How far is Basel city center from train station

The Old Town is about a ten minute walk from the SBB station on the Swiss side of the Rhein. The streets are a bit confusing so it's easier to reach via tram. Catch tram 11 three stops away to Barfusserplatz direction St Louis. Having said that I've been to Basel twice, and it didn't impress me. Like most Swiss cities they are nice places to live but low on tourist appeal.

Just to be a contrarian, I did day trips around Zurich and Lucerne and some days in Bern and found they were worth the effort. And don't forget, Google map also does walking tours and directions.

Perhaps instead of Basel you keep going to Fribourg? Although that's considered the beginning of French Switzerland so may not be much different.

"Basel SBB" train station is centrally located. You'll see both the station and the Altstadt/Old Town area marked on Google Maps. You can get more detailed station info on the SBB site.

We also haven't been to Strasbourg. Maybe we should do that rather than Basel?

Basel has great outdoors and indoors art, a great sense of humour, beautiful buildings, an extremely comprehensive tram system complimented by even more buses, a world class zoo just down from the station, the Rhine River passes right through town, providing very scenic walks along both banks of the river, scenic motorless (river current powered) ferries across the river, a childrens toy museum, the junction of 3 countries, scenic hills and scenic city gates, and much much more.

Use the trams - fast, quiet, frequent, comprehensive, and some even have wifi.

Strasbourg has a cathedral with an interesting clock, EU offices, and the Pope was there last week.

Basel has two main stations. If you are coming from Colmar, you will arrive at the French railway station (Bâle SNCF) which is adjacent to the Swiss station (Basel SBB). From here it is about 15-20 minutes walk to the city centre, but it is better to get the tram. Routes 8 or 11, 3 stops to Barfüsserplatz or 4 to Marktplatz. There is a tourist office at the station which will give you all the info you need.

Basel is definately worth a day trip. Lots of museums, a nice old town to wander around (buildings from the 1300's), and a minster (ĉathedral) in a square (Münsterplatz) which can make you forget which century you are in, with a lookout over the Rhine.
Currently the Christmas market is open, in Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz (click here).

That said, Strasbourg is also worth 1-2 days.