Day trips from Basel
17 hidden towns and nature spots within 150 km of Basel, picked by Europe Revealed. Sorted from nearest to furthest.
55 km01 · Nature spot · GermanyTitiseeA glacial lake surrounded by the forests of the Black Forest.
Trains from Freiburg take about 40 minutes through the Höllental valley.
60 km02 · Popular town · FranceColmarColourful half-timbered houses along little canals in the heart of Alsace.
Trains from Strasbourg take 30 minutes. The old town is compact and best on foot.
70 km03 · Hidden town · FranceKaysersbergA flower-filled Alsace village below a castle ruin and vineyards.
Buses run from Colmar, about 30 minutes. Easiest by car.
70 km04 · Hidden town · FranceRiquewihrA walled wine village surrounded by vineyards on the Alsace Wine Route.
Easiest by car, about 20 minutes from Colmar. Local buses run from Colmar too.
80 km05 · Nature spot · FranceVosges (Gérardmer)A lake town surrounded by the forested Vosges mountains.
Buses run from Épinal and Remiremont. Easiest by car.
80 km06 · Nature spotRhine FallsEurope's most powerful waterfall by volume.
Trains run to Neuhausen or Schloss Laufen, near Schaffhausen.
80 km07 · Nature spot · GermanyBlack Forest (Triberg)Germany's highest waterfalls in the heart of the Black Forest.
Trains run on the Black Forest Railway. The falls are a walk from the station.
90 km08 · Nature spotRigiThe 'Queen of the Mountains', with views over a dozen lakes.
Rack railways climb from Vitznau and Arth-Goldau. A cable car runs from Weggis.
95 km09 · Hidden townStein am RheinPainted medieval facades on a tiny square by the Rhine.
Trains run from Schaffhausen and Winterthur.
100 km10 · Nature spotLake Brienz (Iseltwald)A tiny village on the turquoise shore of Lake Brienz.
Buses and lake boats run from Interlaken.
110 km11 · Nature spotGrindelwaldA mountain village below the north face of the Eiger.
Trains from Interlaken take about 35 minutes.
110 km12 · Nature spotLauterbrunnenA valley of 72 waterfalls between towering cliffs.
Trains from Interlaken take 20 minutes. Lauterbrunnen is the gateway to Wengen and Mürren, which are car-free.
115 km13 · Hidden townGruyèresA hilltop castle village famous for its cheese.
Trains run to Gruyères station, then a short walk up the hill.
120 km14 · Nature spotOeschinenseeA turquoise mountain lake below glaciers above Kandersteg.
Trains run to Kandersteg, then a gondola and a short walk.
120 km15 · Nature spot · GermanyMainau IslandA flower island on Lake Constance with a palace and butterfly house.
Boats run from Konstanz and other lake towns. Buses run from Konstanz station.
135 km16 · Nature spotAletsch GlacierThe longest glacier in the Alps, seen from car-free mountain villages.
Trains run to Mörel, Betten or Fiesch, then cable cars up to the car-free villages of Riederalp and Bettmeralp.
135 km17 · Hidden townLavauxTerraced vineyards dropping steeply to Lake Geneva.
Local trains between Lausanne and Vevey stop at the villages, such as Cully and Epesses.Questions
Day trips from Basel: good to know
What are the best day trips from Basel?
Our favourite hidden places near Basel are Titisee (55 km), Colmar (60 km), Kaysersberg (70 km) and Riquewihr (70 km). All 17 are on this page, sorted by distance.
How far are these places from Basel?
All of them are within about 150 km of Basel in a straight line, close enough for a day trip by car, and many by train or bus too. Check each place for how to get there.