Eurostar to Basel

If your ideal holiday is a place seeped in culture, then look no further than Basel in Switzerland. It is the proud home of over forty museums, so there’s plenty to see for even the pickiest of tourists. Basel is on the border of three countries: Switzerland, France, and Germany. Because of this, it is known as the triangle (or locally as Dreiländereck), and has a great mix of languages and cultural influences. Basel is one of the destinations available on the Eurostar connection service, so it’s never been easier to reach.

About Basel

After you arrive, head straight into the centre of town to Münsterplatz square. This is the heart of the city, where all of the locals and tourists hang out. The square is overlooked by the dramatic outline of the Cathedral of Basal, known by the locals as the Münster, and it’s an incredible sight, particularly at sunset when the sandstone walls are highlighted. Take some time out in the square and survey your surroundings; you’ll be surprised by the mix of contemporary and historical architecture Basel has to offer. Some of the houses in the surrounding areas date back to the fifteenth century. And for panoramic views over the entire city, take a trip up to the top of the Messeturm tower. It’s the tallest building in Switzerland, so you’ll see the stunning views for miles.

A great way to spend an afternoon is to take a walk along the banks of the Rhine, which can be found in the Grossbasel part of town. Or if you’re looking for something romantic to do, take a boat ride along the river itself.

If you travel for art and culture, take a trip to the Kunsthalle Square and see the Tinguely Fountain. For more art, take and afternoon visiting the Beyeler Foundation.

You can’t go to Basel without sampling some of the local delicacies in the restaurants. Onion tart and Basel flour soup are popular choices, and if you have a sweet tooth, try the spiced fruit cake Basler Läckerli or Fastenwähe, a cumin-tasting cake. And to top it all off, finish your meal with a glass of Hypocras wine. However, if this sounds a bit too out of the ordinary, Basel has a number of restaurants boasting foods from around the globe.

Basel by Eurostar Trains

Basel is easy to get to by rail on one of the Eurostar’s connection services. This means you'll have to change trains at some point. Eurostar trains depart from St Pancras International, a very easy-to-get-to destination in London. With speeds of 186 miles per hour, it's an easy journey. Your simplest option of connection services after getting on the train at London is to change at Paris Gare du Nord, but you’ll have to take a taxi or get on the metro to catch a connection train from Gare de l'Est. If you catch the Metro, get on line four or five. All in all, if you travel from London, you can expect the journey time to be about seven and a half hours.

Visit the official Eurostar web site to book your train tickets to Basel.