Art Lover's Guide to Basel

From Basel Museum of Fine Art to the Jean Tinguely Museum, here's where to explore.

2 min readJul 6, 2018By Alicia Drewnicki

Hi, I'm Alicia!

Alicia is a writer, video creator, and content manager based in Cambridge, UK. She has 10+ years of experience creating content for a diverse range of travel, food, and lifestyle clients including Booking.com, Lonely Planet, Red Bull, Skyscanner, The Guardian, and Time Out. She’s happiest when exploring Japan, hiking in the Polish mountains, and testing out new recipes she’s collected during her travels.

Basel is famous for having the highest density of museums in Switzerland. Not only that, but the city is world-renowned for its international art fairs, galleries, monuments, and contemporary art spaces. If you’re looking for tips on this Swiss cultural hub, here’s what you need to know and where you need to go.

Why you are seeing these recommendations

Basel Museum of Fine Art (Kunstmuseum Basel)

Outside the popular Basel Museum of Fine Art (Kunstmuseum Basel).Photo Credit: lauravr / Shutterstock

Displaying artwork from the early 15th century to today, this massive 107,639-square-foot (10,000-square-meter) museum is a must-see attraction in Basel. Travelers flock to Kuntsmuseum Basel—home of the largest public art collection in Switzerland—from all around the world.

Jean Tinguely Museum

Outside the Jean Tinguely Museum.Photo Credit: lauravr / Shutterstock

The Jean Tinguely Museum houses the world’s most extensive collection of sculptures and artwork by Swiss artist Jean Tinguely, who gained fame for his magnificent motor-driven mechanical sculptures. Head to this museum for a fascinating combination of science, engineering, and modern art.

Basel Paper Mill Museum

The mill at the museum.Photo Credit: Stefano Ember / Shutterstock

Set in a medieval paper mill, the Basel Paper Mill Museum has preserved the historic techniques of papermaking. In addition to learning about the history of paper production, you can get hands-on paper-making experience using traditional methods. This museum offers a fun way for adults and kids alike to get creative and discover some of Basel’s past.

Kunsthalle Basel

An exhibit at Kunsthalle Basel.Photo Credit: Kunsthalle Basel / Tripadvisor

Founded in 1872, the contemporary Kunsthalle Basel offers an array of rotating exhibits from both Swiss and international artists. Various film screenings, concerts, and artist talks are also regularly on the calendar.