Things to do in Basel | Basel Guide May 2021
Arena for a tree exhibit, days out from Basel, amazing green spaces, a beer tour of Basel, what's in season and how to get vaccinated.
Don't miss the new exhibition on Münsterplatz
An arena for a tree is the new, spectacular exhibition on Munsterplatz. The artist Kalus Littmann has built the most beautifully, bowl shaped arena, made from slatted wood that hosts a single tree, centre stage. Walk up the steps into the arena and sit and wonder, it’s really a great piece of art inside and out. This exhibit will be in Munsterplatz until July this year. Learn more click here
Green spaces to explore in the sunshine
Sculpture park and cloisters in Schoenthal
I was recently recommended this gem of a day out, for art lovers and those who like to wander in beautiful scenery. Schoental is around 30 mins drive from Basel and hosts an 12 century monastery and vast sculpture park nestled in the Jura landscape. The monastery regularly is the location of art exhibitions opening Fri, Sat, Sun and bank holidays between 10:00 and 16:00 as well as having a very quaint monastery garden to admire. The sculpture park is open every day and boasts an impressive 33 works by 23 artists that line the paths and trails through both woodland and meadow. Admission 10 CHF for adults and families 20 CHF.
Click here to the cloisters and sculpture park website (in english)
The very special Iris collection at Merian Gaerten
The gardens surround villa Merian are a sight to behold and never more so at this time of the year where the gardens world famous iris collection comes into bloom. The gardens boast an amazing number of varieties, of irises that will bloom over the next few weeks.
The maize at Ettenbuehl gardens (DE)
Ettenbuehl gardens located near are a delight whatever the weather with multiple gardens and vistas to admire, including a celebrated english garden with a huge rose collection. The gardens have recently re-opened their maze for all to enjoy. Click here to read my blog post about Ettenbuehl gardens written Autumn 2020.
Have you visited the fuenfschilling farm shop and restaurant it’s only a few kilometres away from Ettenbuehl gardens. Click here to read more about it…
How about a beer tour of Basel?
We are very lucky to have a thriving microbrewery scene in Basel with microbreweries dotted around our city.
If I was to guide you around Basel’s best micro breweries and beer halls to try out some local beers then, this is where I would take you.
1) Matt and Elly (Erlenmatt)
A great restaurant menu (take away from now) and some wonderful ‘street food’ offered on their terrace. The burgers are to die for as it their deliciously crisp beer.
Click here to read my blog article from last summer
2) Volta Brau (Voltaplatz)
Wonderful beer and good apero sharing plates, they broadcast the big football games on a ridiculously large screen on their terrace during the summer months.
3) BierJohann (St Johann)
A huge selection of beers on tap to enjoy or take away plus an amazing selection of canned beers from locally companies and from the best breweries from around the world. They have a really wonderful terrace at the back of the bar or why not take your beer down to the rhine side as that’s only a moments walk away. They offer a lovely Sunday lunch on their terrace for all of you anglophiles.
4) Bierrevier (Markthalle)
A huge selection of beers on tap to enjoy or take away plus an amazing selection of canned beers from locally companies and from the best breweries from around the world. Enjoy the terrace at the back of Markthalle.
5) Birtel (Munchenstein)
Beer on an old train? This is my final recommendation yet to be fully explored as Birtel only recently moved to a new location in Dreispitz.
Click here to view a google map of this beer tour. CHEERS!!
My top three takeaways during lockdown...
I, like many of you have reached for the take away menu during this latest lockdown and have my fair share of cold food, the wrong order, items missing etc.. but I have enjoyed some great take away so, a quick should out to the three restaurants who got things just right.
1) Thai Square – very delicious, spicy thai food, great value for money.
2) Indian Summer – just the best tandoori I have had in years with lovely dipping sauces and fragrant rice.
3) Mexis – big portions, great price, great quality, tasty.
What's in season in the Basel region?
As we say goodbye to cherry blossom, wild garlic and tulips we can welcome apple blossom, asparagus, elderflower and at the end of May local strawberries. More on elderflower cordial, local asparagus and pick your own strawberry fields on the blog soon.
Click here for a map of some of the regions self pick, flower fields. Pfingstenrosen or peonies are blooming at the moment.
COVID vaccinations, in Basel
If you want to know more about how to get a vaccination in Basel then click here
We have seen the relaxing of COVID regulations in Switzerland with restaurants opening end of May as the general population start to be vaccinated, the government aims that life is back to normal by the end of July. Stay safe everyone.
Thanks for reading the Things to do in Basel blog.
Love, Louise
Blogger @ Things to do in Basel
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