7 days in Basel & Zurich Itinerary

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.

Start off your visit on the 13th (Thu): pause for some serene contemplation at Basel Minster, get engrossed in the history at Basel Paper Mill - Swiss Museum for Paper, Writing and Printing, then admire the masterpieces at Fondation Beyeler, and finally see the interesting displays at Pantheon Basel.

To find maps, photos, and other tourist information, refer to the Basel vacation 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 (EST) to Central European Standard Time (CET) is 6 hours. When traveling from Washington in May, plan for a bit cooler days in Basel, with highs around 67°F, while nights are about the same with lows around 48°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 14th (Fri) to allow time to drive to Zurich.

The financial hub of Switzerland, Zurich is most often associated with money and banks.

Old Town and Bahnhofstrasse are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Shop till you drop at Altstadt Luzern and ARTBOX.GALLERY. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Zurich: Mt Pilatus (in Kriens) and Museum Rosengart Collection (in Lucerne). And it doesn't end there: take an in-depth tour of Landesmuseum, examine the collection at Musee Visionnaire Zurich, stroll the grounds of Friedhof Fluntern, and take in the awesome beauty at Uetliberg Mountain.

To see reviews, other places to visit, where to stay, and other tourist information, go to the Zurich day trip website.

Traveling by car from Basel to Zurich takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 65°F in May, and nighttime lows around 47°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 18th (Tue) to allow time for travel back home.