A varied family weekend in Basel

The contrasts already became apparent on the journey to Basel Youth Hostel: After alighting at St. Alban Tor, a short walk along the picturesque Rhine takes you past beautiful historical buildings and down to the youth hostel, which is situated on a pretty little river. Inside awaits purist, modern architecture with lots of concrete, wood and leather. We immediately felt right at home!

Our home over the weekend – Basel Youth Hostel

During our weekend in Basel we stayed at the ultra-modern hostel in Basel. It’s the perfect starting point for all kinds of activities. The Basel Card, which you receive when you check in, gives you free travel on public transport and 50% discount on numerous excursions and activities! Thanks to the well-equipped family room with its own shower and WC, as well as the games corner and the modern ambience in the lounge, we settled right in. This time we only ate breakfast at the youth hostel, which is included in the room price. However, you also have the option of booking dinner or a packed lunch.

Joining us on our family-friendly adventures in Basel?

Basler Papiermühle – the interactive paper museum

The Basel Paper Mill is just a few steps from the hostel. Here you will learn all about paper, writing, printing and bookbinding. The museum is housed in the historical buildings of yesteryear and much of it is still in its original condition. What we liked most was that the exhibition was incredibly interactive: You can make paper yourself, print, emboss, write with a quill and ink and much more.

Lange Erlen Zoo – free fun for the whole family

«Lange Erlen» park is located just outside Basel, and is easily accessible by public transport. Here you can catch your breath and recover from the hustle and bustle of the city. Kids can climb, slide and swing to their hearts’ content at the huge playground. Next to this is the spacious and beautifully landscaped zoo, where you can observe many native animals. You and your family can spend either a few hours or likely even a whole day at «Lange Erlen», as there’s so much to discover. In addition to the free activities, you can also race on the Kids’ Autobahn or ride ponies (subject to a fee).

Tinguely Museum – marvel and be inspired

The Tinguely Museum is also easy to reach from the youth hostel: The best way is to catch the «Wilde Maa» ferry, which will take you across the Rhine. This in itself is a highlight! A short walk along the Rhine brings you to the imposing Tinguely building. To be honest, I was amazed at how many families were in the museum at first. But when I saw our son’s enthusiasm for the machines, it was immediately clear to me why: The museum is a real highlight for kids! There’s something moving, ringing, spinning, making noise, lighting up or rattling no matter where you are. At the end, the kids can get creative and document their impressions with pen and paper.

Markthalle – a culinary world tour

The Market Hall is situated right next to the SBB railway station. Here you can feel like you’re eating your way through all the countries of the world! From (South) African, to Persian and Thai, you’ll find it all here. Each person can get what appeals to them at a market stall – afterwards, you meet up at one of the many tables located throughout the market hall. And you know what’s really cool? For kids, there’s even a games corner, table football and a slide down to the lower floor. We had a great time at the Market Hall, with its wide variety, and would have liked to try more dishes!

Summary of our long weekend in Basel

For us, the two-night stay at Basel Youth Hostel was perfect. The city has so much to discover – we can really see ourselves returning one day. There are dozens more options for families! The youth hostel is perfectly situated and was the ideal starting point for all our activities.

When will be the next time you visit Basel Youth Hostel? Let us know in the comments.

Our little adventurer has experienced lots – find out which youth hostels he’s already visited here.