Following a last-minute comeback against Italy on Tuesday, the Lionesses have roared into the Euro 2025 final, sending the ball rolling in the charming Swiss city of Basel.
Beyond the big-hitters – Zurich and Geneva – the host city of the highly anticipated football final, featuring current European champions England, is a Swiss city that refuses to be put in a box.
St Jakob Park will welcome thousands of football fans to cheer on the Lionesses this Sunday (27 July), but what is there to do outside the stadium if you’re in town for the final?
Sure, the pretty, pastel-coloured townhouses lining the banks of the Rhine and fairytale lights of the Christmas market speak of tradition, but the vibe here is altogether more left-field when you scratch beneath the surface.
Case in point, swimming in the city’s many water fountains is not only permitted, it’s actively encouraged. And its most celebrated artist creates noisy sculptures using scrap metal. Throw in a bevy of interesting architecture and a burgeoning street food scene, and you have the makings of a great city break.
Here’s where to go and what to know ahead of the festivities to plan your next Basel break.
Read more: Why a journey around Switzerland makes the ideal summer coolcation
What to do
Check out the art
As the city where the annual Art Basel fair was founded – now a global phenomenon with events in Asia and North America – it’s unsurprising that you’ll find some pretty edgy artworks here. Museum Tinguely is the most interesting if you’re travelling with kids: it houses the single largest collection of works by Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely, whose noisy kinetic sculptures made from scrap metal are chaotic and joyful all at once. The Kunstmuseum is best if your tastes are more traditional, and the building is an architectural marvel in itself.
Get on a boat
The best way to see the city is from the water, and the year-round brunch cruise is hugely popular with locals and tourists alike. For 77chf (£70), you can hop on board from 10am and enjoy a leisurely sail between Dreiländereck (the tri-nation meeting point) and Museum Tinguely until 1.30pm, all the while eating breads, cheeses and charcuterie to your heart’s content. Or catch one of the…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Independent Travel…