Basel - where to stay, what to do

It depends on your interests, but the Vitra Design Museum and campus in adjacent Weil am Rhine is a major attraction. I consider the Fondation Beyeler a don't miss museum. Month of year affects Switzerland visits.

The Fine Arts Museum (Kunstmuseum) is outstanding.

The Paper Museum is amazing. You can make your own paper from "cotton soup", which I thought was totally cool. It works off of water power. In one day I was able to visit the outstanding Foundation Beyler museum - a short tram ride on the #6 line, then double back to visit the Paper Museum in town. On Saturdays they run old city walking tours from the tourist office at Barfüsserplatz - well worth the ~$30CHF IMHO.

Hi and thanks to those who responded. We will be in Basel on Wednesday/Thursday in October 2017. We did the RS Switzerland tour in 2016 and fell in love with the country. Just beautiful. We figured it would be best to arrive in Basel a day early to ensure that we don't "miss the boat"!

Appreciate any help/guidance on where to stay (the RS Switzerland book does not include Basel hotels), and how to spend our one day in the city. thanks!

Donna, most of your questions can be answered on the official Basel city tourist website: https://www.basel.com/en
This list all hotels in the Basel area, with prices. I would recommend you choose a hotel in Basel city. Basel has an excellent tram-based transport system, allowing you to get anywhere in the city. If you stay in a hotel in the city you get free transport.

I wouldn't bother trying for a hotel "near the port". Due to the increasing number of cruise boats here are three different places they dock at "St Johann", *Uferstrasse" and "Dreiländereck". the first is in a residential area, but the other two are in the docks area not well served by transport. Just get a good hotel in or near the city centre, and travel by tram.

If you like museums there are lots, starting with the "Kunstmuseum" and the "Fondation Beyeler"
But, Basel's chief asset (in my opinion) is it is a lovely city just to walk around. Start with the Münster (cathedral) in Münsterplatz (click for photo), move on to the Marktplatz with the red town hall (click for photo), and explore the back lanes in the old town (click for photo). It is easy to forget what century you are in.

Hi Chris, thanks for the info. I'll check out the website you provided. Any thoughts on the Hotel Resslirytti?

http://www.resslirytti.ch/en/

Donna, yes. I have never stayed in the Resslirytti, or any other hotel in Basel, living here I have never needed to, but I have eaten there many times. I go past it every morning on the way to work (on the tram).
It has an Italian restaurant, with lots of good Italian dishes and a real pizza oven in the restaurant where you can watch your pizza being cooked. 'Resslirytti' is Basel-German for a fairground roundabout/carousel, literally translates as "horsey ride" and the inside of the restaurant is decorated in that theme.
I would say it is (by Basel standards) an economical hotel. Nothing in Basel is under CHF 100/night (more on busy weeks), and the website is quoting CHF 135 for a single room, which is reasonable for the standard of hotel.

It is a good location. Tram stop outside, about 200 metres from the river. If you walk onto the bridge this is the view you get (click for photo), or you can just take the passenger ferry across (click here).

Hi Chris, thanks for your detailed and quick response! I really appreciate it!

PS - I booked the Hotel Resslirytti. We're really looking forward to this trip!