*This post is part of the April travel link up with Adventures of a London Kiwi, SilverSpoon London, Binnys Food and Travel Diaries or myself, Sophie’s Suitcase.
At the end of last summer, my best friend Katie and I, jumped on a plane from London, and headed to Switzerland for five days exploring a new country! We spent five days in the country travelling between three cities: Basel, Lucerne and Zurich. All three cities were amazing and had so much to offer, but I especially loved visiting the gorgeous city of Basel on the bank of The Rhine.
Basel surprised me with its abundance of cafes, restaurants and food outlets, meaning that we could totally indulge in all of their traditional foods. Here is my guide to exploring on a Food Tour of Basel Switzerland.
Basel, nestled on the Rhine river, is Switzerland’s third-largest town and is a cultural hub, foodie haven and river-swimming paradise. The city loves art and has more museums than you can count, so here are some of the reasons why everyone should visit the city at least once.
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Morning food tour with FoodTour ICONIC
On our second day in Basel, we booked in to join the self-guided FoodTour ICONIC. The tour lasts around three hours, and it takes you away from the usual tourist attractions and give you the opportunity to get to know “iconic Basel” at a slow pace.
This food tour was right up my street, being able to enjoy the famous Swiss cuisine at our own pace, stopping and starting as we needed. During the tour, you will visit five establishments in total and each one does something different. We ended up visiting an ice cream parlour, a chocolate shop, a food market, a sustainable DIY supermarket and coffee shop.
Tip: Starting before 11 am means you will arrive on time for lunch at the KLARA food court, where you can look forward to delicious lunchtime snacks (until 2 pm). The starting point is at Bäckerei KULT in St. Johann, Elsässerstrasse 43, 4056 Basel and the endpoint is Xocolatl, Marktgasse 6, 4051 Basel.
Lunch at Urf7
As soon as we arrived in Basel, we checked in to Hotel Basel and then we headed straight out to lunch to meet our friend. We decided to opt for a locals favourite Ufer 7 which is located right on the banks of the Rhine in Basel and is only a stone’s throw from the Mittlere Brücke.
Ufer7 has something for everyone, including an array of make-your-own salad bowls, burgers, and chicken dishes. The restaurant offers exclusive wines and beers, delicious drinks, tasty coffee specialities and creative cocktails
Visit the Markets
There are many great markets all across Basel. Marktplatz is where you can pick up fresh foods and sample local delicacies but its also worth a visit to Stadtmarkt where you’ll find Basel’s regional food sellers selling meats, fruits, vegetables and flowers. It’s a lively market and reminded me of Borough Market in London!
For the foodies, head to Stadtmarkt’s sister market that takes place every Monday and is newly launched in 2017 with an array of street-food vendors.
Dinner at NOMAD
For dinner on our first evening, we were looking for a restaurant with great food, and even better atmosphere and a friend of ours has recommended NOMAD. Here you can enjoy your favourite dishes from across the world – discovered by urban nomads on their travels.
The kitchen team have clearly spent time and effort pulling together their amazing menu, through their own culinary travels, bringing the wanderlust from noon tonight.
Cocktails on a River Cruise
Through a recommendation from a friend, they told us the best thing to do was to jump on board a river cruise for the evening. From April to October the company Basler Personenschifffahrt offers regular cruises on the Rhine.
Enjoy the Rhine on a trip through the locks at Birsfelden on the way to Rheinfelden or discover the city and region from the water on a lunch cruise as far as the border triangle. From 19 April 2019, the evening cruise will offer relaxed dinner and sunset cruises. They also take you to the edge of Switzerland where you can also see France and Germany.
Have you been to Basel? Let me know your favourite thing to do in Basel!
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Other posts that may help you:
How to spend 5 days in Switzerland Itinerary: Basel, Zurich and Lucerne
Italian Coastal Adventure in Positano
Best Vegan Restaurants in Malmo
Ultimate Guide to Bottomless Brunch (& prosecco) in London
10 of the Best places to eat Brunch in London
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Sophie X
Bejal
02/02/2020 at 20:15What a fab foodie tour! I particularly like the cocktail and cruise!
Angie Silver
02/03/2020 at 10:08Oh gosh! What a delicious tour!!!