We will be flying into Zurich and catching a train to Interlaken for a couple nights. Then we'll head to Basel for a night. Any recommendations on where to stay and what to do? Also, is it cheaper to do a point-to-point ticket from Zurich to Interlaken to Basel plus buy the lift tickets from Interlaken to Gimmewald? Or is the Swiss rail pass a better way to go?
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9100 posts
Today's New York Times Travel section has a big article about Basel:
Go with the Swiss Pass, it will save you lots of time. After you get it validated you just hop on and off the trains; no need to wait in line at the ticket windows. It also covers municipal transport in cities like Basel.
Basel is a convention city so hotel rooms are expensive. I stayed here on my last visit:
Posted by
Fanwood, NJ, USA
62 posts
A couple of years ago, I was in Basel for a couple of days for work. I realize it's off the main Swiss tourist track, but I really enjoyed it.
On the hotel, I stayed at the Hotel Münchnerhof (http://www.muenchnerhof.ch). It was perfectly adequate. (My room was fairly small, but it was the economy single.) It's next to the Messe (convention center) in Kleinbasel, so it's a short ride (multiple trams) or maybe a 10-15 min walk across the river to Grossbasel. Also note that local transport is free if you're staying at a hotel in town. (They give you a card at check-in and you can use a confirmation before that.)
If you get a chance, check out the Museum Tinguely or at least the Tinguely Fountain. I'm not a modern art type guy by a long shot but really liked it. I also enjoyed the short ferry ride across the Rhine. (Not covered by pass; was about EUR 2.) The main square has a nice market (check the current schedule) and the Rathaus is worth spending a few minutes looking around.
Paul