Boat trips on the Rhine

A boat trip along the Rhine lets you admire the landmarks of Basel, such as the Cathedral (Münster), the Roche Towers and the picturesque Old Town houses on the banks of the Rhine from their most beautiful perspective.

Trips and timetable

Experience Basel and the Rhine from a different perspective aboard the ships of Basler Personenschifffahrt. On the brunch ship, taking a sunset or lock cruise, even people from Basel feel like they are on vacation themselves every time! 

What round trips does the Basler Personenschifffahrt offer?
  • City and port cruise
  • Brunch ship
  • Tea Time
  • Evening cruise
  • Great lock cruise to Rheinfelden

    • Buy tickets

    Our team at the Tourist Information office, located at the Stadtcasino at Barfüsserplatz, will be happy to advise you – and you can also get tickets for your boat trip right here, of course.

    Staying overnight in Basel? With a valid BaselCard, you get 50% off tickets for scheduled cruises offered by Basler Personenschifffahrt.

    Das Personenschiff der Basler Personenschifffahrt (BPG) bietet neben Schleusenfahrten auch romantische Rhein-Erlebnisse am Abend – Dinner und Sonnenuntergang inklusive.

    City and port cruise

    Port cruise (approx. 50 min.)
    Basel shows off its urban side: 
    Kleinbasel side of the Rhine – Klybeckquai – Rhine port – tri-border area – Three Countries Bridge – view of France and Germany

    City cruise (approx. 50 min.)
    Right in the heart of Basel:  
    Grossbasel side of the Rhine – Basel Cathedral (Münster) – Roche Tower – picturesque Old Town houses – Museum Tinguely – Birsfelden lock

    Timetable:

    • 7 April to 15 October 2023: Friday and Sunday
    • Additionally on Wednesday: 4 to 11 October 2023
    • City on port cruise on 28 September 2023
    10.00 amPort cruise from Basel Schifflände (only on Sundays)
    11.00 amCity cruise from Basel Schifflände (only on Sundays)
    12.00 noonPort cruise from Basel Schifflände
    1.00 pmCity cruise from Basel Schifflände
    2.00 pmPort cruise from Basel Schifflände
    3.00 pmCity cruise from Basel Schifflände
    4.00 pmPort cruise from Basel Schifflände

     

    Price: 

    Tickets are valid for 2 hours.

    • Adults (from age 16): CHF 16
    • Children/young people (ages 6–15): CHF 5
    • Children (up to age 5): free
    Rhystärn_Münster

    Brunch ship

    On Sundays from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm, the brunch ship cruises on the Rhine and invites passengers to enjoy a relaxing brunch, linger and get together. Indulge in a generous and delicious brunch with fresh, seasonal and regional delicacies. 

    The chef will spoil you with a tasty and richly varied all-you-can eat brunch buffet: fresh breads and croissants, plaited loaves from the wood-fired ovens of the local Bio Andreas bakery, refreshing juices including apple juice, coffee, muesli, egg dishes, salmon, speciality meats, local honey, jams, fruit, cheese and yoghurt – there is something for everyone here! 

    The chef will spoil you with a tasty and richly varied brunch: fresh breads and croissants, plaited loaves from local confectioner Confiserie Beschle, muesli, scrambled eggs, salmon, speciality meats, Swiss honey, jams, fruit, cheese and yoghurt – there is something for everyone here! You can help yourself to refreshing juices including local apple juice, mineral water, coffee or tea by London Tea from the buffet.

    You can freely choose when to board and disembark. Brunch is served at the table. You can reorder as often as you please between 10.00 am and 2.00 pm. 

     

    Timetable:

    • 7 April to 15 October 2023: Sunday
    10.00 amPort cruise from Basel Schifflände
    11.00 amCity cruise from Basel Schifflände
      

     

    Price (ticket valid for brunch and round trip):

    • Adults (from age 16): CHF 65
    • Adults with season ticket: CHF 49
    • Children/young people (ages 6–15): CHF 29.50
    • Children (up to age 5): free

    Tea Time

    Give yourself a weekend treat with afternoon tea on a boat. A delicious selection of teas by London Tea awaits you – accompanied by sweet, hearty pastries and home-made scones.

    You can freely choose when to board and disembark. 

     

    Timetable:

    • 7 April to 15 October 2023: Friday and Sunday
    2.00 pmPort cruise from Basel Schifflände
    3.00 pmCity cruise from Basel Schifflände
    4.00 pmPort cruise from Basel Schifflände

     

    Price (ticket valid for Tea Time and round trip):

    • Adults (from age 16): CHF 55
    • Adults with season ticket: CHF 39
    created by dji camera

    Evening cruise

    In the evenings, you can enjoy a relaxing aperitif and dinner cruise on board the Rhystärn. Get away from everyday life, cast your view afar, and discover Basel from a whole new perspective. As a couple, with friends, or with family. Raise a toast with a refreshing drink, enjoy tasty snacks and a delicious dinner, while sharing convivial moments. Totally relaxed and just as the mood takes you – with constant views of the setting sun and the passing cityscape. A special experience with the feel-good factor. The perfect way to see, feel and experience Basel.

     

    Timetable:

    • 6 April to 14 October 2023: Thursday to Saturday
    5.00 pmCity cruise from Basel Schifflände
    6.00 pmPort cruise from Basel Schifflände
    7.00 pmCity cruise from Basel Schifflände
    8.00 pmPort cruise from Basel Schifflände
    9.00 pmCity cruise from Basel Schifflände

     

    Price (ticket valid for the whole evening):

    • Adults (from age 16): CHF 12
    • Children/young people (ages 6–15): CHF 5
      Rhystärn 1. Schleusenfahrt (24)

      Great lock cruise to Rheinfelden

      The lock cruise is the top cruise among the boat trips on the Rhine: enjoy a leisurely journey through the city of Basel to Rheinfelden. You will get to see two impressive locks and discover the countryside from the Basel region to the canton of Aargau. 

      With various excursions in Basel, Muttenz, Augst and Rheinfelden, the lock cruise is the perfect boat trip for associations, school classes, families and businesses: from the port tour to the Rheinsaline (Swiss Salt Works), via Kraftwerk Augst (Augst power station) and the picturesque old town of Rheinfelden, to a view of the Feldschlösschen brewery.

      Timetable:

      • 6 April to 14 October 2023: Thursday and Saturday
      • Additionally on Tuesday: 3 to 10 October 2023
      • No cruise on 28 September 2023
      11.00 amFrom Basel Schifflände
      11.20 amBirsfelden
      12.10 pmSchweizerhalle
      12.45 pmAugst Kraftwerk
      12.55 pmKaiseraugst
      1.30 pmRheinfelden arriving
      1.45 pmFrom Rheinfelden
      2.05 pmKaiseraugst
      2.10 pmAugst Kraftwerk
      2.40 pmSchweizerhalle
      3.25 pmBirsfelden
      3.50 pmBasel Schifflände arriving

       

      Price:

      • Adults (from age 16): CHF 26 for a single journey from Basel to Rheinfelden; CHF 22 for a single journey from Rheinfelden to Basel; CHF 48 return
      • Children/young people (ages 6–15): CHF 5 single; CHF 10 return
      • Children (up to age 5): free

      Tourist Information

      Get your tickets on-site

      Our team at the Tourist Information office at the Stadtcasino at Barfüsserplatz will be happy to advise you – and, of course, you can also get tickets for the boat trip of your choice right here.

      Find out more
      BaselCard Key Visual CMYK

      BaselCard

      50% discount on boat trips

      Get on board at half price with the BaselCard and enjoy discounts on many other activities in Basel.

      Find out more
      RHYSTÄRN_Aussen_10

      Basler Personenschifffahrt

      Catering on the Rhystärn

      The cuisine served on board Basler Personenschifffahrt ships is open and straightforward, familiar yet creative, traditional but with a modern, urban twist. The BPG loves to source products from its regional partners and uses exquisite products from Basel wherever possible.

      Find out more
      Rhystärn_4

      Basler Personenschifffahrt

      Ship rent

      Rent a boat on the Rhine and create your own trip. 

      Find out more

      Good to know.

      • The Basler Personenschifffahrt operates several trips along the Rhine. Tickets are available from BPG at Schifflände, on the boat and at the Tourist Information. Having the BaselCard means getting a 50% discount.

        The Rhytaxi and the taxiboat can be rented for city and harbour tours, business events, birthdays, weddings, etc. 

      • A ride on the Rhystärn is a special experience for the whole family. The great lock cruise takes you over two impressive locks from Basel to Rheinfelden and back. The excursion can be combined ideally with a tour of the harbour or a visit to the Rhine Saltworks, the Roman city of Augusta Raurica, the Augst power plant or the Old Town of Rheinfelden. Find more great ideas for your family trip here.

      • School classes and youth groups (at least nine young people and one chaperone) get a discount of 50% off the normal ticket price for all scheduled trips. All people in this group up to and including 25 years of age pay half the price. This includes children under 6 and their adult chaperones. The discount for school classes cannot be combined with other discounts (e.g. BaselCard).

      • Gift vouchers for Basler Personenschifffahrt boat trips make great presents. All gift cards are valid for cruises and for the onboard catering options.   

        Gift vouchers (available from the Tourist Information):  

        • Brunch voucher worth CHF 65 per person
        • Tea Time voucher worth CHF 55 per person
        • Evening cruise with fondue voucher worth CHF 70 per Person
        • Season ticket voucher worth CHF 140
        • Paper vouchers CHF 20, CHF 50, CHF 100, CHF 150, CHF 200, CHF 250, CHF 300, CHF 500 or any value you choose

      • The Rhystärn is fully wheelchair-accessible. It has a lift on board that takes you to the various decks.

        There is also a lift available at the Schifflände landing pier (78 cm wide × 210 cm long, max. load 1125 kg). 

        This is where people with disabilities can find information on the accessibility of hotels, museums and events, so that they can plan their visit to Basel in advance.

      • Yes, dogs are welcome on board and travel free.

      • Yes, you can take your bike with you for free on the cruises.

      • That depends on the cruise. City and port cruise: tickets are valid for two hours – so for the city cruise and port cruise one after the other. Evening cruise: tickets are valid for several successive cruises – so stay on board for as long as you like. Lock cruise: tickets are valid once for the purchased cruise.