Basel, Switzerland Christmas Markets 2023

MARKET TIPS

Before you begin your own Christmas market adventures, there are definitely some things you’ll need to know! I scoured the internet before traveling to Switzerland because I like to be fully prepared and have a game plan when traveling, especially to countries I’ve never visited before, and these are the best tips that stuck with me and were the most useful during my trip.

• Christmas mugs and pfands: at most Christmas markets in Europe, each stall selling hot drinks will also sell festive Christmas mugs specific to the city you’re in. When you order your drink, the total will likely be higher than what’s written down as the price because there is a “pfand” added, or a small deposit for the mug (usually around 3 euros). You can return your mug to any drink stall and get your pfand back, or keep the mug as a souvenir since you’ve already paid for it!
• Bring cash: when they say cash is king at European Christmas markets, they mean it! Definitely be sure to have a good amount of cash on hand at each different market, especially if you want to take home some mugs or try as much local food as you can.
• Pay attention to currency: this seems obvious, but as a disclaimer, know what currency you’ll need in each country you visit! I had been traveling in Spain, Germany, and France for so long that I was used to always having euros on hand, and I forgot that when I took this day trip to Switzerland, they use francs and not euros. Not a huge deal if you’re able to just grab cash at an ATM upon arrival, but if you’re taking any money out in advance, be sure to have the correct currencies!
• Learn some local phrases: you’re certainly not expected to know the entire language of every country you visit, but if you’re going to Switzerland to experience the Christmas markets, it’s a good idea to learn at least the basics. You’ll mostly hear German spoken here as it’s one of the country’s official languages, but most people speak a bit of English as well. I rarely had any issues with the language barrier, but knowing the following words and phrases should help you out:
  • “Hallo” - “hello”
  • “Danke” or “dankeschön” - “thank you/thank you very much”
  • “Bitte” - “please”
  • “Pfand” - “deposit” (German word pronounced “fund”)
  • “Einen glühwein bitte” - “one mulled wine, please”
  • “Tschüss” - “bye”
  I didn’t need to use all of these as most people could clock that I was American by my accent, and immediately switched over to English – so even just saying “One glühwein please” was enough to get me by pretty much everywhere!
• Wear proper shoes & pace yourself: this should go without saying, but if you’re going to spend hours and hours walking every day, it takes a toll on your feet! And even if you have good shoes, don’t push yourself too hard. Explore as much as you can, but don’t overdo it!

MARKET LOCATIONS

As I mentioned, Basel is a much smaller Christmas market destination, only having two official markets in the city located at Münsterplatz and Barfüsserplatz. In addition to their markets, Basel has a collection of 18 “Magical Courtyards” set up around the city for visitors to explore, as well as Adväntsgass, a festive food market across the river. The two major market areas are just a few minutes apart on foot, though you can take the long way around if you’re trying to find all the magical courtyards - I started at Barfüsserplatz, then walked over to the Steinenschanze courtyard location and went clockwise in a circle to find the other courtyards until I got to Münsterplatz.

Having fewer markets to visit honestly made Basel a perfect day trip from Mannheim! A couple hours on the train in the morning went by quickly, and I got to spend the day walking around the old town, visiting both Christmas market areas, trying to find all the magical courtyards, and even relaxing by the river for a bit. There’s certainly enough to explore if you spend more than a day here, but I felt very satisfied with my handful of hours spent in Basel, and would definitely suggest a day trip if that’s all you have time for like I did!

BARFÜSSERPLATZ

This is the bigger market of the two, and is the first one you’ll come across if you walk straight from the train station. It was pretty crowded even on a weekday, but it wasn’t overwhelming! The stalls are spread out in a circle around the history museum (Barfuesserkirche) and in the small plaza in front of it as well. You’ll find the Christmas pyramid here, along with options upon options for food and drinks! I went with a classic glühwein and it might have been my favorite of all the European Christmas markets I went to this year. I also saw at least three different souvenir mugs, so if next year is anything like 2023, you’ll have some great options for mugs, too!

MÜNSTERPLATZ

Right up the road from Barfüsserplatz is the second Christmas market area in Münsterplatz, and this one didn’t disappoint either. There are more kid-friendly things here like a large carousel and some indoor areas with different activities, but there’s still a huge selection of stalls selling food, drinks, ornaments, candies, clothes, and more. This market is more contained inside the square as well, while Barfüsserplatz is more spread out.

MAGICAL COURTYARDS

A fun and festive activity you can do in Basel around the holidays is exploring their Magical Courtyards! You can find the full list of courtyards here–there are 18 of them, and they’re scattered around the old town (all within walking distance) which makes for a fun goal for the day. Some of the courtyards were closed when I visited Basel, and others were a bit lackluster in the daytime, but I’m sure once the sun goes down, all of the courtyards really come to life. There are signs next to each courtyard to help you identify them as well.

I’ve highlighted a few of the courtyards that were particularly beautiful and festive below, though you should still try to see all of them if you can!

Magical Courtyard by Johann Wanner

In the heart of the old town you’ll find this gorgeous, quaint courtyard next to the Johann Wanner Christmas House. I think I actually gasped out loud when I walked through the short archway and saw this view. It’s simple, yet so beautiful and festive, and it definitely feels like a little magical hideaway in the city!

Magical Courtyard Town Hall (Rathaus)

The most impressive Magical Courtyard in Basel (in my opinion) is the one at the town hall. You can obviously admire the huge Christmas tree from the ground as you walk inside, but for the best views, walk up the stairs to the right of the tree and view it from above! It looked especially charming against the backdrop of the town hall’s walls, which are covered in beautiful paintings of different people, animals, and scenes.

Magical Courtyard Schmiedenhof

This lovely tree can be found at the city library (on Google Maps, it’s labeled GGG City Library Schmiedenhof Basel). The courtyard itself is gorgeous, tucked away off the busy streets with foliage and cobblestones galore. The Christmas tree is what really makes this place shine, though, and it’s a must-see when you’re in Basel around the holidays.

FOOD AND DRINK OVERVIEW

Even though Basel only has two official markets, there are 155 stalls to wander through and get food and drinks from! There were definitely some unique options available, but there are some staple items that you’ll find at pretty much every single market:

• Glühwein: hot mulled wine (red and white options)
• Apfel-zimt: hot apple-cinnamon flavored wine
• Wursts: local sausages in a bun (you’ll see bratwurst, currywurst, etc.)
• Pfannkuchen: crepes (so many different topping options!)
• Flammenkuchen: Alsace “pizza” made from dough, cheese, and toppings
• Kartoffellanzen: potatoes on a stick (like tornado potatoes)

I usually go for savory foods, but there were plenty of sweet treats as well, including chocolate covered fruits, gingerbread cookies, candied nuts, churros, and more. I also saw lángos pretty frequently, a stall selling huuuge chunks of British fudge, and fondue hotdogs… still regretting not getting one of those.

MORE BASEL MUST-DOS

Explore the Old Town

Even if you’re not in town for the Christmas markets, or if you just want a break in between glühweins during your day, exploring Basel’s old town is a perfect activity! Trust me, you’ll never get tired of finding new roads to walk down, and you’ll come across charming courtyards and lovely storefronts nearly everywhere you turn. Basel really is such a picturesque city, and a stroll through the old town will get you more than a few stunning photos on your camera roll!

Cross the Bridge

I’m a sucker for a good bridge, and Basel’s bridge crossing the Rhine is as good as any! I love to find an empty bench and just sit for a while in new cities, people watching and relaxing and just soaking in my time being in a new place. Basel was a pretty stunning place to do just that, even in the drizzly weather (I actually prefer it that way!). Plus, there’s a “selfie spot” in the middle of the bridge where you can sit and take a photo with the festive hat in the background to make it look like you’re wearing it. Definitely the first time I’ve seen anything like it during all my travels abroad.

Visit Adväntsgass

Adväntsgass was not open when I visited Basel, but even walking down the road looking at all the food stalls before they opened was a nice little side trip during my day here. Adväntsgass is a late night food market on the north side of the river that’s open from November 24 - December 23, offering tons of unique food and drink options from 30 different food trucks and stalls! I wish I had gotten to try it out because it looked amazing, so if you find yourself in Basel next holiday season, try it out and let me know if it’s as awesome as it sounds!