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
Transportation
The primary transportation you will be using in Switzerland is 1) the Basel tram system to get around the city and 2) the Swiss train system to get around the country! Let’s start with the tram system…
The BVB website connects you to the tram map, timetable, and zones. A single tram ticket is about 2-4CH and you have the option to purchase multiple tickets at once (in sets of 6). But as a student who took the tram every day, I purchased a U-Abo pass, which is a monthly, unlimited tram pass. Learn more at the TNW website, which is a wider tram network that includes Basel and the surrounding area. Make sure you register with the city of Basel before purchasing a U-Abo pass, because it saves about 20CH. Because you are most likely under the age of 25 and will be hopefully already registered in Basel, you will pay 53.00CH per month (see chart through link above). As I mentioned, I rode the tram every day to school. The FHNW campus falls along Tram 11’s route, south of the SBB station at a stop called “Freilager.” If you live within the city limits of Basel, this is by far the easiest way to get to school. Additionally, this tram network goes into Germany and France, which offer much more affordable prices on groceries and other living essentials!
Swiss trains run like clockwork — in fact, Switzerland has arguably the most reliable train system in Europe, which makes traveling throughout the country truly easy. If you plan on traveling even once and awhile, I recommend buying a Halbtax (half-fare) card, for 120CH a month. A half-fare card allows you to pay half price for all train tickets in Switzerland, and definitely ends up paying for itself. Find out more about the Half-fare Travel card. You can also buy it at the info desk in the Basel train station. Sbb.ch is the easiest way to purchase any and all train tickets, and purchasing tickets online can save you a lot of money. Buying tickets ahead of time, even just a few days before, can save you 10-20CH. I would often purchase “supersaver tickets,” which simply means buying a ticket for a train at a specific time (normal tickets are purchased by day and destination). These supersaver tickets can be sometimes more than half the normal ticket price! With all these opportunities to skimp on transportation, there is no excuse not to explore the gorgeous country of Switzerland.