Basel

 

The Thalia bookstore see Buy, Shops worth visiting in the city center has a free, public WiFi hotspot and some internet terminals for a small hourly fee "Surfpoint".

A free wifi spot can be found in Unternehmen Mitte see Drink.

An internet café is in Steinenvorstadt, near Barfüsserplatz.

GGG Bibliothek

The main branch of the public GGG Bibliothek library (http://www.abg.ch/), + 41 61 269 97 97, Im Schmiedenhof 10, between Barfüsserplatz and Marktplatz, offers internet terminals for a small fee.

As a rule of thumb, you are safe anywhere in Basel at any time. If you ever feel threatened, go into a restaurant or use a public phone: the emergency number is 117, and operators usually speak English.

Swiss police usually take on a relatively unobtrusive air. However, they are indeed serious about traffic violations: even jaywalking may be fined on the spot. The upside to stringent traffic rules is that drivers are generally considerate and will stop for pedestrians at crosswalks, even if there are no traffic lights.

Football soccer games are the only notable exceptions to the above rules. Because of an unfortunate history of hooligan violence, games are generally overseen by a large contingent of police officers in riot gear, in case of any major unrest. Nonetheless, it is generally safe to watch a game--just use common sense and stay away from the stadium areas where the hardcore fans congregate usually the least expensive seats.

The biggest threat may be pickpockets. Be mindful of how you carry your valuables, particularly on trams and buses.

The drinking age for beer, wine, and similar low alcohol drinks is 16, while the age for straight liquor is 18. The public consumption of alcohol in Switzerland is legal so do not be alarmed if you see a group of teenagers publicly drinking a six-pack.

Watch out for the trams! Particularly the main downtown stops Centralbahnplatz (Basel SBB, Barfüsserplatz, Marktplatz, Aeschenplatz, Messeplatz) can get very busy and be a bit of a maze. If you are not used to trams, you may easily be surprised by one sneaking up behind your back; their silent running makes them very difficult to hear at first.

If at night you feel uncomfortable alone on a tram or a bus, ride near the operator in the front. They are helpful if you run into any trouble or are lost. In case of an emergency, they can press a panic button to alert the police of the tram's location.

Be careful when swimming in the Rhine see To Do, Sports - it's not a lazy river! Don't go if you are a weak swimmer; ask locals for good and safe entry and exit points besides the ones mentioned above. Wear sandals or other footwear, as you may have to walk back up to 2 km 1.2 mi to your point of entry. The tourist offices in Basel sell bright orange waterproof bags that allow you to take your clothing down the river as you swim and increase your visibility. The use of floating toys or swimming aids is forbidden by law. Stay clear of the many bridge abutments and the boat traffic, including the large commercial barges - they cannot and will not deviate from their course for you. Unless you are an experienced Rhine-swimmer, avoid the Grossbasel side of the river: the currents are very strong, exit points limited, and the section is part of the up-river bound trade shipping route. Swimming is safest along the Kleinbasel bank where the currents are weaker and there are many exits along the riverbank. Never try to swim across from one side to the other. Avoid overshooting the last bridge Dreirosenbrücke: a large commercial port follows, without meaningful exit points but plenty of dangerous commercial boat traffic. If you do overshoot, pick your country of immigration: France to your left, Germany to your right. Jumping off bridges is not only forbidden but also dangerous and outright stupid, as is swimming the Rhine at night - don't do it!

cafã©s

You can choose between a wide array of old-style, trendy and alternative coffee houses. Many restaurants or bars also serve coffee outside meal hours and before nightlife begins and it is perfectly acceptable to nurse a cup for an hour while reading a newspaper or book. Some places have outdoor seating in the summer.

Grand Café Huguenin

Telefon +41 61 272 05 50, Barfüsserplatz. The mother of all Basel coffee houses, this venerable institution on the second floor of an old office building, with big windows to the square, has been serving not only Basel's retirement set for ages. Nice cakes.

Zum Isaak

(http://www.zum-isaak.ch/), +41 61 261 47 12, Münsterplatz, opposite the Cathedral. Located on one of Basel's finest squares, this is nice and cosy to warm up after a winter visit to the Münster and the neighboring Pfalz lookout. Actually more than a café, it also offers creative, organic cuisine. The owners fought and eventually won an epic battle to rid the square of a big parking lot - a win also for the visitors.

Café zum Roten Engel

+41 61 261 20 07, Andreasplatz 15, near Marktplatz. A student hangout on a charming little square. Serves good Birchermuesli and wide selection of teas. Great to sit outdoors in the summer!

Fumare / Non-Fumare

Two cafés - for smokers and for non-smokers. See Unternehmen Mitte under Drink. Great café lattes and cappucinos.

learn (even) more

Given the international nature of Basel's pharmaceutical industry, the city has a significant number of English speaking expats. They, but also visitors, and even Baslers, can read up on latest news about recently opened or newly discovered restaurants, entertainment, how to get American hot dogs in Switzerland or a new apartment in Basel among other things at the Balehoo blog (http://www.balehoo.com). Other news and shared experiences for the English speaking communityexpat or not are at the Basel Expats website (http://www.baselexpats.com/), while the English-language webguide, Rhine Online (http://rhine-online.com/i...) provides useful links and resources to English-speakers living in Basel and neighbouring towns in the Alsace and Germany.

Local, national and international news are provided by the German-speaking daily Basler Zeitung (http://www.baz.ch) and a variety of other Swiss and international newspapers, many of which are available at many kiosks, particularly in the city center or at the train stations.

Basel's mainstream local radio station is Radio Basilisk, FM 107.6 or internet stream (http://www.basilisk.ch), which broadcasts mainly Top 40 music and spoken word programs in baseldytsch i.e., dialect.

English speakers may consider tuning in to Radio X, FM 94.5 or internet stream (http://www.radiox.ch/), which broadcasts in several foreign languages, including English The English Show (http://www.theenglishshow.com/finalcut/index.php on Tuesday nights, from 6:30 to 8:00PM).

Artisans - Basel is a permanent exhibit of the expertise of artisans. In the alleys near Barfüsserplatz and Marketplatz - and near the University, just look at the paving stones in the streets. The patterns inlaid in the streets are beautiful! Clearly, the handwork of artisans over the centuries is manifest in so many places. A simple walking tour - anywhere in Basel - reveals extraordinary performance. This standard extends in the modern time to the handcraft of the local pastries and chocolates. There is a tradition here. History sets the standard and in modern times - at least in some practices - the tradition continues.

Beer Delivery - In Barfüsserplatz, the major beer hall at least in years gone by receives its resupply via a tanker truck from the brewery with a very large hose delivering its precious cargo into the tanks of the rathskeller. This looks a lot like a delivery of heating oil in most commercial enterprises! The consumption of beer in this area near the University is really serious!

attitude

Every Swiss takes great pride in his/her work. Every position is a profession demanding excellence. The bartender, housekeeper, tram driver, retail clerk, street sweeper, waiter, etc. aims to be perfectly competent. This attitude is reflected in the everyday life you will experience in Basel and throughout Switzerland. Don't mistake the Swiss penchant for privacy and calmness as indifference. They are earnest and interested, but generally reserved - except during Fasnacht.

Chivalry towards women and the elderly is common. Do not be surprised if you see the pierced mohawk punk on a tram or bus give up his/her seat to an elderly person. Offering to help mothers board their strollers into older high-floor trams is also commonplace. On the same note it is not unusual to see elderly yelling or swatting at young passengers, who they feel are not behaving. Drivers are also known for their gentlemanly attitude towards passengers: even though they aim to be painstakingly punctual, they will find the time to wait for a passenger running towards the bus or tram and keep the front or rear door open.

talk

Basel is a cosmopolitan city because of its university and industry and its proximity to the borders of France and Germany. The official language of the city is German, but the majority of the population speaks Baseldytsch, an Alemannic dialect, as their mother tongue. German is taught in schools and fluently spoken by virtually everyone, so if you speak German and they notice that you are a foreigner, they will most likely answer you in German. Also widely spoken are English and French, both of which many people are able to communicate in comfortably enough to deal with everyday interactions and will gladly work to understand you. Borrowed French words are fairly common in everyday conversation; for example, Baslers often bid each other farewell with the French "adieu". Basically, the average Basler understands and speaks fluent Baseldytsch, German, English, and often French.

lost and found

If you happen to lose something, don't despair. There is a fair chance that the person who finds the item will try to contact you personally, if it has a name or address on it. Real story: A Basel resident found a credit card on the street and took the time to visit a number of nearby office buildings and inquire about the possibility of the card owner working in that building. The rightful owner was eventually found after several inquiries. If you don't want to wait for such a punctilious finder to find you, try the city's Lost and Found to check if anyone has returned the item for claim:

City Lost & Found: Fund- und Passbüro, St. Johanns-Vorstadt 51, telephonic inquiries: 0900 120 130 CHF 1.19 / min.

Railway Lost & Found: SBB Fundbüro, basement of the Basel SBB railway station.

In the case of the SBB Fundbüro, you may, for a fee, report a loss and provide an address to have the item sent in case it is returned.Given the tradition of good citizenry in returning lost items, it is a point of honor to offer a "finder's fee" of 10% of the property value.