Basel

THE FIRST 90 DAYS IN BASEL

Practical, honest guidance for international families.

Including Ella’s personal favourites in Basel →
In this guide
  1. 01The Real ArrivalMore decisions than most families expect
  2. 02Swiss LifeThe unwritten rules
  3. 03Basel’s YearEvents and traditions, season 2026/27
  4. 04Where to LiveFinding the right quartier
  5. 05Schools & ChildcareBeyond the rankings
  6. 06Daily LifeThe practical foundations
  7. ✓Your 90‑Day RoadmapWhat to do, and in what order
  8. 07Honest ReflectionsWhat no one prepares you for
  9. 08Ella’s BaselPlaces I love
  10. 09Explore BaselThe city at a glance
01The Real Arrival
01The Real Arrival

More Decisions Than Most Families Expect

You have landed. The apartment is partly unpacked. The children are asking questions you do not yet have answers to.

Most international families face forty to sixty important decisions in their first weeks: school enrolment, health insurance (mandatory within three months), a bank account, the right neighbourhood.

02Swiss Life
02Swiss Life

The Unwritten Rules of Swiss Life

Quiet Hours
No drilling, washing machines or loud music after 10pm, before 7am, or at any point on Sunday. These are legally enforced in most cantons and neighbours notice.
Sunday
Most shops are closed. Supermarkets too, except at train stations. Weekly grocery shopping must be planned on Saturday. The quietness is cultural, deliberate, and protected.
Punctuality
Arriving five minutes late to a social or professional appointment is considered disrespectful. Arriving a few minutes early is perfectly acceptable.
Greetings
A brief "Grüezi" in the lift, stairwell or building entrance is not optional. It is expected. The absence of a greeting is noticed and remembered.
Recycling
Swiss recycling is mandatory and highly specific. In Basel-Stadt, general household waste must go into the official blue bags, the «Bebbi-Sagg», sold at supermarkets and post offices. Paper and cardboard are bundled and collected on separate neighbourhood-specific days, published in the Abfuhrplan at bs.ch. Glass is sorted by colour (white, green and brown) at public containers. PET is returned to collection points in supermarkets. Your Hauswart is the first point of contact for your building's specific arrangements. Bags that are put out on the wrong day or in the wrong bag are simply left behind.
Trust
Swiss reserve is not unfriendliness. Relationships develop slowly but tend to be remarkably stable. Consistency and reliability matter greatly.
03Cultural Calendar
03Cultural Calendar

Basel's Year: Events & Traditions

Season 2026/27 · dates checked in October 2026

Autumn & Winter 2026
24 Oct – 8 Nov
2026
Seven squares across the city

Herbstmesse Basel Autumn Fair

Switzerland’s oldest autumn fair, with rides, stalls and market life, held since 1471. Every year it opens at exactly 12 noon with the ringing of the bells of the Martinskirche. Children adore it.

Ella’s tip

Hääfelimäärt at Petersplatz, open until 10 November: the cosy corner of the fair, with market stalls under the old trees.

With childrenStroll past the sweet stalls and take a turn on the small carousel.
For grown-upsA mug of mulled wine, simply order a «Glühwein», and a bag of Magenbrot, the spiced gingerbread every Basler knows.
26 Nov – 23 Dec
2026
Barfüsserplatz & Münsterplatz

Weihnachtsmarkt Christmas Market

Basel’s main Christmas market, with food and drinks also on Claraplatz. The evening light in the old town is beautiful.

OpenDaily, 11 am – 8.30 pm
For childrenThe Märliwald on Münsterplatz, a children’s area with its own programme
26 Nov – 23 Dec
2026
Rheingasse, Kleinbasel

Adväntsgass im Glaibasel

A small, very local Advent market along the Rheingasse and Lindenberg: over 50 stalls, mulled wine and a village-square feeling, run by people from the neighbourhood.

OpenWeekday evenings from 5 pm, weekends from 2 pm
Ella’s tip

Less crowded than the big markets, warm in spirit, and perfect for an evening with friends.

2027
20 Jan
2027
Kleinbasel

Vogel Gryff

One of Basel’s oldest traditions and Kleinbasel’s day of honour. The Wild Maa, the Leu and the Vogel Gryff dance through the streets. Deeply local and rarely seen by newcomers.

Around 10.30 amThe Wild Maa floats down the Rhine on a raft
22 Jan
2027
Over 40 museums

Museumsnacht Museum Night

The museums stay open late with special programmes, performances and tours. Extraordinarily good for families with children.

TimeFriday, 6 pm – 2 am
15 – 18 Feb
2027
The whole city

Fasnacht Basel Carnival

Three days of extraordinary carnival, and the entire city transforms. It always begins on the Monday after Ash Wednesday and lasts exactly 72 hours.

Mon, 4 amMorgestraich: all lights go out and the lantern parade begins
Mon & Wed, 1.30–6 pmCortège, the big parade through the city centre
Mon – Wed, eveningsLantern exhibition on Münsterplatz
Tue, afternoonChildren’s parade (Kinderfasnacht), ideal with children
Tue, 7.30–11 pmGuggenmusik concerts on Barfüsserplatz, Marktplatz and Claraplatz
Thu, 4 amEndstreich, the official end
Ella’s tip

The Guggenmusik concerts are my absolute highlight: loud, colourful and wonderfully contagious. A quiet word of advice: Tuesday nights tend to run late, so if you can, keep Wednesday morning free. Or, even better, the whole day.

17 – 20 Jun
2027
Messe Basel

Art Basel

The world’s most important fair for modern and contemporary art, with close to 300 galleries from around 40 countries.

Good to knowHotels and restaurants book out months in advance
16 – 24 Jul
2027
Kaserne Basel

Basel Tattoo

International military music festival in the Kaserne courtyard, with bands from around the world. Tickets sell out quickly.

ShowsDaily at 5.30 pm and 9.30 pm
31 Jul – 1 Aug
2027
Along the Rhine

Swiss National Day

Switzerland’s birthday. A rare moment of Swiss public celebration: quiet pride, made visible for one evening.

In BaselThe big celebration with fireworks over the Rhine takes place on the evening of 31 July
Mid-August
2027
Rhine, city centre

Rheinschwimmen Rhine Swim

Thousands of Baslers float down the Rhine with their belongings in a Wickelfisch, a waterproof bag that doubles as a float. One of the most distinctly Basel experiences there is.

DateAnnounced in early summer by the organisers, the Swiss Lifesaving Society (2026: 11 August)
SafetyOnly for confident swimmers, and always stay close to the bank
04Where to Live
04Where to Live

Finding the Right Quartier

The happiest families rarely choose a neighbourhood based on someone else's recommendation. They choose based on the life they want to create.

Gundeldingen
Cosmopolitan, lively and well-connected. The most internationally diverse quarter in Basel. Popular with young expat families.
Riehen
A quiet residential village within Basel-Stadt, close to Germany and the Fondation Beyeler. Excellent for families with children.
St. Alban
Elegant, traditional and close to the Rhine. One of Basel's most desirable addresses, with excellent schools and parks nearby.
St. Johann
Creative, diverse and close to the French border. Younger in character and more affordable. A growing cultural scene.
Kleinbasel
The north bank of the Rhine. Increasingly popular, more affordable, with a strong Rhine promenade culture.
Binningen
Just outside the canton, offering gardens and quieter streets at slightly lower cost. Good tram connections into the city centre.
05Education
05Education

Schools & Childcare: Beyond the Rankings

School decisions shape far more than education. They define friendships, routines, language development and, often, a family's entire social network.

International School Basel (ISB)
IB curriculum, ages 3–18. Located in Reinach. Waiting lists can extend up to eighteen months. Apply as early as possible, ideally before arriving in Switzerland.
Swiss Public Schools (Volksschule)
Compulsory, German-medium, free, and of excellent quality. Children often integrate remarkably quickly. The right long-term choice for many families intending to remain in Basel.
Lycée Français René Descartes
French national curriculum for French-speaking families. Part of the AEFE network. Well-regarded and serving Basel's significant French-speaking community.
Kinderkrippe & Tagesfamilien
Swiss childcare is regulated, high-quality and substantially subsidised. Waiting lists are real. Priority registration is strongly recommended immediately upon arrival.

The most important school question is not "Which school is best?" It is "Which school is right for our child, at this stage, with these goals?"

06Daily Life
06Daily Life

The Practical Foundations

Anmeldung
Registration at the Einwohnerdienste is legally required within 14 days of arrival. Bring your passport and rental contract; the current list of documents is on bs.ch (Basel-Stadt) or your commune's website.
Health Insurance
Mandatory for every resident. Must be arranged within 90 days of arrival. Each family member selects their own Krankenkasse. Prämien vary considerably by provider and chosen franchise level.
Banking
Swiss banks require an in-person appointment. Bring passport, Aufenthaltsbewilligung and rental contract. UBS, Raiffeisen and Basler Kantonalbank are the principal local options.
Public Transport
Basel's tram and bus network (BVB) is outstanding. A Jahresabo (annual pass) provides comprehensive city coverage at excellent value. Download the SBB app for national connections.
Pharmacies
Swiss pharmacists advise on and prescribe minor medications directly. They serve as a first point of contact for many health questions, considerably more so than in most other countries.

Your 90-Day Roadmap

What to prioritise, and in what order.
Days 1–14
Immediate Foundations
Register your arrivalAt the residents’ office within 14 days. Bring passports and your rental contract.
Health insuranceMandatory within three months of arrival. Cover applies back to your arrival date.
Swiss SIM cardA local number for schools, doctors and services.
Contact schoolsStart now. Waiting lists, especially at international schools, can be long.
Bank accountBook an appointment and bring your residence documents.
Public transportDownload the SBB app. Ask about the U‑Abo, the monthly pass for the Basel region.
Days 15–45
Building Structure
Choose your health insurerCompare premiums, choose your deductible (Franchise) and any supplementary cover.
Confirm the school placeVisit your shortlist and complete the enrolment.
Find a family doctor (Hausarzt)Many practices have waiting lists, so register early.
Explore neighbourhoodsWalk your quartier at different times of day.
Read the HausordnungYour building’s rules on quiet hours, laundry and shared areas.
Waste and recyclingOfficial «Bebbi‑Sagg» bags for rubbish. Paper, glass and PET are collected separately.
Days 46–90
Creating Home
Start a German courseEven basic German makes daily life much easier.
Activities for the childrenClubs and courses build friendships. Many have waiting lists.
Exchange your driving licenceForeign licences must be exchanged within 12 months.
Understand Swiss taxesWithout a C permit, tax is usually deducted from salary (Quellensteuer). A tax advisor (Treuhänder) helps early.
Build your own networkParent groups, clubs and expat associations are the easiest way in.
Tick the steps here, or keep them as a PDF you can tick on your phone or computer. Download the checklist (PDF) ↓
07Honest Reflections
07Honest Reflections

What No One Prepares You For

Most relocation literature describes the positive. This page describes the rest.

If one partner paused a career, the first months can be hard. The professional identity is gone, and in Basel new friendships take time.

Swiss bureaucracy is thorough. One missing document can mean weeks of delay, and most letters arrive in German. The Hausordnung (building rules) often surprises newcomers.

Children usually settle faster than adults, but they feel the pressure too. And the sense that everyone else has adjusted faster is common, even when it is not true.

The hardest part of moving abroad is rarely the new place. It is the loss of the invisible support network you never noticed you had.

08Local Favourites
08Local Favourites

Ella’s Basel: Places I Love

Places I return to myself and recommend to friends. Not sponsored, simply good.

Fischerstube
Rheingasse 45 · Kleinbasel
For parents
Ueli Bier has been brewed here, at the Fischerstube brewery on Rheingasse in Kleinbasel, since 1974. A local beer with real tradition, and about as typically Basel as it gets. You can watch the brewing from the dining room, and the kitchen serves hearty Swiss cooking in an unpretentious atmosphere. Perfect for an evening when you finally have a babysitter.
My favourite

Ueli’s wheat beer. Simply order a «Weizenbier», as not everyone in the service knows the English word.

Basler Papiermühle
St. Alban-Tal 37
For all ages
A historic mill on the St. Alban canal, fascinating for adults and magical for children. Here nothing stays behind glass: you make your own sheet of paper, set letters by hand, print it and take it home. Calligraphy and marbled paper are part of it too. Wonderfully hands-on, and a perfect rainy-day plan. Afterwards, follow the St. Alban canal down to the Rhine for a lovely short walk.
MS Rhystärn
Basler Personenschifffahrt · Schifflände
For all ages
Basel looks different from the water. The Rhystärn is the flagship of the Basel passenger fleet, and one of my favourite ways to enjoy the city, whatever the season.
Sunday brunchOn most Sundays of the year: a relaxed buffet while the old town drifts past.
Fondue eveningsIn winter: cheese fondue or fondue chinoise on board, starting with a mulled wine.
City & harbour cruise75 minutes past the cathedral, the Roche towers and the harbour, with views of France and Germany.
The Rhine ferries («Fähri»)
Four crossings in the old town · all year
For all ages
Four small wooden ferries cross the Rhine without an engine, driven only by the current along a long cable. Silent, a few minutes on the water, and children love it. Each one carries a name from Basel tradition: Wild Maa, Leu, Vogel Gryff and Ueli.
Fondue on the ferryIn winter: cheese fondue prepared on board by the ferryman, for small groups of 8 to 12. Book at faehri.ch.
Private apéroOutside the regular hours, the ferries can be hired for an apéro or a small celebration.
My tip

Take the «Leu-Fähri» just below the Münster, Basel’s cathedral («Leu» is Swiss German for lion), then walk back across the Mittlere Brücke. The best short tour of Basel there is.

09Explore Basel

The City at a Glance

Nine places every family should know, and my favourites in gold.

Tap a point to read more.
Your own arrival
Want to see these places in person? Welcome to Basel includes a private walk through your new city. Let’s talk about your family’s arrival in a free, private 20‑minute call, without obligation.
Book a free 20‑minute call