I've never been to Switzerland and am considering a day trip to Basel and/or Zurich while I am in Freiburg for a few days. Both look like interesting cities. I know it would be easier to try to see just one city. It is feasible to try to see a little of both?
I understand I won't have a lot of time - have already checked bus and train schedules.
Anyone have any preference if you had to choose one city over the other? I am more interested in scenery than museums.
Andrew,
do you mean Fribourg in Switzerland, Freiburg im Breisgau, or a different Freiburg?
If it is Freiburg im Breisgau, then Basel is just down the street. I happen to love the place which is excellent for walking, or strolling along the Rhine, or riding the trams, or looking at the outdoor sculpture, the painted buildings, the zoo or a zillion other things.
Presumably you have several days of scenery while in The Black Forest? I think Zurich is too far. But I spent half a day just at the Fondation Beyeler in Basel. But you said no museums. How about the architecture tour at the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhine? If you can afford a nice fondue lunch, Basel would make a good day by itself. But it's urban scenery.
Sorry - yes, Freiburg im Breisgau. I would be taking public transportation. It looks easier/quicker to get to Basel by train but there's actually a direct bus between Freiburg im Breisgau and Zurich, only 2:15 travel time and 8 euros which is cheap compared to trains. I do enjoy exploring cities. I would not necessarily avoid ANY museum, but I would prefer outdoor urban exploring. As I said, I've never been to Switzerland - and I thought it might be nice to do a quick trip to one/both of these cities while I'm nearby to see at least a part of Switzerland!
So - one vote for Basel. Anyone have any thoughts on Zurich? I've googled pictures of both places - both look pretty.
Well I would guess that the bus (really?) to Zurich will have to go through Basel on the way. Just, if you go to Zurich first - and it sounds like you will - do me a favour. As you approach the border when approaching Basel for the first time put an inflight eye mask on and leave it on until the bus picks up speed after clearing Basel.
Why? I probably went through and over and under Basel at least a dozen times on motorways before getting into the centre of the city on my feet. Every time I saw ugly things from the motorways which in no way encouraged me to visit. Basel on foot - or tram - or boat - or swimming in the river - is nothing like what you see out the window as you pass by.
If you don't put the mask on you won't want to visit - and you will have missed a real jewel in European cities and it would be a shame.
I don't think the bus goes through Basel. The same bus company does not offer service between Freiburg and Basel - surely they would offer it if the bus passed through? On a map, Basel looks like a detour for a bus going from Freiburg to Zurich.
I almost always prefer trains to buses, but my plans aren't firm, and last-minute train ticket from Freiburg to Zurich costs about 45 Euros and takes just under two hours. The bus costs 8 Euros and takes 2:15. Seems like an easy choice for me - if I go to Zurich. Basel isn't so expensive by last-minute train and I may just wind up going there and not to Zurich. I'm not sure yet.
I'm not worried about what the outskirts of these towns look like. I've been to Poland, which has plenty of ugly communist-era sprawl around some of its most beautiful cities, so I'm aware that the suburbs don't always reflect on the appearance of the towns themselves.
I've had a look at their map at http://meinfernbus.de/unser-angebot/liniennetz and I see that they take the motorway avoiding Basel, via the Loerrach cut off just north of Basel. That cutoff is a nice ride through the hills and over the river which was built a few years ago. So you will be a very few miles away but not through Basel.
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The only thought I have is that the train to Basel is 2 or more every hour (the cheaper slow train isn't much slower than the ICE in that stretch) and the bus to Zuerich is 4 times a day.
The bus itself looks quite comfy, the snack prices are reasonable (but very limited) BUT anybody who serves gummibears has to be good in my book!!
I wound up doing a day trip from Freiburg im Breisgau to Zurich by bus, just exploring the city for a few hours. Even though it rained part of the day in Zurich, I quite enjoyed my brief visit. It's a pretty city, lots of fun twisty streets in the old town, etc. Basel would have been easier I guess and a little quicker, but I don't regret going for Zurich instead.
