BASEL: Suggestions
 

We are spending a couple of days in Basel from 25-28 Feb. We have hotel booked, so I'd like suggestions on what would the most interesting things to do/see. Any restaurant? Is it worth a daytrip to Bern?

The Beyerler Fondation in the suburbs of Basel near the German border is worth a visit if you like modern art. It's reachable by streetcar. Farther out in Weil there is the Vitra chair museum in a Frank Gehry building.

If I have read the calendar correctly you will be in Basel for some of the events leading up to the Fasnacht celebrations, for which Basel is justly famous throughout Switzerland. You are indeed lucky to be there at that time. This is the Swiss version of Carnivale. All the cliques (guilds or other medieval groups) dress up in masks and bizarre costumes and compete in day and evening long festivals, and there are usually markets and fairs connected with this as well, some of which should be taking place during the time you are there. You may be able to see rehearsals for the cliques, the "gugle" music is quite unique!! Take a look at the website for the city of Basel at http://www.baseltourismus.ch/opencms...ebote/fasnacht For other info, take a look at the following links

http://myswitzerland.igougo.com/plan...mp;n=Fastnacht

http://www.anthropologising.ca/suisse/fastnacht.htm

For other activities, Basel has a small but interesting old town and cathedral along the river that is worth a few hours to explore. The Foundation Beyler mentioned above is defiantly worth a visit even if you aren't' that interested in modern or post-modern art, the building itself is interesting and it only takes a 2-3 hours at most to see the collection. Their website is beyeler.com/foundation. There is a good Kunstmuseum (fine arts museum). There is a history museum, but I have not been there so can’t comment.

Bern is possible as a day trip, if you haven't been to the Basel area, you might consider going to Zurich as well (both are about an hour by train). A bit closer to Basel and overlooked by most tourists on this board is Solothurn, which has a very interesting baroque old town including a very interesting cathedral kind of dramatically set at the bottom of a hill. This is just under an hour by train from Basel.

Also, from Basel you can easily get to France, including the lovely little town of Colmar, great antique shopping there as well. Would be just over half and hour by car, I am sure trains/bus options are possible too.

I have a list of restaurants somewhere for Basel and will re-post.

Thank you very much, very interesting advice. I didn't know about Frank Gehry having built a museum in Basel... (he is well-known in my country because of his museum in Bilbao).
About Carnival... I am not sure about dates. Well, in Spain, they are Carnival dates, but the Basel webpage gives 6-8 March as dates for Fasnacht.
Bad luck... but it doesn't matter: it is my first trip to Switzerland and I am sure that there will be many things that will keep us amused :).
I will look for info about Solothorn, in order to decide the daytrip.
I am very interested about the restaurants, if you find the list, it will be wonderful.
Thanks

Lucerne celebrates Fasnacht from Feb. 23-28. February 27 & 28 are two big days in Lucerne for this festival. If you are interested in seeing creative costumes being worn by amateur bands playing in the Lucerne streets while people watch, dance and drink to the music, go to Lucerne!

For pictures of this festival, please see: http://www.woodart.ch/luzern.htm

It looks a great feast! Many thanks.

Weil with the Vitra museum is in Germany, but within spitting distance of Basel.

Is Vitra accesible by public transport? Would it be done, say, in a couple of hours?
Many thanks.

Basel celebrates fasnacht/carnival a week LATER than everyone else in Switzerland and the rest of Europe. (There is some historical reason for this.) You will find celebrations in other towns in Switzerland on the 27 and 28th. However, Basel is really-well known for its celebrations, and as you will be there for the lead-up to them, you should be able to take part in some of the pre-celebration events.

Some restaurant recommendations would be:

Chateau Lapin
20 Schneidergasse
Tel. (61) 261 3258

Tradition Swiss-German food, a favorite with locals and expats. Upstairs is a more formal restaurant.

Restaurant Cantina Don Camillo
Burgweg 7
Tel (61) 693 05 07

Continental-Asian fusion. Nice ambience, with tile floor, wooden tables. They have a large terrace, (I think they may use this in winter with heaters).

Jay's Indian Restaurant
St. Johanns-Vorstadt 13
tel: (61) 681 36 81

Nice ambience, good curry and other north Indian food.

Lily's
Rebegasse 1
tel; (610 683-1111

Asian, mix of Thai and Indonesian mostly, great Gado Gado. This is the Basel branch of the Zurich restaurant. Has a small garden terrace. Casual, tables and benches. Not expensive. They don't take reservations.

Each time I've gone to the Vitra Design Museum, I've been in a car. But you might be able to contact them to ask:

http://www.design-museum.de/index.ph...7f71db21a6b3f5

Many thanks!