ESC Insight | Your Travel Guide to Basel, Eurovision’s Host City For 2025
Un ‘Voyage’ à Bâle
Attending the Eurovision Song Contest is a veritable pilgrimage. Regardless of location, the host city always builds an impressive atmosphere that transforms Eurovision from a TV show to an immersive experience. That said, it’s always good to take a little time to explore the city’s architecture, museums and other hidden gems to fully appreciate the culture and identity that marks the foundation of a host city.
For those of you heading to Basel this year, here’s everything you need to know and look out for when you visit our 2025 host city.
Basel Munster (image: Wikimedia)
Before ‘Te Deum’
After being traded between various kingdoms for centuries, Basel developed as a city under the control of the Holy Roman Empire. From the 11th century onwards, many classic traits of a medieval European city were established in Basel including the Münster (cathedral), Town Square and city walls.
In 1225, the first permanent bridge crossing the Rhine between Lake Constance and the sea was built on the site of the current Middle Bridge, increasing the traffic of people travelling to and through Basel.
In 1499, the Treaty of Basel ended the Swabian War between Imperial forces of the Holy Roman Empire and the old Swiss confederacy. Despite remaining neutral during the conflict, Basel benefited from the treaty which granted special devolved powers to all Swiss cantons within the Holy Roman Empire including exemptions from taxes and various jurisdictions. On June 9th 1501, Basel became the 11th canton to join the Swiss confederation (what is now Switzerland) and at the time, was the only canton to be asked to join rather than having requested to join.
Basel was also the location of the 1795 Peace of Basel which ended the First Coalition against France during the French Revolutionary Wars, the first World Zionist Conference in 1897 and the 1989 Basel Convention which discouraged wealthy nations from disposing hazardous waste in developing nations.
Basel Middle Bridge (image: Wikimedia)
What is Basel ‘Serving’?
The Münster is at the heart of the old town and includes several impressive sculptural works around the external façades as well as a lectern carved out of sandstone and a crypt containing the tombs of many of the early Basel bishops who ruled the city. For 6 Swiss Francs (about 6 Euros), you can climb to the top of either of the towers (St. George’s Tower is slightly taller) for a view out over the Rhine, the city and the surrounding nations nearby (more on that later).
In classic medieval fashion, Basel has a beautiful Marktplatz (Marketplace) where various goods are sold by vendors every morning and where you can find the stunning red-brick Rathaus (Town Hall) with colourful artworks adorning its walls. You can also find the fortifications which used to protect the walled city of Basel at Spalentor, St. Alban Tor & St. Johanns Tor.
Basel Rathaus (image: Wikimedia)
It’s only right that the city which opened the world’s first public museum of art in 1671 (Kunstmuseum Basel) is home to a number of fantastic art museums.
Beyond the original one, there are museums that cover contemporary art (Museum für Gegenwartskunst & Kunsthalle Basel), local art (Museum Jean Tinguely), electronic art (HeK – House of Electronic Arts) and collections which have a little bit of everything (Fondation Beyler & Schaulager). Basel also has museums dedicated to ethnography (Museum der Kulturen), antiquities (Antikenmuseum), toys (Spielzeug Welten Museum) and paper (Basler Papiermühle).
For a journey back in time, you can hop onto any one of Basel’s four Faehri across the Rhine. Formerly the best way to cross the river before the construction of many of Basel’s bridges (from 1854 when they started operating), the Faehri are small wooden boats attached to cables which are pulled across the river from one bank to the other by the currents of the river. Whilst this is a slower and more expensive means of crossing the Rhine (journeys are 2 Swiss Francs per person), it’s a pleasant, gentle cruise experience and a good moment to catch your breath whilst watching the magic of reaction ferries in action.
Beyond everything mentioned, Basel is home to Switzerland’s oldest and largest zoo with a convenient location in the city centre, the Hoosesagg Museum with a miniature collection that can be viewed through a small window and the Border Triangle, an impressive monument which marks the border point between Switzerland, France & Germany (which is technically in the middle of the river itself).
Descolado
Speaking of Switzerland, France & Germany, all three are within easy access of Basel with Swiss trains running famously frequently and efficiently.
Within Switzerland, you can head an hour east by train to Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland with its own impressive collection of museums including the Landesmuseum (National History Museum), FIFA Museum & Lindt World of Chocolate. Alternatively, you could head south by train to Bern with its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, Swiss parliament building and Einsteinhaus, the home of Albert Einstein during his tenure at the Swiss patent office.
Basel Tour, Zurich
75 minutes north of Basel is the French city of Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace with its own beautiful medieval town centre, European Parliament buildings and a cathedral with a rare astronomical clock inside it.
Basel Tour, Strasbourg
The Black Forest takes up much of the German area to the North East of Basel, a large forested mountainous area with plenty of beautiful hikes on offer.
Basel Tour, The Black Forest
Finally for something a little different (and very on Eurovision brand), you can visit Europa Park, a Europe-themed amusement park with twenty themed areas all based around a European nation or region. The park is a 90-minute train journey north of Basel (with a transfer in Freiburg) to Ringsheim and then a 15 minute bus ride to the park entrance.
Basel Tour, Europa Park
How Much Time Do We Have Left?
For all the excitement of Eurovision and the show-themed attractions and fan zones around the city (mostly the Eurovision Village, Eurocafé and Euroclub at MesseBasel but also the Eurovision Street at Steinenvorstadt and the Eurovision Square at Barfüsserplatz), Basel is a unique place in itself. Without knowing when we as individuals or as a community will return to this part of the world, it’s best to take some time to appreciate our surroundings and soak in all the wonderful things that can be found in easy access of this special part of Europe.
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