Things to do in Basel

Adventure climbing forest

In the tree tops of Lörrach, just over the border into Germany (www.erlebniskletterwald.de) is an adventure course with over 135 different climbing activities. Heights range from 2m to 10m and kids and adults alike are welcomed. Whoever cries off the 1000m (3280 ft) rope slide will be buying dinner.

Find your way out of the Escape Room

At Room Escape (www.roomescape.ch/home-en/) you are locked into a room with one single goal - to find your way back to the great outside within an hour. You’ll have to unlock doors, crack locks, solve puzzles and generally use that thing inside your head. It’s done in groups of two to six people, and we’re assured if you can’t work it out for yourself, they’ll let you go in time for dinner.

Hiking it is

The Basel region is populated by densely forested hills and over 1000km of hiking and bike trails. Those in the know head for the area known as the ‘Wanderweg’: this can be reached via a cable car from Reigoldswil, which will take you to the summit of Wasserfallen Mountain. If you want to get a head start, grab yourself a word with the tourist office (tel: +41 61 268 68 68; www.basel.com/en/Tourist-Information).

Stiftung Brasilea

On the banks of the harbour is this cultural centre (tel: +41 (0)61 262 39 39; www.brasilea.com) that seeks to celebrate and expose all things Brazilian. Its exhibitions range from archive photos of Pele, to sculptures and artwork of artists that are thematically linked to the land that gave us the bossa nova.

Take a dip in the Rhine

If the sun's out, jump into the Rhine for a reinvigorating swim. There are several entry points, including the Badhysli (bath house) on Rheinbad Breite, St. Alban-Rheinweg on the Grossbasel bank of the river and the Kleinbasel bank of the river, where the water is accessible along a promenade.

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Trade your snowboard for sunglasses in Switzerland with our guide to snow-free summer fun, writes Lucy Levin

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Featured Hotels

Hotel Rheinfelderhof

A few minutes' walk from the city centre (and even closer to the Messe Basel trade fair venue), this is a well-priced hotel with almost 50 rooms. It's nothing fancy but has all the basics covered, from free wifi to satellite TV. There's a traditional restaurant on site.

Swissotel Le Plaza

The Swissotel Le Plaza, graded as four-star superior, is a stylish option a few minutes' walk from the Rhine and the Old Town. The hotel has 238 rooms and offers 24-hour room service, as well as a gym with a sauna and steam room. Its Grill25 restaurant serves up the classics in smart surroundings.

Les Trois Rois

One of the oldest city hotels in Europe, Les Trois Rois is Basel's grandest residence. Over the years, its luxurious rooms and suites on the banks of the Rhine in the Old Town have accommodated such luminaries as Napoleon, Charles Dickens, Pablo Picasso, Thomas Mann and Queen Elizabeth II. It also has a fitness centre and various top-notch restaurants and bars.

Courtyard Basel

Part of the Marriott Group – and consequently a reliable if rather vanilla option for an overnight stay – the Courtyard Basel Hotel is set on the southern outskirts of the city and has 175 rooms and suites with the usual amenities and plenty of meeting space.

Hotel Basel

Situated in the heart of the old city for the past four decades, this 4-star hotel has 70 rooms and three suites, all comfortably furnished and equipped with the standard mod cons. There are three restaurants, including a brasserie, and a couple of small meeting rooms.

Teufelhof (Devil's Court)

This enjoyably quirky establishment comprises two hotels: the Kunsthotel (Art Hotel), with nine rooms each designed by a local artist, and the larger Galeriehotel (Gallery Hotel), in which both the rooms and public spaces function as exhibition spaces for artists. Prices can vary greatly according to demand.

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