Why Bern and Basel are the Swiss cities you need to see

Forget Zurich and Geneva. Visit Switzerland’s next-largest cities instead.

Here's why you should add Basel and Bern to your Euro summer itinerary. 

Basel

Basel is uniquely positioned at the intersection of Switzerland, Germany and France, making it easy to explore the Black Forest or Alsatian villages across each border. In fact, Basel’s tourism office encourages e-bike riders to tackle a flat, 22km route through the three countries in one day, stopping to see art galleries and design precincts along the way.

Basel’s urban spread straddles the Rhine River, making it a major stopover on river cruises. Considered Switzerland’s cultural capital, it contains over 40 museums, including the Kunstmuseum that houses the oldest public art collection in the world, and Fondation Beyeler – displaying artworks by Monet, Picasso and van Gogh. It’s no surprise that Basel hosts one of the most prestigious art fairs in the world, Art Basel.

Basel's skyline by the Rhine River in autumn

“Basel is also a global hub for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Visitors interested in science and innovation can explore the Novartis Campus and the Roche Visitor Centre. Both offer insights into cutting-edge research and development,” says Vasja Ostric, product design manager for Switzerland at Collette. Ostric recommends visiting Basel’s Old Town with its narrow streets, medieval buildings, gated towers and picturesque squares. Key landmarks include Basel Cathedral, the Town Hall and Tinguely Fountain.

Basel’s tourism office encourages e-bike riders to explore the city

Bern

Wrapped inside a crook of the River Aare, close to the border of Switzerland’s French and German-speaking territories, midway between Geneva and Zurich, Bern was chosen as the seat of government midway through the 19th century. But as a tourist, it’s the Old Town that you’ll remember, rather than its political or linguistic eccentricities. “Bern is steeped in history and features medieval architecture. Its Old Town is even a UNESCO World Heritage site, making it a truly unique place to explore,” says Rachel Kingswell, general manager (Australia & New Zealand) at Travel Associates.

The covered walkways featured in Bern’s Old Town are unique. Electric trams and buses run down the middle of streets that were once outdoor marketplaces. And towering 16th-century fountains with statues of travelling minstrels, knights and nurses spew sweet glacial meltwaters into thirsty mouths. Central to it all is the Zytglogge (clocktower).

Bern's Old Town is worth a visit

Built in 1191 as the fortified western gateway to the walled city, it was transformed into a prison, then a lookout and eventually a fire observation tower. Its astronomical clock workings were added later and as it approaches the hour mark, crowds huddle on the pavement beneath to watch a parade of mechanical bears, lions, roosters and jesters magically appear from inside the tower. Other attractions include tours through the apartment where physicist Albert Einstein worked on his groundbreaking theories, a park containing bears that the city was named after and easy access to the Bernese Alps.

Originally published as Why Bern and Basel are the Swiss cities you need to see