In late November, I'm traveling to Zurich to board a river cruise in Basel. I'll arrive in Zurich on a Friday morning and I won't board the boat in Basel until Sunday afternoon. From what I've read on this forum, it's convenient to just catch the train from Zurich to Basel at the airport. So I'm wondering if I should just do that, and spend nearly 2 days in Basel. Or, should I split the time between Zurich and Basel, spending Friday night in Zurich and Saturday night in Basel. Or- I guess there's even a 3rd option- spend 2 nights in Zurich, and take the train to Basel on Sunday morning. I've never been to either destination, so I value your insight! Thanks!
Posted by
NorthCarolina
1061 posts
Unless you're going to get a decent amount of time in Basel with your River Cruise tour, I'd say get to Basel for at LEAST one full day - Basel has MANY great Xmas Markets spread over the town. I've not been to the Xmas Markets in Zurich, so I can't speak to that, but give Basel a full 1-2 days to explore their many markets.
Posted by
Rhode Island, USA
235 posts
We have not been to Basel so my information is limited but we have spent time in the Zurich old town on two occasions and enjoyed it. One of these was parts of two days and one night prior to the start of the RS Switzerland Tour. Looking at train schedule information, you will have to route through the Zurich train station which is within blocks of the old town. I would suggest looking into staying in Zurich Friday night and continuing on to Basel some time on Saturday.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8966 posts
My answer would be - neither! I would go right from the Zurich airport rail station to Luzern, and spend that time there. Luzern is in a beautiful location, with mountains you can visit and a lake to cruise upon. Its only 1.25 hours from the airport by train, and a bit less to Basel. Easily doable and more rewarding. Basel is nice enough, but not in the mountains. In other words, it looks like most of the other cities you'll visit on the cruise.
Posted by
Chicago
3125 posts
I’d keep things easy and have just one hotel in Basel. I was in Basel for 5 nights last Sept. and really liked Basel.
Here is some info. on Basel so you can see if it interests you:
Posted by
NorthCarolina
1061 posts
I'm the one above who mentioned the Xmas Markets in Basel. After reading the suggestion on Lucern - I agree! Take the train from Zurich Airport to Lucern, spend one night and take an early afternoon train the next day to Basel for the Markets there. Lucern is gorgeous and has a few VERY SMALL markets.
If you don't want to see Lucern (although your cruise may include it) - then I'd just go straight to Basel to avoid a hotel in Zurich. There is LOTS to see, do, and eat on the Basel Markets. I'd also suggest you book hotels ASAP --- we are re-doing the Danube Xmas Markets this year and booked our hotels a year ago -- the best hotels close to the Markets fill up VERY early -esp since the markets have been closed for the past 2 years.
Feel free to PM me if needed - we have done the Rhine Xmas Market Cruise a couple times (on Tauck) - I also suggest that one year you do the Danube ones also - we actually like it even better = Vienna, Salzburg, Passau, Regensburg, Nuremberg.