5 Best Hotels in Basel, Switzerland

The location couldn’t be more central at this airy art deco hotel on the Marktplatz, where delightful amenities include a 24-hour gym, sauna, panoramic rooftop terrace, and buzzing in-house eatery. Design-focused guest rooms come in muted yellow, green, and purple color schemes, accented by light woods and mod lighting fixtures; some junior suites include balconies overlooking the square. Good-size bathrooms feature double sinks and large rain showers; some of the higher-level suites include bathtubs in addition to showers. The wellness area has a small gym plus a sauna and steam room. Restaurant Bohemia draws both locals and visitors for its eclectic food menu, with choices ranging from ceviche and mussels to lamb and steak.

If you appreciate modern design and love being right in the thick of things, head straight for this Japanese-influenced Design Hotel on Steinenvorstadt, one of Basel’s liveliest streets; though windows are triple glazed, and the hotel provides earplugs, you’ll likely hear some noise from the lively bars surrounding the hotel—which can either be irritating, or perfect if you want to join in the fun yourself. Light-color rooms feature natural materials and Japanese sliding shoji screens separating the bedroom from the bathroom; a Zurich design collective created the colorful blankets and carpets. Many rooms have French balconies or larger terraces, but don’t expect much of a view. The hotel’s rooftop bar serves a local breakfast to start the day and cocktails to bring it to a close. Art displayed in the hotel’s rooms and hallways rotates about every other month.

In an elegant waterfront mansion, the art deco Krafft has a can't-get-any-better location that makes it perfect for people-watching; the building is open and airy, and comfortable guest rooms have wood floors and are simply furnished with Swiss designer furniture. Two rooftop suites offer riverside balconies. The traditional, highly rated dining room and ever-popular waterfront terrace provide spectacular views of the Old Town. The Consum Residence, across the street, is where you'll find additional rooms as well as a trendy wine-and-cheese bar.

This urban-chic, centrally located hotel (from the same owners as the Krafft Basel) with a young and lively vibe offers design-conscious rooms and a casual eatery with cocktail bar that attracts stylish locals and visitors. Spacious guest rooms either have all-concrete floors and walls with accents of wood and bright colors ("Urban Club Rooms") or bright woven carpets with mod leather furnishings ("Design Rooms"); all feature sleek black tile bathrooms. Located in the back house, Urban Club rooms come with access to the Library Club, a lounge where guests can enjoy complimentary breakfast, tea and cakes in the afternoon, and drinks at night, and they can work if they need to. The gym has a small, though high-quality, range of equipment as well as a sauna, and free hotel bikes can be used to explore Basel. In the evening, the cocktail bar/lobby is the place to chill.

Across the street from its parent hotel the Teufelhof, the SET’s minimalistic yet thoughtful rooms feature sitting nooks, work desks, and minibars with regularly refilled filtered water. Spacious contemporary guest rooms with black and wood accents may not be luxe, but they have everything you might need for a pleasant visit, including comfortable beds, separate toilets with sinks, air conditioning, and plenty of outlets for all your devices by the bed. Larger apartments for longer stays include dishwashers, washing machines, and stove burners. An inviting area in the front of the hotel serves as the “lobby,” with large tables for working or dining and a fine selection of cakes and other snacks from an outpost of Confiserie Beschle. The basement gym may not be large, but its curated selection of cardio machines and weights is enough to keep up your fitness routine on the go.