Basel

By ship

You can be carried across the Rhine by Fähri (http://www.faehri.ch/), one of Basel's four small ferry boats, which, hanging at a steel rope, are silently drawn by the current between the two banks of the river. One river crossing costs CHF 1.60 for adults and 0.80 for children. The most popular one may be the one that starts in Grossbasel just below the Münster.

Various day excursions up and down the Rhine, on large motor boats, are offered by Basler Personenschiffahrt (http://www.bpg.ch), Reservations phone +41 61 639 95 00. Boats depart from Schifflände, near the Grossbasel end of Mittlere Brücke.

By Tram And Bus

Basel has an extensive tram light rail and bus network map: (http://www.bvb.ch/docs/regiofahrplan/2011/12/09/tnw_liniennetz_bs_2011.pdf?Status=Master). The bright green trams and buses are the greatest amenity you can imagine: absolutely prompt, relatively inexpensive, clean and very convenient. Each stop has maps of the public transport system and a listing of arrival times.

Tickets

Ticket Machines: Buy single tickets here, there is no vending inside the trams and buses. Every stop has one - bright green as the trams. They take both Swiss Francs and Euros. Some train station vending machines also sell tickets for trams and buses.

Inside the city limits, all destinations farther than 4 stops away are 1 Zone, cost 3.00 Francs (http://www.bvb.ch/tt_tick...). As long as you are traveling away from the stop where you got on, you can ride on the same ticket for as long as the ticket is valid. The fare for buses and trams is the same and transfers changing is free. There are also special buses that connect to nearby towns in France and Germany.

Mobility Pass: All hotels in Basel, including the youth hostel, offer each registered guest a free "Mobility Pass" upon check in. This gives free unlimited travel in Basel and suburbs including to and from the airport for the duration of their stay. This is easily worth the price of a lunch every day you stay. If you have written confirmation of a hotel reservation you can also use this to travel from the railway station or airport to your hotel. At least one respected hotel in Basel advertises this fact on their web site.

Day Pass (http://www.bvb.ch/tt_tick...): You can also buy one-day passes Press "Tageskarten" then "Basel + Agglomeration" buttons on the touch-screen ticket machine with the same validity as the "Mobility Pass" above for CHF 8.00; and multi trip tickets or multi-day tickets. Winter in Basel's old city center

6-Trip One Zone Multi-Ticket Mehrfahrtenkarte (http://www.bvb.ch/tt_tick...): 6 trips for the price of 5. Worth buying for a group or if you plan on spending more than a couple of days in Basel. Available at every kiosk in town and at ticket machines which have a credit card reader. Not significantly cheaper but it saves you having to fiddle around with change.

Halbtax-Abo

If you own a Halbtax-Abo (http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/...) card issued by Swiss Railways SBB, you can buy half-tariff tram tickets as well. The cost of the Halbtax-Abo is CHF 150, worthwhile if you plan to spend more than 300 CHF on Swiss train tickets during your trip or within one year - which can happen quite quickly.

Tram and bus travel is on the honor system. Nobody collects your ticket. Periodically, a number 4-8 of "tram police" undercover agents board a tram and quickly examine everyone's ticket before the next stop. If you don't have one, there is an on-the-spot fine of 80 Francs. Even in this exercise, there is efficiency - if you don't have cash available you'll be given the option to pay later at the office on Barfüsserplatz, but then it will cost you 100 Francs.

Handling trams and buses

To open the door from outside press the button near the door on newer low floor trams, or the orange lit button beside the door on older trams and buses. Inside, press a button on the door of the newer trams or the small black button on the grab rail near the door on older trams and buses, and the door will then open automatically as soon as the tram stops. Doors close automatically before the tram starts moving. Hold on! Trams accelerate quickly and brake quite abruptly. Upcoming stops are announced by a recorded voice in Standard German as well as English and French at main stops along with the numbers of connecting trams at that stop.

By car

Driving in Basel is not recommended for visitors, as inner city streets can be confusing - and are shared with trams note that cars must yield to trams. Parking in the old city is relatively expensive and scarce. Most mid-range or luxury hotels have or help with parking. In addition, there is a network of clean, safe and payable public garages at the periphery of the city center, generally open 24/7. If you stay for the day only and are driving via highway into Grossbasel, try Centralbahnparking near the SBB Station; if you're entering in Kleinbasel, try Parking Badischer Bahnhof (http://www.parkhaus-badis...), near the German railway station. Closer to the city center in Grossbasel are Steinen Parking at Steinenschanze 5 and Elisabethen Parking, at Steinentorberg 5, and in Kleinbasel Messe Basel Parking at Messeplatz. A handy website with availability and driving directions to all public garages can be found here: (http://www.parkleitsystem...).

By Cycle

Basel is a bicycle-friendly city, with many well-marked bicycle lanes throughout the city, and even traffic signals and left-hand turn lanes for bikes. While drivers are generally aware of bikers, be sure to use hand signals and ride defensively. Beware of the trams! If you are not careful, your wheels may also get stuck in the tram tracks and this can make you fly. Helmets are not required although recommended, but lights and bells are. The Swiss are quite keen cyclists, so don't be surprised when an old lady goes flying past you on her bike while going uphill.

Besides local commuter bike lanes, there are specific bike trails that connect to other parts of Switzerland via the Veloland Schweiz network (http://www.cycling-in-switzerland.ch, recommended for overland bicycling tours. These bike trails are indicated by signs at some intersections.

Bike Rental

Bikes can be rented locally from the Rent-a-Bike (http://www.rentabike.ch) underground bike park, +41 51 229 23 45, at Centralbahnplatz, underneath the Basel SBB railway station.