Hi, everyone! My name is Ramona, I’m 29 and I grew up near Basel. I was born in Los Angeles and am originally from Italy. Having said that, I’ve spent most of my life in Basel and I’ve got lots of wonderful memories of the city! For a long time, I worked in marketing. Three years ago, I decided to pack up my things, quit my job and my apartment, and travel the world. One of the best decisions I ever made!
On that trip, I discovered my passion for photography. I wanted to share the images and moments I’d captured so I began my journey on Instagram as amorea__. After my round-the-world trip, I moved to a suburb of Basel and now I spend most of my time in the city. It’s got a lot of variety and all kinds of incredible different sides to it. It’s an authentic city, steeped in history. Here, I can go out to eat with friends and family, go to bars, go shopping or spend time by the Rhine. Here are a few of my favourite spots that are an absolute must if you visit my city! 

Our Motel One in Basel

I like spending time on the banks of the Rhine at Kleinbasler Ufer, particularly on hot summer days. This busy spot has lots to offer. Rheinbad swimming pools, buvettes (local café-bars), green spaces and even little pebble beaches. My favourite thing to do is head here with my friends, float down the Rhine with my Wickelfisch (a special type of swim bag invented in Basel), and enjoy the evening with a drink and good conversation, watching the sun go down. Anyone who knows me knows I’ll never miss a sunset. NEVER! :-) This is a wonderful spot, and not just at weekends – it’s a great place to go in the evenings after a busy day. The Rheinpromenade is easy to access by public transport or car.

The Basel taxi boat service... What can I say? It’s a top-class dining experience! If you fancy checking out Basel from a different perspective, you can book a short or long city cruise, including a harbour tour and apéritif, from Mael and his team. As taxi boat stops are dotted along the Rhine throughout Basel, they can pick you up practically anywhere in the city centre. It’s a great way to celebrate a birthday or spend a romantic evening for two. You can find booking information and more details here.

The art museum Fondation Beyeler in Riehen is Switzerland’s most-visited museum and is even said to be one of the world’s most beautiful. The Fondation Beyeler has all kinds of collections and exhibits of modern and contemporary art for art lovers. But that’s not all: it creates incredible events in collaboration with leading electronic music institution Nordstern (such as sun.set). Here, art meets music to create a unique atmosphere. Don’t miss it!

The Holzpark Klybeck shows in a highly original and creative way how a 1950s lightship can be used today. Alongside bars, workshops, existing studios and foodie spots, the ship also offers a wide range of theatre, arts and music events for audiences of at least 300. The ship will be situated at Uferstrasse 40 until at least December 2024 (with the prospect of another five years’ temporary use). Holzpark Klybeck describes its offering perfectly itself: Space for something different: a temporary cultural home for creative thinking, urban wilderness and limitless freedom. 

This spot is an absolute must for foodies and connoisseurs. The restaurant is right on the Rhine, in the heart of Basel, and offers its guests stunning panoramic views from the terrace. I fell in love with this place on my very first visit, thanks to its delicious Italian specialities, excellent service and carefully chosen interiors. You simply must order the ‘tortino al cioccolato’ for dessert – you can thank me later :-)

The Merian Gardens are located on the outskirts of Basel and are run by the Christoph Merian Stiftung (CMS). These unique gardens are a stunning oasis where you can always find something new – and they’re free for everyone to visit, 365 days a year! The unparalleled plant diversity and botanic collections are definitely worth a visit. This spot is ideal for when all I want to do is relax in the great outdoors. 
The Merian Gardens are open daily from 8:00 am until sunset and are easy to reach by car or public transport.

Between the central railway station and Heuwaage, you’ll find Market Hall Basel and everything it has to offer daily beneath its octagon-shaped dome. Saturday markets, Sunday flea markets, street food stalls with delicacies from around the globe, bars and cultural events, comfy seating areas, stores selling fresh produce and much more. This is a great place to spend fun – and delicious – nights with friends. Definitely worth a visit for those who enjoy trying out new things to eat.

The soundtrack to your city break

More city tips from locals