A Swiss town borders 2 other countries, making it the ideal base for exploring. Here's what 6 days in Basel were like.

05.10.2024 - 14:19 / insider.com / Art Basel / queen Elizabeth Ii II (Ii) / Henri Matisse

When you land in Basel, Switzerland, you land in a Swiss fantasy.

Medieval buildings line the streets, Swiss delicacies like chocolate and Basler Läckerli fill window displays, and historic art is around every corner. And since Switzerland is home to several billionaires, you might bump into one checking into a ritzy hotel like Les Trois Rois or dining at one of the city's 15 Michelin-starred restaurants.

But what also makes the city of Basel a dream is its access to other travel destinations. It's where three countries — Switzerland, France, and Germany — converge.

I spent six days in Basel exploring the city, the region's stunning nature, and nearby towns.

After wandering around Basel's visitor center, it was clear that the town catered to art lovers.

Along shelves and through conversations, I was recommended to go to the Fondation Beyeler, a modern and contemporary art museum; Museum Tinguely, a permanent exhibit filled with artist Jean Tinguely's tinkering projects; the Kunstmuseum Basel, the oldest public art collection. The list went on.

Basel is home to nearly 40 art museums. One museum will feature modern art and the next will house classics like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.

The art scene is what brought me to Basel. I had arrived for its biggest art celebration: Art Basel, an international fair where 250 gallerists feature 4,000 artists.

Between my time eyeing multimillion-dollar paintings and interacting with the fair's large-scale sculptures, I discovered a city home to more than just canvases and sculptures.

I headed off on a boat ride down the Rhine River one morning. The river cuts through the center of Basel, and its banks are clearly the town's gathering place.

Along the river, cement stairs teem with locals sipping wine, tourists smoking cigarettes, and groups chatting their mornings, days, and nights away.

In the summer, you'll find residents floating down the river holding a colorful Wickelfisch, a waterproof swim bag. They might be off to work, heading home, or going to one of the town's public baths — an experience I sorely missed due to poor weather.

By day four in Basel, I thought I had seen most of the city's offerings. I tried popular restaurants, saw plenty of art, spent afternoons along the Rhine, and slept in the city's famous Les Trois Rois hotel, which has welcomed royalty like Queen Elizabeth II and musicians like the Rolling Stones.

Then, I ended up in the Klybeck neighborhood. It felt like finding the town's version of Wynwood, Miami, or Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Artist collectives dotted the streets, spray paint covered barren walls, and unusual (but delicious) restaurants were around every corner. I grabbed a drink on the deck of a grounded ship and eyed a nearby