Where to Stay
Discover Basel through its Hotels
The DNA of Basel
Where Medieval Streets Meet Radical Swiss Modernism
| Basel is one of Europe’s great architecture cities, although it rarely advertises itself that way. Its medieval old town and Renaissance buildings sit beside an extraordinary concentration of Modernist and contemporary architecture, shaped by figures including Herzog & de Meuron and influenced by nearby projects from Frank Gehry, Renzo Piano and other international names. Design spills well beyond the city centre into former industrial districts and across the borders with France and Germany, making Basel unusually rewarding for anyone interested in how historic and contemporary architecture can coexist.
Art is equally fundamental to the city’s identity. Art Basel may bring the international art world here each summer, but the city’s cultural life runs year-round, led by institutions such as Kunstmuseum Basel, Fondation Beyeler and numerous smaller galleries and collections. Food and drink are increasingly part of that creative landscape too: traditional Swiss restaurants and historic cafés coexist with ambitious contemporary kitchens, natural wine bars and a strong neighbourhood dining culture, while nearby Alsace and the vineyards along the Rhine broaden the regional influences. Basel’s most interesting hotels reflect the city’s sophisticated but understated character. Historic townhouses and grand riverside addresses sit alongside Modernist landmarks and contemporary design hotels where architecture and art are integral rather than decorative. At DNA Hotels, we curate the places where design, culture, food and Basel’s remarkable architectural heritage come together—hotels that reveal one of Europe’s most quietly compelling creative cities. |