Basel - staying safe by Mark Sukhija

Basel is, in common with all Swiss cities, generally a safe place to be. If you do feel threatened, be sure you are somewhere you are seen such as a restaurant or bar or use a public phone: the emergency number is 117, and operators usually speak English.

Generally, the Swiss police are fairly discrete. However, traffic violations tend to treated seriously - jaywalking can be fined on the spot. As a result, drivers tend to be a considerate bunch and generally stop and crossings.

Football is the only real exception to this. FC Basel attracts a large following and football matches tend to be heavily policed by police in riot gear. Games are, however, generally safe just use your common sense and stay away from the hardcore hooligans who tend to occupy the cheap seats the can afford.

Trams are an important part of most Swiss towns and the public transport system. In my opinion, Baseler trams tend to be a bit quieter than most. There plenty of them about - especially around the Basel SBB, Barfüsserplatz, Marktplatz, Aeschenplatz, Messeplatz - so keep your eyes and ears open. If they ring their bells at you get out of their way. If you feel unsafe riding public transport late at night sit at the front near the driver - generally the drivers can be helpful if you're lost or in trouble.

Related Posts

Basler Fasnacht - cortege Cortege at Basler Fasnacht 2015
Basler Fasnacht - cortege at Mittlere Brucke Wednesday afternoon cortege at Basler Fasnacht 2015
Basel Fasnacht - pair of Waggis Pair of Waggis with confetti at the Basler Fasnacht Cortege
Basel Fasnacht - Waggis and the confetti Waggis throwing confetti at the Basler Fasnacht cortege in 2012
Basel Fasnacht - Waggis dishing out eggs Waggis throwing out eggs at the Basler Fasnacht cortege in 2012
Basel Fasnacht - Waggis in the wild Waggis amongst the crowds in the Basler Fasnacht Cortege
Basel Fasnacht - display of Fasnacht lanterns Lanterns of Basler Fasnacht being displayed in Münsterplatz
Basel Fasnacht - Fasnacht lanterns Looking at the Basler Fasnacht Lanterns at Münsterplatz

Map

Further reading

Basel Fasnacht - display of Fasnacht lanterns - Lanterns of Basler Fasnacht being displayed in Münsterplatz

Basel - great things to do - 8 of the best things to do in and around the city of Basel

Switzerland - sacred destinations - Nine of the finest churchs, cathedrals and monastries in Switzerland

Basel Fasnacht - lanterns at Münsterplatz - Lanterns displayed in front of the Basler Münster on the second day of Basler Fasnacht

Basel - Van Gogh exhibition 2009 - A visit the Van Gogh Exhibition at the Kunstmuseum in Basel

Basel SBB - Deutsche Bahn train - A Deutsche Bahn train sits at the Basel SBB train station

Switzerland - festivals not to miss - Fantastic Swiss festivals to visit through the year

Liestal - Chienbaese 2013 - The Chienbaese procession through the central Altstadt of Liestal

Liestal - Chienbäse - Chienbäse being paraded through the old town of Liestal

Liestal - Chienbäse fire - Chienbäse fire being paraded in Liestal

Basel Tourismus - Official website of Basel City Tourism

About Mark Sukhija

Mark Sukhija is a travel and wine blogger, photographer, tourism researcher, hat-touting, white-shirt-wearing, New Zealand fantatic and eclipse chaser. Aside from at least annual visits to New Zealand, Mark has seen eclipses in South Australia (2002), Libya (2006), China (2009) and Queensland (2012). After twelve years in Switzerland, Mark moved back to London in 2012. You can follow Mark on Twitter or Facebook