I started a thread asking about Basel, and wanted to expand and get more advice on my other considered option. Please bear with me if you’ve already read or responded to my other thread....here goes. Starting with the same information to put it into context: My niece and I are planning a two week trip in the fall, ending with one week in Paris. I’m 76 and she’s 45. We like walking, museums, eating, taking in the sights, enjoying the nature and the outdoors (not hiking high mountains, but long walks are no problem). We have a more relaxed way of visiting, maybe a museum, lunch, rest, walk, dinner. Not late night people. NOT driving, using trains.

My original plan was to fly from Los Angeles to EuroAirport Basel and spend three nights in Colmar (see wine villages nearby, maybe war memorials, I have the name of a guide my brother liked). If you think four nights is better, that’s ok - where else would you go within an hour train ride - Mulhouse?I did want to see Freiburg in the southern Black Forest, but train connections look complicated from Colmar, unless I’m missing something. We would then spend three nights in Strasbourg (see city, see northern Black Forest, etc). I was thinking maybe see the Forest from Strasbourg, maybe Gengenbach (looks like an hour train ride). I’d love to see the Vogtsbaernhof open air museum in Gutach, but that’s even further and longer. Those are generally the things that appeal to us.

OTOH, would you recommend starting in Basel for four nights? Arrive in afternoon, next day in Basel; train to Freiburg/ a bit of the Black Forest (looks like 45 minutes); next, a day trip to Lucerne (an hour). From there we can train to Colmar for three nights - afternoon in Colmar, next day walking vineyards/wine tasting/whatever, then a day in Strasbourg. Then train to Paris, where she’s never been.

Do you have any recommendations, based on our likes? Which city is more appealing to stay, Basel or Strasbourg. Thank you and I look forward to your kind advice!

I just did a guided tour starting and staying over night in Basel this past December. I had been to Basel before and didn’t remember it until going back. It clearly didn’t leave an impression on me. From Basel, I took the train to Mulhouse but it was a Sunday so a lot of things were closed so didn’t stay too long.

The tour took us to Obernai then to Colmar. I loved both places and would go back in a heart beat. They were very quaint with Obernai being very small. I got to see Colmar all lit up and it was a bit crowded but not unbearable.

Another day, we went to Strasbourg. It was more of a big city to me and I didn’t find it as nice. I’m not sure I would go back just to see it as it felt bigger than Basel but maybe ok just to base yourself if you plan on going on day trips.

Something to be mindful of is when buying train tickets. Due to the currency it was cheaper to buy them in France. It might be common knowledge but something we didn’t realize as we started from Basel and bought tickets that day. I didn’t get to fit Freiburg in as we headed to Lucerne after Basel then to Lugano. If you are headed to Paris, it might make more sense to stay in Strasbourg.

The best bits about Alsace, the wine bit are

The Vosges ridge which goes from the Balon d'Alsace to at least one castle and even a concentration camp. Views are spectacular

Walking through the vineyards, normally very hot

Visiting the villages or walking between the villages. My favourite is Eguisheim.

Going down to the Rhine and the various ex military towns and hard points along it.


Colmar less so

COLMAR - FREIBURG IM BREISGAU
Public transport is easy, but slow:
Colmar dp by bus R 26 up to Breisach, then commuter train to Freiburg . Journey time 90 min. About every hr.

The best transport hub for both, Alsace and Black Forest, is Basel.
Direct trains from BASEL TO:
Dijon - Paris
Colmar - Strasbourg
Freiburg -Offenburg - Mannheim$
Wiesental (Black Forest)
Schaffhausen (Rhine Falls) - Friedrichshafen (Lake Constance)
Aarau
Zurich - Chur
Luzern - Bellinzona - Lugano/Locarno
Bern - Interlaken
Bern - Brig - Milan
Biel/Bienne (Lake)
Porrentruy


Breisach

"I just did a guided tour starting and staying over night in Basel this past December. I had been to Basel before and didn’t remember it until going back. It clearly didn’t leave an impression on me."
Guided tours tend to skip over many of Basel's most attractive neighborhoods and lesser known parts, concentrating mostly on the center core. There are stunning hikes around Basel, beautiful neighborhoods that take you from the 12th to 21st century, fascinating historical info as well as places focused on cutting edge science, and so on.

https://www.museenbasel.ch/en/museen...ate=2025-02-11

The Basel-Mulhouse airport is in France but has exits to France, Germany and Switzerland. Obviously it is better to stay in the eurozone for buying any additional tickets.

"The Basel-Mulhouse airport is in France but has exits to France, Germany and Switzerland. Obviously it is better to stay in the eurozone for buying any additional tickets."
What kind of tickets?

WeisserTee, would you please tell us where the beautiful hikes around Basel are, please? I’d say I’m more of a walker than a “hiker” (hills are ok, steep mountains not so much). I’d need to use public transportation to get there.

I am still mulling over whether to take a day from Basel and add it to Strasbourg. My niece says she wants to see someplace in the Black Forest, and I’m thinking Freiburg from Basel or Gengenbach from Strasbourg.

Now, I’ve reserved 4 Basel (Side trips Luzern and Freiburg), 3 Colmar (tour day to villages and mountains, day trip to Strasbourg). My other option is 3 Basel (side trip Luzern), 2 Colmar (Colmar, tour day), 2 Strasbourg (side trip Gengenbach).

For some reason I am attracted more to Strasbourg than Basel. I do like to go to museums, but not modern art as much as medieval or Impressionist. The Alsatian museum in Strasbourg, the Rohan, the cathedral are very appealing. In Basel, the Kunstmuseum and perhaps the Tinguely, the old town. WT, you say there are other areas of great beauty in Basel - they are perhaps not as easy to find in guides (or I’m not a good researcher, sorry!). 😬

The photos and videos of Gengenbach look so beautiful. I know it’s smaller than Freiburg, though. Is one a better side trip than the other for relaxed walking and sights? Both are about the same train distance from Strasbourg or Basel.

Anyone with experience and thoughts, thank you for sharing them. It’s much appreciated!

Hi Iwan2go,

If Roman history is a draw, there is a big Roman archeological site outside of Basel, the Augusta Raurica. I don't know if it would be hard to reach by public transport though.

I personally didn't care much for Gengenbach the day I spent there. I know that is a very minority opinion! But it doesn't have a pedestrian zone, which I sort of expect in German towns these days, and my memories of the day there are filled with honking cars, cars jostling for a parking space, and cars just roaring by on the narrow streets. On the other hand, I was thoroughly charmed by Freiburg.

Have fun as you plan!

s

Some of the favorite walks for people in Basel are in Ettingen and Leymen, both reached with the number 10 tram. If you are staying in a hotel, you should get the card good for local transport. It will take you as far as Ettingen. Leymen is several stops beyond that so you'd have to pay for a ticket to that. And take your passport as Leymen is actually in France but served by Basel local transport. Walks there are steeper than in Ettingen -- but hiking up will take you to some castle ruins with a great views.

Another pretty walking area is Schoenenbuch, reached by the 33 bus (also good with your local transit pass from the hotel). Or you can get off the bus a couple of stops early and wander around Allschwil with its pretty half-timbered houses (you can get to Allschwil on the number 6 tram as well as the 33 bus)

A bit farther afield but reachable by local transport is Reigoldswil. You go to Liestal by bus, then transfer to another bus to Reigoldswil. Here are some photos, first from Ettingen


Autumn is especially pretty as there are also multiple vineyards and farms along this walk. On week-ends, you're likely to see people out riding horses. Most of the paths are paved.


Ettingen is very pretty in the winter as well.


And in late summer

Now for Reigoldswil, first in late spring/early summer...

And one during winter ..

Also want to mention that the Ettingen walking area covers hundreds of acres with miles of paths. You can walk all the way to Reinach, if motivated, and then catch a number 11 tram back to Basel (I've never done it but friends have).

Speaking of minority opinions, we were not impressed by Freiburg at all. Been there several times for business meetings and for leisure (for most of those visits I reluctantly went with visiting friends interested in seeing it). In December 2023, we spent two nights there and couldn't wait to leave. It has an excellent Japanese restaurant and a really good bedlinens store, but other than that, Freiburg only had us longing to get back to Basel as soon as possible. We've now put our foot down and refuse to go there again. Visiting friends will have to go on their own.

Oh WT, thank you SO much for all the info and beautiful pictures!! I’ll do some more research. This really helps!

…and if you ever visit Los Angeles, I’ll give you lots of help! 😎😆

TO SWANDAW
BASEL - AUGUSTA RAURICA:
Train from Basel SBB plus bus or tram from anywhere in town plus bus: about every 15 min
There is a 5 min walk from the bus stop to the site.