernist venues. Located in the youthful District 4 known for its bars, clubs, and cabarets, Greulich is the perfect place to be to explore Zurich’s dazzling nightlife scene.
Budget-conscious explorers visiting Zurich might also want to check out The Henry. Tucked away in a narrow side street about ten minutes from the Central Station, its quiet surroundings and midcentury appointments inside are set up for maximum charm and minimum fuss.
Basel
Der Teufelhof might sound more foreboding than inviting at first glance (the name literally translates to “The Devil’s Court”!), but a peek inside will tell you something entirely unique – and totally not nefarious – is going on here.
Located inside a complex of townhouses that includes not just the hotel itself but also an art museum, two restaurants, a brewery, and a bar, Der Teufelhof is a blend of cultural exposé and traveler’s lodging.
Its surroundings thankfully match the same vibe: the hotel lies right in the middle of the Old Town district, a few minutes’ walk from the Minster, several of the city’s best museums, and the Botanical Garden.
For something more traditional, head over to the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois. With riverside views, a spectacular venue fashioned out of a restored palace, and Michelin-starred restaurants, this Francophone hotel is known as one of Switzerland’s oldest, if not the oldest in the whole country!
Known as a local landmark for centuries, Les Trois Rois is situated along the northern edge of the Old Town proper, right by the Mittlere Brücke. Its huge suites are perfect for groups — in fact, the venue is often rented out for events such as weddings. From heads of state to notable monarchs, millions have spent a weekend or a few here.
Other options in Basel include the budget-friendly Hotel Rochat in the Old Town as well as The Passage, a minimalist blend of traditional hotel and bed-and-breakfast that is especially popular with business travelers thanks to its comfy executive suites, on-site gym, and proximity to the Central Station.
The Old Town
Zurich
Though it is a large, metropolitan city today, Zurich’s Old Town remains the beating heart of local culture, business, and history. Here is where most of Zurich’s famous buildings and other sights are located, from the Great Minster to the Rennweg alley and many more.
Modernization has left a permanent mark, though: big chunks of the Old Town, such as the area around Paradeplatz, have completely lost their pre-industrial flair and have been converted into entirely different public spheres. In the case of the latter, it has become Zurich’s prime financial district.
Basel
Basel projects a more traditionalist, conservative image than Zurich when you take a step into one of its Old Town alleyways. Much of Old Basel — a surprisingly large amount in fact — has been meticulously preserved, and the city prides itself on harboring some of Switzerland’s oldest remaining architectural sights.
Its countless fountains, traditional food markets, the intriguing frescoes on the red-faced City Hall building, and the Mittlere Brücke, one of the oldest bridges on the Rhine, are some standout features of this part of Basel.
By and large, this Old Town has vehemently resisted the modernization that Zurich underwent over the past few centuries. The resulting lack of many paved roads in the area (cobblestone alleys are the norm instead) also means that neither private nor public traffic is really anywhere to be seen.
That is unlike Zurich, whose Old Town is in large part connected to the tram network and also accessible by car.
Must-sees
Zurich
Bahnhofstrasse is Zurich’s iconic shopping boulevard, as glitzy and glamorous as you always imagined it. From fine watches to priceless jewelry, this is where you go to live out your wildest window-shopping fantasies.
Lake Zurich, with its clear waters and ample opportunities for watersports including kayaking, paddle boarding, diving, and jet-skiing, is another top attraction. Even if you aren’t particularly interested in the physical challenge, a walk by the lake is priceless for the views of the Alps alone!
Furthermore, make sure to not miss Sechseläutenplatz, which also contains Zurich’s world-renowned opera house, as well as the Fraumünster church building, which had its ornaments and windows designed by Giacometti and Chagall!
Basel
Basel is a city of museums. Barely anywhere else in Europe will you find this high a concentration of galleries and exhibitions – there are almost two for every square kilometer in town!
This includes the Kunstmuseum, the oldest and most widely praised art collection in the country, as well as the Fondation Beyeler, the Museum of Cultures, the Paper Mill Museum, the Jewish Museum…the list goes on!
While you’re there, make sure to also visit the Fischmarkt, the traditional seafood and fresh fruit market in the Old Town that is still brimming with activity centuries on. Basel’s Zoo also deserves a special mention – it was one of the world’s first and is widely seen as one of the best, too!
Where to get the nicest views
Zurich
The best eye candy in Zurich consists of the Lake and the Alpine horizon, especially on clear days. You can get a bird’s eye perspective from the Prime Tower, which contains an elegant bar and restaurant on the 35th floor, as well as from any of Zurich’s surrounding mountains.
My favorites include the Felsenegg and the Zurichberg, which give you a really breathtaking look at the Lake, the city, and the landscape beyond. Both are reachable by funicular, though the hike itself shouldn’t be too challenging, either.
Basel
Basel is not as close to the Alps as Zurich is, so natural peaks are not as easily reachable without leaving the city limits. On the other hand, plenty of the Old Town’s standout points of interest, such as the great Minster, offer stunning views from the top of the bell tower.
If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the Franco-German-Swiss border!
The Rhine easily offers competition to Lake Zurich in terms of beautiful clear waterfronts to feast your eyes on. It’s not just enjoyable when viewed from high up, but also from up close — river cruises are seriously popular in Basel and are a great way to get a look at the city’s beautiful natural outskirts.
The best time to visit
Zurich
Summer in Zurich, which peaks around mid-July, is moderately warm, sunny, and comfortable all around – but it is also the season of peak prices. The winter is a lot lighter on the wallet and also shows off the nearby Alps in an entirely different light.
If you’re at all interested in trying your hand at some winter sports, such as skiing or snowboarding, then the period between December and February is your best bet.
This is when Zurich radiates a white gloom from the snow cover that also makes the mountaintops glisten beautifully, whether in the distance or from up close.
On the other hand, if you fancy a dip in the Lake, then I’d recommend visiting between May and July instead. Outside of that window, the water probably won’t be warm enough to swim comfortably.
Basel
The climate in Basel doesn’t differ too much from Zurich’s, though it is somewhat warmer year-round. Snow isn’t as heavy here in the winter, and the summer is brighter, longer, and somewhat livelier, too.
That is why most would recommend visiting Basel between May and September, when temperatures are generally pretty comfortable, precipitation is not too common, and the water quite warm.
I second this view, though I would add that the late spring (from mid-March to end of April) and the early autumn (late September and November) are equally good options, as the transitional seasons in Basel aren’t so harshly pronounced and the changing colors of the flora can be a fantastic sight to experience first-hand!
Best day trips
Zurich
Many travelers, especially those coming during the winter season, visit Zurich chiefly for its mountainous surroundings. Popular day trips include the Jungfraujoch, one of the area’s most impressive natural wonders neck-deep in the Bernese Alps, whose peaks tower over 4,000 meters above sea level.
If you have more than a few days to spend in Zurich and don’t mind more options, you’ll be grateful to hear there are tons. From well-known cities like Winterthur, Lucerne, and Bern, not to mention the nearby cheese capital of Gruyere, Zurich is well-connected with most of Switzerland’s most famous spots.
Basel
Unlike Zurich, many of Basel’s prime attractions lie beyond Switzerland’s own borders. The city’s location right at the frontiers of France and Germany makes cities like Strasbourg, Colmar, Freiburg, and Stuttgart perfect weekend getaways.
Of course, many domestic destinations, like Bern, Lucerne, Geneva, and Lausanne, also make for an easy visit in a day or less. The only drawback to Basel’s otherwise excellent location is that the Alps are much farther away than they would be from Zurich.
Bottom line: Which city is best?
In the end, Zurich and Basel are both fascinating cities that beckon to be visited for their own merits. Whereas the former exudes more of a cosmopolitan charm, with its interesting clash of old and new, Basel is a real time capsule, standing tall and proud as a living memory of a time long past.
Zurich will definitely grab the attention of skiing enthusiasts with its snow-capped Alpine peaks, and most swimmers and boating fans will also rather take a plunge into the serene, clear Lake Zurich rather than the Rhine.
But Basel is a real gate to the continent and a perfect stepping stone to exploring much of Western Europe, not just Switzerland.
Ultimately, choosing whether to visit Zurich or Basel says just as much about the cities themselves as it does about you and what kind of traveler you are.
I hope that this little guide helped you make your decision, and I wish you a great time in Switzerland!
