Basel offers a wide range of activities for anyone interested in art and culture. You will encounter art at every turn here, whether you are strolling through the old town or visiting one of the almost forty museums. The top museums include the Fondation Beyeler, the Kunstmuseum, the Museum Tinguely and the Museum of Antiquities. There is also no way around Barfüsserplatz (also known as Barfi or Seibi), which is located in the center of the city and is one of the most important streetcar hubs. The market square and the imposing town hall are also sights not to be missed. Basel City Hall itself is enchanting with its elaborately decorated red sandstone façade and striking tower.
The many events that take place in Basel every year underline the city's reputation as a cultural capital. Particularly noteworthy is the Basel Carnival, whose origins date back to the 14th century. From the Monday morning after Ash Wednesday, a state of emergency reigns here: during the morning prank at four o'clock, all the lights in the city go out and hundreds of lanterns light up the streets while drummers and piccolos play the same march. The city's cultural event highlight is Art Basel, the most important world fair on the international art market, where around 300 selected galleries from all over the world exhibit modern and contemporary works of high quality.
Sports fans are also well catered for in Basel. FC Basel 1893 has an impressive stadium, St. Jakob-Park, designed by architects Jacques Herzog & Pierre de Meuron.
Basel has another special highlight for families: Basel Zoo, affectionately known as "Zolli", was opened in 1874 and is one of the most important zoos in Europe. With its wide variety of animals, including rhinoceroses, pygmy hippos and western lowland gorillas, the zoo delights visitors of all ages. Whether you want to explore the old town or visit a museum, the Livecam in Basel will help you plan your stay in this fascinating city and adapt your activities to the weather conditions.