Basel for the day - any suggestions?

If you like modern art, the Fondation Beyeler. If you like old musical instruments, the Music Museum in the old city jail. The Historical Museum is also interesting, with an extensive collection of old watches and also period rooms.

The Christmas market in Basel's Barfusserplatz opens on November 26--many booths with gifts, decorations, food. Look for the Kathe Wohlfahrt store for a selection of hand-crafted German ornaments, pyramids, and smokers. In other booths, you'll find textiles, glass, and wood carvings...

(Folks can also shop for Kathe Wohlfahrt items at the 2009 Christmas markets in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Bethlehem PA.)

If you take the number 6 tram from there to the Beyeler, you'll ride through the city then past fields and farmland and into residential areas. While at the Beyeler, take the time to relax on the long sofa and contemplate the huge Monet waterlily canvas on the opposite side of the room. To your left, outdoors, is the pool that continues the waterlily theme (perhaps no outdoor waterlilies in November, though).

If you have time on your return, get off the tram in front of the Manor department store in Klein Basel, shop a bit for souvenirs of Switzerland or go to their cafeteria for a snack, then walk over the bridge over the Rhine, taking in the views of the city, the river, and the cathedral. You might then stop at Marktplatz (and maybe at Globus department store) for a bit more shopping and a snack for the train ride.

You may want to explore Freistrasse which leads from Marktplatz and is an important shopping area; it may be decorated with Christmas lights.

You might be interested in other museums in Basel--there are 30 or so to choose from--

http://www.museenbasel.ch/

Have fun!

I went there last year and really enjoyed myself. I had more time, but I am sure some of what we did would be attractive to you.

My trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/basel-short-trip-report.cfm

Thanks for the replies!

@kmbp: we're going to miss the opening of the Christmas Market! I am seriously bummed. We'll be there on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Ugghh.

linacasanova: thanks for the link to your report. I think I may have read it at one point, but will definitely re-read it again.

Michael - I love museums. I'll see if my traveling companions will want to visit. They may be "museumed" out since we're planning on seeing a lot of museums in Paris.

TR

I stopped there as a sleepover before heading into Paris, a couple years ago. I don't really have any suggestions, but I do have some advice:

Should you find yourself in Basel on a Friday night, looking for a place to eat, and patronizing a restaraunt/bar that stopped serving food, but has a group of Swiss bankers unwinding for the week, that adopt you as their new American friend and convince you to drink with them, so you think "it's almost closing time (23:00), I can hang with them for a little while", but the next time you look over, you notice the waitress and bartender sitting down with your group and drinking, and it's now 4 a.m. ....

The next day is going to hurt...a lot.
(one of the best times of that trip though, have a great time)