10 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.