Basel Private Walking Tour: Discover Cultural Heritage and History
5.0
3 Ratings
Basel
Embark on a private walking tour of Basel and immerse yourself in its rich cultural heritage and history. Explore famous sites such as the Tinguely Fountain, Münster Cathedral, and Rathaus, and discover why Basel is known as the Swiss capital of culture.
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Basel - We will meet at the Tinguely Fountain (Fasnachtsbrunnen), one of the most famous spots in town. This is the main meeting point for the citizens of Basel. The water fountain was built by the swiss artist Jean Tinguely using pieces of the old theater that formerly existed in this space. During wintertime, the fountain becomes alive with it’s icicles, forming true natural ice sculptures.

Our next stop will be the Elisabeth Church. Known in the German language as Elisabethenkirche, or Offene Kirche Elisabethen, this is a 19th century church built in a Swiss Gothic Revival style. Construction begun in 1857 and was completed in 1864, and was sponsored by the wealthy Basel businessman Christoph Merian, and his wife Margarethe Burckhardt-Merian. Both now rest in a black marble sarcophagus in the crypt of this church.

Time to head out to feel the medieval ages, passing the Knights Street, or Rittergasse. Known in Basel as the mother of all streets, with its medieval architecture. This is the perfect spot to learn about how the city developed along the centuries.
Then we will get to the Münster Cathedral, the main picture-perfect sight of Basel. You will be awed by its 12-15th mixture of romanic and gothic styles, surrounded by a large and stunning square that hosts many events. Behind the cathedral we will pass the Münster Pfalz, to enjoy the view towards the city, the Rhine river and the neighborhood of Kleinbasel.
Some steps away we find the City Hall (Rathaus von Basel). A eye catching building located in the old market square of Basel (Marktplatz), it will call out to you with it’s red color. Don’t forget to enjoy its beautiful façade and the interior patio with the statue of Munatius Plancus, the roman founder of the city.
Let’s head out then to the The Blue and The White House (Blaues und Weisses Haus) are two baroque mansions on the Rheinsprung built by the architect Samuel Werenfels for the brothers Lukas and Jakob Sarasin in the 18th century. Their descendants founded the Bank Sarasin & Cie. in Basel. Nowadays, they are the seat of the Department for Economy, Social Welfare and Environment.
Now we will get to the Mittlere Brücke (Middle Bridge), one of the oldest monuments in town. It was first inaugurated in 1226, becoming one of the most important bridges over the Rhine that connected to the famous Gotthard Pass.
From here we will go back into the old town, once again passing the MarktPlatz, towards Barfüsserplatz, located in the city center. It is one of the most important crossing spots in Basel’s public transportation system. It is also in front of the Barfüsserkirche, or Church of the “Bare Feet”. Inhabited since 1100, the Franciscan order of Monks built a monastery here in 1256. It is from them that the square got its name from, since the Franciscans where known in German as the “Bare Feet” for their vow of poverty.
We can either end the tour here and set you on your own discovery through the city center, or take you to the nearby Tinguely Fountain for a better known place for your send off into Basel.

What's Included
  • Private guided tour
  • Local guide exclusively for your group
  • Customization options during the tour with your local guide
What's Not Included
    • Gratuities
    • Entrance fees
Additional Information

Basel is a joyous, multicultural city that welcomes innovation and global influences. It holds the title of Switzerland’s cultural hub. Situated on the banks of the Rhine River, Basel boasts a history spanning over 2000 years due its strategic location between France, Germany, and Switzerland. Its beautifully preserved city center is among the most pristine in Europe. Join us for a journey through time in a city that’s deeply rooted in tradition yet readily embraces the future, making Basel genuinely unique. Basel isn’t only rich in culture but also in art, hosting over 40 museums, and academia, as it’s the oldest University town in Switzerland. Allow us to guide you through some remarkable sites at the heart of the city, and we guarantee you’ll find yourself smitten with Basel.

Here’s what you can expect to see:

  • The Tinguely Fountain
  • Elisabethenkirche
  • Rittergasse
  • The Münster Cathedral
  • Münster Pfalz
  • The Mittlere Bridge
  • Rathaus (City Hall)
  • The Blue and White Houses
  • MarktPlatz
  • Barfüsserplatz
Location
Tinguely Fountain
Klostergasse
Tinguely Fountain, Klostergasse 7, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(3 Ratings)
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Gary_c
Apr 25, 2024
Very comprehensive and insightful tour of Basel city center. - The commentary by our Tour guide, Natalia., was awesome. She was passionate and insightful. Then tour of Cathedral, City Hall, and Theater area was memorable.
Review provided by Viator
Lee_c
Apr 13, 2023
Amazing time with experienced and fun tour guide Mei - Mei is an amazing tour guide who went above and beyond to make sure our group had a great time in Basel. She was extremely knowledgable, using pictures and infographics that were very helpful for us to gain better insight and context for the historical and cultural development of Basel and Switzerland. Being bilingual in Mandarin and English (and most likely trilingual in Swiss German), she was able to cater to our group consisting of both English and Chinese speakers. Thank you Mei for making our trip that much more memorable and enjoyable! Would definitely look for her again.
Review provided by Viator
Maie_g
Jan 7, 2023
Mai did a great job. It... - Mai did a great job. It was very informative and a lot of fun. We will gladly want her to give us another tour if we look for one.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1
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May 2024
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