Location: Basel
Top Things to do in Basel
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Top 10 Museums in Basel, Canton of Basel
Located on the Rhine River near the borders of France and Germany, Basel contains the country's highest concentration of museums. The culture-centric city, site of the world's most influential art market each June, is also home to the lovely Munster Cathedral, made of red sandstone with a multi-colored tile roof. Green spaces abound, including the popular zoological gardens in the city center. Switzerland's largest site of Roman ruins, Augusta Raurica, are an easy day trip to the east.
Restaurants in Basel
1. Art Basel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 59 reviews
2. Basel Historical Museum - Barfuesserkirche
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 160 reviews
Housed in the Barfüsserkirche since 1894, Basel Historical Museum presents selected aspects of the history of Basel from prehistoric times to the present. Especially worthy of note here are the works of pre-Reformation sacred art such as the Basel Dance of Death and Basel Cathedral Treasury. The section called «Understanding the World» installed in the basement comprises a magnificent array of medieval tapestries with their fantasy worlds and scenes of real life, the Renaissance and Baroque collections grouped together in one «Great Cabinet of Curiosities», and Basel’s rich archaeological heritage. Among the other highlights here are the coin cabinet and Burgundian Booty.
Reviewed By L3785KOvictoriaf - Bridgwater, United Kingdom
Nice, warm and well laid out museum. I got caught up with the exhibits in the main area and nearly forgot about those down the stairs. Liked that you could leave your bag and jacket in a locker leaving you free to wander round with tablet. Some of the exhibits are interactive as well. Lady at the reception desk was very helpful. Definitely worth a visit.
3. Jean Tinguely Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 844 reviews
Reviewed By RCSColumbus - Columbus, United States
We had never heard of Jean Tinguely before visiting Basel but we were so smitten by his amazing Carnival Fountain downtown that we were curious to see more. The Museum Tinguely is a beautiful piece of architecture, perfectly designed to display the kinetic sculptures the artist is best known for. Some are as large as an entire gallery; some you can walk through; virtually all can be activated at the press of a button. Whether you come away appreciating him as an artist or not you will certainly fall for his incredible blend of engineering, mechanical whimsy and pure imagination. Who else would ever think to weld all of these found objects into such lively contraptions? Some even seem to have personalities. You can't help but smile and even laugh out loud at a few of them. My wife, daughter and I were mesmerized as were all the other visitors we saw at the museum that day.
4. Fine Arts Museum Basel - Kunstmuseum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,185 reviews
The Kunstmuseum Basel is home to one of the largest and oldest public museum collections in Europe with works from the early fifteenth century to the present.
Reviewed By travelling-model - Hong Kong, China
This museum is even better than the art Museum in Zuich. It has the largest art collections in Switzerland. You can found Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrant, Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Vincent Van Gough, Paul Gaugin, Paul Cezanne, Pablo Picasso, Dali, Paul Klee, Marc Chargall, Andy Warhol etc. It definitely a big feast of your eyes. Don't miss this one if you have a chance.
5. Rappaz Museum Basel
6. Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 327 reviews
Special interest museum features a historic variety of play objects including dolls, dollhouses, Teddy bears, carrousels and miniatures from all over the world.
Reviewed By king3434 - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
This is an incredibly entertaining museum. It’s maybe more geared at adult visitors looking for some history rather than families looking for an interactive day out. The layout is hilarious: a floor of teddy bears followed by a floor of handbags. With the Basel card, the entrance fee is very affordable.
7. Pharmaziemuseum Universitat Basel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 116 reviews
Reviewed By SaraDeb119 - Philadelphia, United States
The museum had a vast collection covering the history of pharmacy as it pertained to history and various treatments modalities found in pharmacies. Easy to read about displays and wander at your own pace. Great museum to visit for someone who enjoys history and medicine.
8. Naturhistorisches Museum Basel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 160 reviews
Reviewed By Roos-Marie90 - Ghent, Belgium
A wonderful collection and broad overview on the topic, both for families with children as for adults. Loved it!
9. Basel Historical Museum - Haus zum Kirschgarten
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 45 reviews
Haus zum Kirschgarten was built for the silk ribbon manufacturer and army colonel Johann Rudolf Burckhardt between 1775 and 1780. The architect Johann Ulrich Buchel designed a mansion worthy of his client's wealth and status which is also a tour de force of early Neoclassical style, influenced in part by Masonic concepts. The mansion has been a museum of domestic culture since 1951. Most of the interior is devoted to eighteenth- and nineteenth-century period rooms formerly inhabited by Basel’s affluent bourgeoisie. But the museum also houses several special collections and hosts mini-exhibitions, such as that on Sheikh Ibrahim.
Reviewed By Douglas645 - Horsham, United Kingdom
We had a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours here. There is lots to see : timepieces, porcelain, toys and how Basel houses were furnished. It is a beautiful house. As an added bonus there is a written English language guide on each floor which is well written..
10. Antikenmuseum Basel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 73 reviews
The Antikenmuseum Basel & Sammlung Ludwig is the only Swiss museum devoted exclusively to the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean region. The permanent exhibition contains ancient art mainly from Egyptian, Greek, Italic, Etruscan and Roman cultures. Located in the heart of the city of Basel, the museum is a place where the ancient world is regularly cast in a new light.
