A trip outside Basel is worth it, whether you visit the spectacular grounds of the Fondation Beyeler or cross the border to visit Germany’s famous Vitra Design Museum, where private foundations enhance the area's reputation as a center for art.
Basel's Roman history can seen in nearby Augst. Founded in 44–43 BC, Augst is the oldest Roman settlement on the Rhine, and today has been largely reconstructed as a noted museum of ancient Roman antiquities. The site is reachable by car from Basel in 15 minutes or in summer via a leisurely boat trip up the river. From the Bahnhof SBB take train S1 to Kaiseraugst, or Bus 81 from Basel-Aeschenplatz to Augst; thereafter it takes approximately 10 minutes from either of these stops to walk uphill to the Roman Museum. To view the restoration areas scattered around the almost suburban neighborhood, be prepared for a fair bit of walking.
