Winter Basel
Hotel Metropol Basel

In winter, the Swiss metropolis of Basel stands out with a special flair. Experience a winter city break in Basel at the comfortable and charmingly personal 4-star Hotel Metropol. Basel winter time out with fondue, Basel carnival, top-class cultural offers and a romantic time for two. Experience the cold season far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life at the modern city hotel Metropol Basel and wander through the medieval alleys in Basel Stadt. Sleep in modern design rooms in the categories First, Comfort, Style, Economy. Enjoy an aperitif cocktail in the attached 4-star Hotel Euler in the Euler Bar and then a romantic dinner in the Caspar`s restaurant.

The Stadthotel Metropol Basel is in a perfectly central location. Directly in the centre of the city of Basel - next to the SBB train station - yet very quiet. From the Hotel Metropol it is only a few minutes on foot or with the Basler Drämmli to the Basel Winter Hotspots in the historic Basel Old Town. Basel in winter is considered quiet and contemplative. During the Basel Shrovetide, the winter in Basel City turns upside down.

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City Break Basel Winter

Our Basel Winter
Highlights

BaselCitytour or panoramic tram tour
Warm up in the Basel steam bath
Foyer Public: Sightseeing break in the largest public living room
Greenhouses Botanical Garden
Zolli: Basel Zoological Garden with Vivarium
Fondue, raclette or Tatar hat in the winter village in the Sandoase
Ice skating Eglisee or Margarethen
Basel Carnival 27 February to 1 March 2023

  • Basel Winter City Break Hotel Metropol Basel: Carnival Fountain

BaselCitytour or panoramic tram ride

Perfect in rainy or cloudy weather. The BaselCitytour takes you in the Panorama Sightseer comfortably and dry to the Basel HotSpots. Hop on and off where and as often as you like. You can buy a panoramic tour on tram line 16 in the direction of Bruderholz at the Schifflände, Marktplatz or Barfüsserplatz stop. From the city centre, the tram goes to the villa district of Bruderholz and continues on line 15 past museums, the exhibition centre and over the Mittlere Brücke bridge back to Schifflände.

Silence and deceleration in the steam bath Basel

The Stellwerk St. Johann in the north of Basel touches the senses. The DAMPF°BAD Basel offers a contemplative little wellness oasis in the middle of the city. A pestemal (hamam cloth) is provided throughout. The hamam offers 2 steam rooms, 1 warm water pool, soap lather and kesa rooms (peeling zone), as well as heated stone benches to relax on. In addition, a wide range of massages from all cultural backgrounds and individual yoga sessions can be booked.

Foyer Public: Large public living room

The large foyer in the Theater Basel is available to everyone free of charge and is free of consumption. In the Foyer Public you can take a break on your way from the station to the city centre or vice versa, warm up, meet friends, sit together, relax. The Foyer Public offers a children's corner, workstations with power sockets and Wi-Fi and a branch of the city library for free use. Accessible via the main entrance on Theaterplatz and the entrance behind the Elisabethenkirche.

Greenhouses Botanical Garden

A green oasis of peace in the middle of the city. The Botanical Garden of the University of Basel near Spalentor is one of the oldest gardens of its kind. In the Victoria House you can immerse yourself in the world of tropical swamp and water plants with the impressive Amazon water lily as the highlight. The Succulent House shows mainly cacti, the Namibia House desert plants of Southwest Africa and in the Moss House you can discover mosses, clubmosses and ferns. The Tropical House is still under renovation. Reopening 27 May 2023.

Zolli: Basel Zoo with Vivarium

Basel Zoo is one of the most visited attractions in Switzerland. The Vivarium and the Monkey House offer exciting alternatives to the outdoor animal enclosures. Be amazed by the colourful, exotic fish in the mysterious world of the Vivarium. And the exuberant monkeys in the monkey house will keep young and old alike in high spirits. The outdoor animal enclosures include the elephant enclosure, bird house, sauter garden, rhino enclosure, children's zoo to touch and pet, savannah enclosure, Australis themed enclosure, antelope house and Africa enclosure.

Winter Basel delicacies

Swiss fondue & raclette specialities are perfect for the cold season. The traditional Walliserkanne in Basel city centre invites you to enjoy cheese fondue and raclette. In the romantic fondue hut Baracca Zermatt you share Zermatter Plättli, spicy cheese fondue, fondue chinoise or raclette à discrétion. The Sandoase offers a winter village with a rustic chalet, Finnish kotas and cosy fondue gondolas with a choice of raclette, cheese fondue, fondue chinoise and Tatar hat. You can find all of Basel's fondue and raclette HotSpots here.

 

Ice skating Eglisee or Margarethen

You can skate your laps on two artificial ice rinks in the middle of Basel. The Eglisee ice rink offers skating for children, teenagers and adults as well as ice hockey. There are also changing events such as ice discos. The Margarethen ice rink is located in Margarethenpark and offers two ice rinks. One of the rinks is covered. Skates can be rented at both rinks.

Basel Carnival 27 February to 1 March 2023

The Basel Carnival is the largest carnival in Switzerland and is an intangible UNESCO World Heritage Site. Basel Carnival means 3 days of exceptional conditions. It starts on the Monday after Ash Wednesday at 4 a.m. sharp - in total darkness. The popular "Morgestraich" transforms the city centre into a sea of lights from hand-painted lanterns. Thousands of disguised pipers and drummers accompany their lanterns with music. Until the "Ändstraich" on Thursday morning, again at 4am sharp. What lies in between must be experienced. You can find all the information about the Basel carnival here.