9 Best Hotels in Basel, Switzerland

The Teufelhof is actually three 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). Across the street is their youngest property, SET Hotel, with 36 modern rooms in four categories on four floors. 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.

Built in 1925, this office building turned boutique hotel was renovated with art and design in mind, while still preserving the spirit of its past. Renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron successfully created “The People’s House,” with swanky spaces to bring people together: The courtyard, Imi Bar, the Brasserie, and concert venue have turned it into Basel’s newest hot spot. Beyond the signature green hallways are guest rooms in hues of gray and beige adorned with Swiss furnishings and fabrics designed exclusively for Volkshaus. Modern and minimal, rooms still pay tribute to the past in the original windows, terrazzo flooring, and freestanding wash basins with antique faucets. While this may be a four-star hotel, don’t expect spa facilities, a business center, or even in-room coffee or irons. Instead, management has thought outside the room with communal ironing rooms and beverage stations on every floor. Breakfast is served in the attached Imi Bar where you can spot attention to detail in the hand-blown pendant lamps, the zinc bar top, and stained-glass windows created by German artist Imi Knoebel, for whom the bar is named.

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.

A historic hotel with a sustainable mindset makes this fourth generation property not only a standout, but also a model for green hospitality across Switzerland. Among their environmentally friendly practices are biodegradable bath products, natural cleaning products, motion-activated lighting, QR-code hotel information, and food leftovers donated to animals at the Basel Zoo. Regardless of these noble efforts, the century-old hotel has plenty to brag about including a spacious hydro-sauna circuit, complementary mini bars, organic breakfast, and three categories of 1920’s style rooms: Smart, Gorgeous, and Awesome—the latter featuring a kitchen. Through their organization, Responsible Hotels of Switzerland, they have challenged other Swiss hotels to adopt this earth-saving philosophy.

This 12th-century building that once served as a cloister and then a prison, 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.

This 150-year-old landmark, conveniently located near the main train station, has been tastefully renovated throughout to bring out the best of its original features, including elaborate gilt-edged mirrors and stucco ceiling moldings. Cube furnishings in dark leather or red velvet bring it roaring into the 21st century. The bar is split between the reception lounge, where a pianist plays Wednesday through Saturday (4–10 pm), and the comfortable restaurant. In the guest rooms, duvets billow over bed frames in some of the cushier rooms and suites. This hotel manages neighboring properties, Hotel Metropol and Hotel City Inn, so you can charge services back to your room. 

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. Select renovated rooms feature comfy beds, simple furnishings, and air-conditioning; their generally large size makes them great for traveling families. The price is right, but don't expect basic in-room amenities such as coffee or tea.

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 terraces with views into the Black Forest can be booked for longer stays. Though there's no restaurant, drinks are available at the lounge bar off of the lobby or in the expansive courtyard.