Train Stop in Basel

If your train stops in Basel, you can lock your bags in the train station and go explore! The old town of Basel is lovely, on a river. We locked all three of our suitcases for about $12. Sometimes the lockers are full and you must wait for one. But it's worth it to spend a few hours exploring Basel if you are passing through. 

From the train station, you walk through a leafy park called De Wette Park, which has a cafe called Zum Kuss (closed Sundays) and then down Elisabethenstrasse. You can get lunch in a delightful square at La Manufacture Cafe Elisabethen. Sit inside their small adorable cafe with huge windows above the square, or sit in the square beside an old fountain with a statue. The architecture all around is wonderful, and the atmosphere is youthful. The crowned 19th century statue above the fountain is Saint Elisabeth, holding a loaf of bread and jug of water. A mythical creature called a basilisk holds a Basel coat of arms below her, and two swans spout out water.
We caught a train to Basel and then a budget flight from Basel airport. The line for the bus that takes you from the train station to the airport is too long, so it's better to take a taxi. The airport is crowded, hot, and stuffy, so we didn't enjoy flying out of Basel.
We didn't have time to explore more of Basel but I loved its architecture and if I had more time I would have done this:
From the cafe, walk a few minutes to see the Tinguely-Brunnen Fountain which has whimsical moving sprayers in all directions, the Spielzeug Welten Toy Museum, or the Kunstmuseum. Further along you will find the Basle Munster Cathedral- climb to the top for views of the city and the amazing decorated rooftop. You can also check out the Museum of Culture Basel, an ethnography museum with artifacts from Europe and the Pacific. The Basel Town Hall, in a large square, is famous.
At night it is wonderful to see the Spalentor, the 15th century medieval gate to the city, lit up at night. The street nearby is nice too.
On the northern bank of the river, you can walk along a tree-lined promenade beside the water- use Flora Buvette (cafe) in your GPS to find it. The Vogel Gryff ferry takes you across. Claramatte Park is an unusual wooden playground for children nearby, with seesaws, disc swing for three cable, water play, and pony rides (Wed, Sat, and Sun).

Directions

La Manufacture Cafe Elisabethen is located at Elisabethenstrasse 18, 4051 Basel, Switzerland. The kitchen is open daily for breakfast (brunch on Sunday) and lunch. It is a seven minute walk from the train station.
You can lock your bags in the train station for about $12.

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