9 Best Hotels in Basel, Switzerland

Background Illustration for Hotels

Grand as a palace? Way-cool as a converted prison? An art-lover's paradise? Or cozy and comfortably lived-in? The hotel scene in Basel is definitely varied. But with its busy convention center offering a different trade fair most months, this is a city that prides itself on being especially business-friendly. Many hotels pamper their business clientele (a never-ending supply), with leisure travelers taking second place. Signs pointing to meeting rooms and business centers are often more prominent than any paintings on the wall. But don't write off the city's business-oriented hotels—these often drop their prices significantly on weekends and offer superb amenities.

Depending upon your taste and budget, you can find hotels ranging from historic grandes dames, with wonderful restaurants and lots of character, to original and artsy boutique properties, to basic cheap and cheerful places with few amenities. Many hotels offer a river view and a calm, relaxed, designer interior, and Swiss service is, more often than not, helpful and efficient.

When there's a trade fair in town, prices shoot through the roof, and every bed for miles can be filled. This is also true during Fasnacht, Art Basel, and many of the other festivals. Most hotels do not include breakfast in their rates, though it's almost always available for an extra fee. All Basel hotels equip their guests with free travel passes for use in the city during their stay.

Der Teufelhof Basel

$ | Leonhardsgraben 49, Basel, 4051, Switzerland Fodor's Choice

The Teufelhof is actually two hotels in one: the Art Hotel has nine rooms that are works of art in their own right and were stunningly reconceived by well-known artists such as Switzerland's Dieter Meyer, while the simple rooms of the adjoining Gallery Hotel function as a canvas for a single artist to show off recent work or for an exhibit on a particular theme (such as historic photographs of Basel). The complex, which includes parts of an old abbey, features not only two restaurants, a café, a wine shop, and a brewery, but also an in-house theater that puts on performances in German from mid-September to early May.

Pros

  • Great location—only three tram stops away from the main station
  • Excellent service
  • Good choice of food and drink options

Cons

  • No air-conditioning
  • No elevator in the Art Hotel
  • Some noise in rooms facing the tram
Leonhardsgraben 49, Basel, 4051, Switzerland
061-2611010
hotel Details
33 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

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easyHotel Basel

$ | Riehenring 109, Basel, 4058, Switzerland

Less is definitely more at the easyHotel, where guest rooms are compact, minimalist, and decorated with up-to-date (though basic) decor and vivid colors. Some rooms are windowless—these are snapped up by bargain-hunting travelers—but be aware that the hotel has no air-conditioning, so not being able to crack open a window can be an issue during hot nights. Though there's no lobby to speak of, there is a downstairs lounge area where you can hang out or grab a snack from a vending machine. There's also a late-night restaurant right next door.

Pros

  • Central location (close to the convention center where Art Basel and Baselworld are held)
  • Impeccably clean rooms
  • Unbeatable prices

Cons

  • No restaurant
  • Charge for lockers to hold luggage
  • Five-floor hotel has no elevator
Riehenring 109, Basel, 4058, Switzerland
hotel Details
24 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals, Credit cards accepted

Quick Facts

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Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois

$$$$ | Blumenrain 8, Basel, 4001, Switzerland Fodor's Choice

Basel's leading rendezvous for the rich and famous, the Trois Rois—the oldest city hotel in Switzerland, and one of the oldest in Europe—has long been an integral part of Basel history, though it also includes up-to-date accoutrements like flat-screen TVs and top-notch restaurants. Its supremely elegant rooms, furnished with unique art and antiques, are done up in ravishing shades of cream, gilt, powder blue, and red; ornate woodwork and impressive tapestries nudge the opulence factor ever higher. There's also a newer art deco wing with sophisticated modern-style rooms. There is a feast here for the stomach as well as the eyes: the formal Cheval Blanc serves up French cuisine classique, the Brasserie proffers a stunning glass wall overlooking the river, and the Salon du Cigare puts a high-tech spin on an old-world lounge. The hotel remains surprisingly intimate and understated in the best Swiss way.

Pros

  • Regal prices are reflected in regal service
  • Unbeatable sense of history
  • Complimentary minibar

Cons

  • Less expensive rooms can be on the small side
  • No spa
  • Basic fitness room
Blumenrain 8, Basel, 4001, Switzerland
061-2605050
hotel Details
101 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

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Hotel Brasserie Au Violon

$ | Im Lohnhof 4, Basel, 4051, Switzerland

Housed in a 12th-century building looming over the Altstadt that served as a cloister and then a prison, the hotel now captivates its clientele with slightly faded elegance, a peaceful location, and a terrific restaurant. There are some reminders of the building's austere past—guest rooms overlooking the courtyard are still called "cells," with uniformly tight square footage. "Police office" rooms facing the town offer more space at a slightly higher rate. The art deco brasserie, with its mirrored bar and iron-legged tables, serves French classics. The former residents here—priests and prisoners—never had it so good.

Pros

  • Unique and charming concept
  • Highly rated restaurant
  • Elevator from the hotel down to the old town

Cons

  • Some small rooms
  • No coffee- or tea-makers in rooms
  • No TVs in some rooms
Im Lohnhof 4, Basel, 4051, Switzerland
061-2698711
hotel Details
20 rooms
Rate Includes: Closed Christmas--New Year\'s, No Meals

Quick Facts

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Hotel D—Basel

$ | Blumenrain 19, Basel, 4051, Switzerland
This affordable, centrally located hotel offers well-lighted modern rooms and Italian-made rainfall showerheads, as well as a sauna and fitness studio in the cellar. Comfortable, contemporary rooms have wood floors and pops of bright colors (oranges and reds) on the pillows and bedspreads. The hotel boasts an eco-friendly concept and a good buffet breakfast, though it's not included in most rates.

Pros

  • Tasteful modern design
  • Convenient location across from upscale Les Trois Rois
  • Some rooms have views of the Rhine

Cons

  • Neighborhood can be busy
  • Hotel lacks a bit of character
  • Lower-priced rooms are small
Blumenrain 19, Basel, 4051, Switzerland
061-2722020
hotel Details
48 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

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Hotel Krafft Basel

$$ | Rheing. 12, Basel, 4058, Switzerland Fodor's Choice

In an elegant waterfront mansion, the art deco Krafft has a can't-get-any-better location that makes it perfect for people-watching; the building is open and airy, and comfortable guest rooms have wood floors and are simply furnished with Swiss designer furniture. Rooftop suites offer luxuries like fireplaces or riverside balconies. The traditional, highly rated dining room and ever-popular waterfront terrace provide spectacular views of the Old Town. The Consum Residence, across the street, is where you'll find additional rooms as well as a trendy wine-and-cheese bar.

Pros

  • Refreshment station on each floor with tea, water, and fruit
  • Very friendly staff
  • Charming, design-conscious look

Cons

  • Waterfront location can be noisy
  • No air-conditioning
  • Only a few rooms have balconies
Rheing. 12, Basel, 4058, Switzerland
061-6909130
hotel Details
48 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

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Hotel Rochat

$ | Petersgraben 23, Basel, 4051, Switzerland

The location of this modest but roomy hotel, within a brownstone dating from 1899, is a great asset; set across from the university, it's in a quiet area far from the shopping masses. Renovated rooms feature comfy beds, simple furnishings, and air-conditioning; their generally large size makes them great for traveling families. 

Pros

  • Good breakfast buffet (for a fee)
  • Service polite and to the point
  • Well located to walk to the Marktplatz

Cons

  • Try not to get lost in the rabbit warren of corridors
  • Rooms are rather basic
  • Limited parking on-site
Petersgraben 23, Basel, 4051, Switzerland
061-2618140
hotel Details
55 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

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Nomad Design & Lifestyle Hotel

$$ | Brunngässlein 8, Basel, 4052, Switzerland Fodor's Choice

This urban-chic, centrally located hotel (from the same owners as the Krafft) with a young and lively vibe offers design-conscious rooms and a casual eatery with cocktail bar that attracts stylish locals and visitors. Spacious guest rooms either have all-concrete floors and walls with accents of wood and bright colors ("Urban Club Rooms") or bright woven carpets with mod leather furnishings ("Design Rooms"); all feature sleek black tile bathrooms. Urban Club rooms come with access to the Library Club, a lounge where guests can enjoy complimentary breakfast, tea and cakes in the afternoon, and drinks at night, as well as work if they need to. The gym has a small, though high-quality, range of equipment as well as a sauna, and free hotel bikes can be used to explore Basel. In the evening, the cocktail bar/lobby is the place to chill.

Pros

  • Fun, cool vibe
  • Rooms less expensive than others in Basel
  • Very convenient to the train station and Altstadt attractions

Cons

  • No views from rooms
  • Only some rooms have balconies
  • Parking a car is a bit difficult
Brunngässlein 8, Basel, 4052, Switzerland
061-6909160
hotel Details
65 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

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The Passage Urban Stay

$ | Steinengraben 51, Basel, 4051, Switzerland Fodor's Choice

Modern with a gleaming white facade, an airy foyer, and a well-equipped fitness studio with a sauna, The Passage is an architectural "passage" from the bustling modern city at its front to the quiet medieval Spalenberg behind. Rooms and suites are done in all-white with hints of color; they have comfy beds and good-size desks. Baths have large-size rainfall showerheads. Several rooftop apartments with kitchens and huge terraces with views into the Black Forest can be booked for longer stays. Though there's no restaurant, drinks and snacks are available at the lounge bar off of the lobby or in the expansive courtyard.

Pros

  • Cool, modern vibe
  • Fantastic hotel gym
  • Large outdoor courtyard for relaxing

Cons

  • No on-site restaurant
  • Walls a bit thin
  • No views from some rooms
Steinengraben 51, Basel, 4051, Switzerland
061-6315151
hotel Details
56 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

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