This city on the Rhine has a lot to see. Variety, too. Museums, modern architecture, historical churches, galleries. The best way to discover Basel is on foot. This is particularly the case for the old city where a large number of things worth seeing are packed close together.

The river Rhine divides the city into two halves. The area to the north of the river is the site of the Exhibitions Square where BASELWORLD takes place. Basel-Nord is also the center of Switzerland's chemical and pharmaceutical industry. International names such as Hoffmann-La Roche, Novartis and Sandoz have their headquarters here.
Much of Basel's historical interest lies south of the river. The center of the city is the Marktplatz, the market square where daily you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, bread, cakes, pastries and good food. The Marktplatz is also the site of the Rathaus, the medieval town hall building which has frescoes by Hans Holbein, the Younger. Leading off the Marktplatz is the Freie Strasse, the city's largest pedestrian precinct with numerous shops. Bally and other well known Swiss brands have stores here. 

Other sites worth seeing include the Spalentor, Switzerland's most beautiful city tower, built in the 14th century. Take a look, too, at the Münster, a cathedral consecrated in 1019 and built entirely in the Romanesque and Gothic styles. From the cathedral there are fantastic views over the city of the Black Forest, the Jura-Vosges mountains, hills, lakes and rivers.