How much does it cost to travel to Basel?
You should plan to spend around $234 (Sfr215) per day on your vacation in Basel. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $60 (Sfr56) on meals
- $45 (Sfr42) on local transportation
- $283 (Sfr261) on hotels
A one week trip to Basel for two people costs, on average, $3,273 (Sfr3,017). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Basel has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Basel expensive to visit?
Prices in Basel are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Basel is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Como or Bellagio.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Basel Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Basel?
The average Basel trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Basel travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation1(Double Occupancy) | Sfr261($283) |
| Local Transportation1 | Sfr42($45) |
| Food2 | Sfr56($60) |
| Entertainment1 | Sfr34($37) |
| Alcohol2 | Sfr15 -45($16 - 49) |
Accommodation Budget in Basel
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Basel is $142 (Sfr131). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Basel is $283 (Sfr261). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Accommodation1Hotel or hostel for one person
$142
Sfr131
Accommodation1Typical double-occupancy room
$283
Sfr261
Hotel Prices in Basel
Looking for a hotel in Basel? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Find the best hotel for your travel style.
Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Basel based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $114. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.
Recommended Properties
Transportation Budget in Basel
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
The cost of a taxi ride in Basel is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $45 (Sfr42) per person, per day, on local transportation in Basel.
Transportation1Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$45
Sfr42
Recommended Services
Flights to Basel
How much does it cost to go to Basel? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
Rental Cars in Basel
The price of renting a car in Basel will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Basel
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
While meal prices in Basel can vary, the average cost of food in Basel is $60 (Sfr56) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Basel should cost around $24 (Sfr22) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Basel is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
Food2Meals for one day
$60
Sfr56
Entertainment Budget in Basel
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
Entertainment and activities in Basel typically cost an average of $37 (Sfr34) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Entertainment1Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$37
Sfr34
Recommended Activities
Alcohol Budget in Basel
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
The average person spends about $33 (Sfr30) on alcoholic beverages in Basel per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Alcohol2Drinks for one day
$33
Sfr30
Recommended
Basel on a Budget
Basel, Switzerland
Basel is often overlooked as a tourist destination in Switzerland, but despite this, it does have a lot to offer visitors as well as a beautiful medieval historic center. Every year it also hosts a Carnival festival that is one of the most popular in Europe, competing with those in Venice and Rio de Janeiro in its popularity. There are also some excellent museums and great examples of regional architecture around town. Basel also serves as an excellent entry point to the Swiss Jura mountains and a jumping off point to visit more popular cities such as Zurich or Lucerne.
The town is located in the northwestern corner of the country and has a border with both France and Germany. This location means it's also a good entry point to the French region of Alsace and the German Black Forest.
Basel averages about 120 days of rain or snow every year and the rainiest month is June when you can expect rain for about 11 days. February is the driest month but snowfall is not uncommon.
Sights
Because Basel has a rich cultural history, you'll find a good number of interesting sights around town. Many of the sights are concentrated in the old town area, which is between the Basel Zool and the Rhine. This area is easily walkable and a great place to explore. Many of the stores close on Sundays, so it is best to save museums, which are usually open, for that day.
Sights around town include Marktplatz, or the Market Square, Rathaus, the town hall, the Gates to the Walled City, Kunstmuseum Basel, Fondation Beyeler, Museum Jean Tinguely, Schaulager and Museum der Kulturen among many others. You can wander around the cobblestone streets from Marktplatz to Munsterplatz (Cathedral Square). There you can see Basel's Munster, or cathedral, which was built between 1019 and 1500 in the Romanesque and Gothic style. Make sure you check out the views from the Pfalz, or plaza, that is north of the Munster. They look out over the Rhine and are some of the best around town. It's also a great area to enjoy a picnic.
Neighborhoods
Most of Basel's sights and attractions are concentrated in the old town area, which is easily walkable. The area stretches from the Basel Zoo, which is just south of the Basel SBB train station, to the Rhine.
Activities
In addition to seeing the countless sights around town, there are many activities you can enjoy in Basel. Theater is quite popular in Basel, as are sporting events such as football (soccer). There are any number of music concerts going on around town on any given week and there are often festivals or art shows that are well worth a visit.
Food and Dining
There is a very good and diverse number of restaurants and cafes around Basel. Around the streets of the old town you'll find many cafes that offer outdoor seating during the summer months. In general, the food in Basel is more expensive than elsewhere in Europe, but comparable to that in other Swiss cities. The cheapest option for budget travelers is to buy some food at a supermarket and prepare your own meals. Most of the supermarkets close early in the evening, so if you hope to do this, then it is best to plan ahead earlier in the day. It is also possible to cross the border into nearby France or Germany and dine for slightly less money.
Transportation
Most people choose to walk around Basel. The city itself is quite small and there are some fascinating narrow, winding roads that weave their way through the city. There are also a number of areas around town that are pedestrian only and closed off to vehicular traffic. Specifically, some of the more popular shopping streets are limited to foot traffic only. You will find yourself walking a good amount in Basel, particularly on uneven cobblestone streets that can be somewhat difficult to navigate. For this reason it is important that you be prepared with proper footwear.
If you're traveling a greater distance, the city does offer a good tram and bus system that is relatively easy to understand and navigate. Both the trams and buses are usually on time and affordable. They are convenient and provide you with access to most of the city.
Bicycling is also easy in Basel as the city is very bike friendly with many well marked bike lanes and amenities for bicyclists. Bikes can be rented from the Rent-a-Bike underground bike park that is located at Centralbahnplatz under the Basel SBB railway station.
There are four small ferry boats that operate in Basel as well. The most popular one is the one that starts in Grossbasel just below the Munster. There are also day excursions that go up and down the Rhine on large motor boats.
Related:
Are you a student or backpacker headed to Switzerland or Austria?
Need a hostel in Zurich or Vienna?
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.
