We're kicking off a river cruise in Basel this October and will be spending a couple of days there before we board the ship. We'd love some suggestions!

Where would you recommend staying?
We’re also looking for ideas for non-guided day trips—places worth exploring on our own.

And finally, what’s the best way to get around—train, rental car, or private driver?

Any tips or recommendations would be much appreciated!

Basel has a lot to offer. Have you consulted a good guidebook?

Public transportation in Switzerland is outstanding ... no need for a car or private driver.

Thank you for your reply yes, i have looked guidebooks and watched videos... looking online - we are looking for day trips outside of Basel as we will have one day as part of our ship excursion.

We’ve been living in Basel for nearly 20 years — could you be more specific about you’d like to see and do? What kind of restaurants do you like?

We enjoy learning about the culture of the places we visit. For food, we are not fancy eaters, but love to hit the local places.
While we enjoy culture, we are more interested in activities such as hiking/walking and biking. From watching videos on what to do in Switzerland - there are so many beautiful places,
Mt. Pliatus, Zermatt and Matterhorn, Mt. Titlis, if we only have two days looking for the best thing s to do in that time frame -- we wil be arriving mid-October. Thank you for any suggestions you can provide

Hi !
What is your budget for the accomodation ?

We did enjoy afternoon tea at Le Trois Roi when we were there for the Christmas markets. We stayed at Motel One last visit, centrally located, but I previously stayed at another more "traditional" hotel previously. When you post your budget or expectations/wishes for lodging I'll see if I can dig out the tripit plans/name for it.

$200 USD per night - average; old town
Thank you for any insight you might be able to provide.

"Mt. Pliatus, Zermatt and Matterhorn, Mt. Titlis, if we only have two days looking for the best thing s to do in that time frame -- we wil be arriving mid-October. Thank you for any suggestions you can provide."

For trips into the Alps, yes, the Bernese Oberland is very popular even in October, esp in Wengen, Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, and Grindelwald. Kandersteg would probably be less crowded. Beyond the BO, Montreux is deservedly popular but we're not huge fans (YMMV). Zermatt is pretty busy year round. .

Re hotels in Basel, Les Trois Rois is in the midst of a major renovation project. Much of it is done or soon to be done -- you can read the updates in this press release: https://www.lestroisrois.com/en/corp...press-release/

We usually recommend the Maerthof or Nomad. (our former favorite, the Hotel Basel, has been transformed into one of those hotels where there are almost no staff and everything from check-in to check-out is done via tablet, smartphone, etc. We no longer recommend it). If you want to stay near the main train station, the new(ish) Movenpick Hotel is quite nice. You should be able to find something in your budget, but that depends on travel dates (and the strength of the Swiss franc; currently one franc is worth 1.24 USD)

One very pleasant option in the Lucerne area is Vitznau. The Vitznauerhof is a lovely hotel and you're a five-minute walk from the train station that will take you up to Mt Rigi. Highly rated with very comfortable rooms and an excellent on-site restaurant. https://vitznauerhof.ch/en/

Here are three places in Basel that I especially like and highly recommend.

Located inside Basel’s vibrant Markthalle, fish & more is not your average food-court stall. While the market offers many global cuisines of average quality, this particular seafood stand stands apart. They serve fresh, flavorful fish with an Italian heart and French influences. It’s a true culinary gem amid the bustling Markthalle experience.

Bäckerei Kult is a charming bakery café in Basel, known for its excellent viennoiseries, quality coffee, and retro interior. A local favorite for breakfast or a quiet break, it offers freshly baked pastries in a relaxed, authentic setting.

Hotel Spalentor is a delightful boutique hotel nestled next to the historic Spalentor gate. It's the perfect launchpad for exploring Basel’s charming old town.

Thank you for your time and information, it is greatly appreciated.