Puppenhausmuseum (Dollhouse Museum), Basel

Advantages: Great for travelling, friendly, easy to get around, clean
Disadvantages: Swiss German is impossible to understand unless you grew up with it!

...many museums, almost 40 at last count, and boasts the world's first public art collection. A long and committed investment to art has furnished the city with delights like the Tinguely Fountains of Theaterplatz and a selection of Picasso masterpieces amongst others. Zolli, the local zoo, is a great afternoon out, and in the warm summer months the outdoor pools are a dream. The local area has much to offer as well, from the views of St. Chrischona towards the Alps to the extensive (and free) remains of the Roman settlement at Kaiseraugst. Perhaps the greatest asset of Basel it its location in Three Countries Corner, nestled between France and Germany on the tip of Switzerland. Combined with the ever-fantastic Swiss rail network, the local system and the EuroAirport, travel is both simple and broad, and a hire-car is completely superfluous... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Cathedral, old town, plenty to keep you occupied
Disadvantages: I just didn't feel at home

...Basel is a curious city – despite visiting several times over the past year, I still haven’t been won over by its charms, and I don’t really know why! Maybe it’s the strange mix of cultures that exist in this city that sits a little uncomfortably on the Rhine, within a stone’s throw of both Germany and France: Everything is in German, the locals speak their own local dialect of Swiss German, while you are just a short bus ride from the French border, and it feels as if Basel cannot make up its mind just where it belongs. It’s not as if there isn’t much to do here, either – there is a lovely old town to be explored on the hillside, where you can quite happily while away an afternoon wandering round, and the shopping centre has plenty to offer - and there is a decent selection of British... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Centrally located, very friendly staff
Disadvantages: None I can think of...

...and hot drink making facilities in the rooms and plenty of cupboard space if you need it, along with spare blankets for those cold Swiss winter nights! The hotel is centrally located and the tram to the train station stops right outside. The immediate area isn't exactly picturesque, but turn right on leaving the main entrance, and 2 minutes later you are in the most picturesque city you can imagine. If you're going in December, the huge and gorgeous Christmas market is only 5 minutes walk from the hotel. If you turn right on leaving the hotel you head down into the commercial heart of Basel and reach a wide choice of restaurants, cafes and pubs in about 5 minutes. A word of warning though - Swiss prices really are as high as you may have heard! We were horrified at the prices over and over again! We were paying the equivalent of 4GBP... Read review

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