7 days in Basel & Zurich Itinerary
Created using Inspirock Switzerland trip planner
Start: Washington
Fly to Zürich Airport, Drive to Basel
1
Basel
— 2 nights
Drive
2
Zurich
— 4 nights
Fly
End: Washington
Thu, May 6 - Wed, May 12
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Basel — 2 nights

Situated where the Swiss, German, and French borders meet, Basel is considered the hub of Dreilandereck, this "three countries corner." Its location makes Basel a center of culture and history, brimming with important theaters and museums.On the 7th (Fri), contemplate the long history of Basel Minster, see the interesting displays at Basel Paper Mill - Swiss Museum for Paper, Writing and Printing, then admire the masterpieces at Fondation Beyeler, and finally examine the collection at Pantheon Basel.
For ratings, photos, and tourist information, read our Basel trip planner.
Washington, USA to Basel is an approximately 17.5-hour combination of flight and car. The time zone difference moving from Eastern Standard Time to Central European Standard Time is 6 hours. When traveling from Washington in May, plan for little chillier days and about the same nights in Basel: temperatures range from 67°F by day to 48°F at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 8th (Sat) early enough to go by car to Zurich.
Side Trips
Find places to stay May 6 — 8:
Highlights from your trip
Zurich — 4 nights

Big Small Town
The financial hub of Switzerland, Zurich is most often associated with money and banks.Shop till you drop at Bahnhofstrasse and ARTBOX.GALLERY. Do some cultural sightseeing at Old Town and Verkehrshaus der Schweiz. Venture out of the city with trips to Lucerne (Chapel Bridge, Museum Rosengart Collection, &more) and Mt Pilatus (in Kriens). Next up on the itinerary: take an in-depth tour of Landesmuseum, stroll the grounds of Friedhof Fluntern, admire the masterpieces at Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich), and browse the exhibits of Haus zum Rech.
For where to stay, ratings, traveler tips, and tourist information, go to the Zurich travel route planning tool.
Getting from Basel to Zurich by car takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: take a train; or take a bus. In May, daily temperatures in Zurich can reach 65°F, while at night they dip to 47°F. On the 12th (Wed), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel back home.
Side Trip
Find places to stay May 8 — 12:
Highlights from your trip