Basel is an incredible Swiss city, and fall is one of the best times to be there. The Rhine river runs through the city, and is a perfect place for a swim or a ferry trip. Basel has a vibrant cultural scene with more than 40 museums, 25 theaters, operas, and ballets, and multiple large festivals. The “Herbstmesse”, or Autumn Fair, is one of the biggest fairs in Switzerland in October and November with food, stalls, and rides. The “Weihnachtsmarkt”, or Christmas Market is also a longtime tradition during the holiday season. Basel is also an important city for foreign trade and pharmaceutical industries.
Other fun facts:
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Roger Federer was born here! And every time he wins a championship, he is presented with a cow in the Marktplatz…
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You can drink out of the water fountains you see around town!
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Läckerli, a sort of hard gingerbread, was invented in Basel.
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Basel’s namesake and its heraldic animal, is the basilisk.
Culture
UC–FHNW Exchange Program
Flights
I began searching for flights as soon as I was accepted into the study abroad program. I purchased my ticket in the beginning of June, for departure on September 9th, 2018 (school started the following week). I think I got pretty lucky with pricing, paying only $446 for a one-way ticket on Icelandair out of Chicago O’Hare to Zurich, with a layover in Reykjavik.