City in Basel-Stadt, Switzerland
Basel for solo travelers
Is Basel good for solo travel?
Art museums, the Rhine for swimming, Fasnacht and a pharma expat community at the border of France and Germany. Easy to navigate and very safe; quiet on Sundays and pricey.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Polite but reserved |
| English | Widely spoken |
| Safety | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Solo women | Comfortable alone, day and night. |
How to meet people in Basel
Pharma and science expat events, Meetup language exchanges, Rhine swimming groups in summer and museum nights; hostels hold regular social evenings.
Good things to do alone
- Float down the Rhine with a Wickelfisch bag
- Visit Fondation Beyeler in Riehen
- Ride the Rhine ferries
- Walk the Münsterplatz at dusk
- Join a Fasnacht Morgestraich at 4 am
Where to stay in Basel
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Altstadt Grossbasel | Museums, squares, restaurants; walkable short stays |
| Kleinbasel (Rhine north bank) | Cheaper, multicultural; Rhine promenade and bars |
| St. Johann and Gundeli | Residential, local cafés, tram links; popular with expats |
Solo travel across Switzerland
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Geneva | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Lucerne | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Interlaken | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Basel | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Lausanne | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Lugano | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Grindelwald | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Zermatt | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Bern | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| St. Moritz | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Montreux | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
Quick answers
Is Basel good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). Art museums, the Rhine for swimming, Fasnacht and a pharma expat community at the border of France and Germany.
How do you meet people in Basel?
Pharma and science expat events, Meetup language exchanges, Rhine swimming groups in summer and museum nights; hostels hold regular social evenings. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Basel?
Widely spoken.
Is Basel safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable alone, day and night.
More about Basel
Going to Basel solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Basel meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.