Christmas magic
This is Basel.
Christmas in Basel
Advent events
The city’s cultural institutions host countless festive events in the run-up to Christmas. From Advent concerts and Christmas markets to special exhibitions, Basler Weihnacht offers something for everyone.
In the foyer of Theater Basel, a new door of the popular Advent calendar will open every day with a stage presentation. The Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel, Museum der Kulturen Basel and Historisches Museum Basel – Haus zum Kirschgarten present exhibitions for the season, while the Basler Marionetten Theater returns with its special Christmas programme for young and old.
This year’s City Run Basel will take place on 18 November. The city’s churches will also host a series of events throughout Advent. The gospel night at Basel Cathedral (Münster) in particular is one of the most important events of Basler Weihnacht and is not to be missed. Other festive highlights include the Palazzo Colombino Christmas variety show at the Rosentalanlage and the Santa Claus Harley Davidson parade.
Christmas 2023: highlights
“Basler Weihnacht” Association Board
Drawing in around 900,000 visitors each year, the Basel Christmas Market has become one of the city’s major public attractions. Its success is due in large part to synergies in terms of both organization and communication. Since 2010, the Verein Basler Weihnacht (Christmas in Basel Association) has ensured close cooperation between representatives from public administration, business and the authorities.
Association Board
The board of the volunteer-run association is made up of the following representatives:
- Reto Baumgartner, Director of the Basel-Stadt Trade Association (Chair)
- Christian Weber, Industrielle Werke Basel (IWB)
- Matthias Böhm, Managing Director of StadtKonzeptBasel
- Sabine Horvath, Head of Division of External Affairs and Marketing of the Canton of Basel-Stadt
- Christoph Bosshardt, Basel Tourism
Your contribution counts!
It is thanks to the close cooperation between all parties involved and the contributions of our loyal sponsors and patrons that Christmas in Basel (“Basler Weihnacht”) can continue to grow.
Many thanks for your donation to post office account number 40-711465-4!
Partner
Good to know.
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Special highlights include the Christmas trees in the Town Hall courtyard and on MĂĽnsterplatz. The latter location is decorated by Johann Wanner every year, one of the largest makers of handmade Christmas decorations.
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The Basel Christmas market on Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz is considered to be one of the prettiest and largest in Switzerland. It has been named “Best Christmas Market 2021” in an online vote on the travel website “European Best Destinations”.
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At Christmas, the streets of Basel delight visitors with a variety of Christmas lights. Each district has its own tradition. The Freie Strasse, Spalenvorstadt, St. Alban-Tal and Clarastrasse are all worth a visit. And of course, MĂĽnsterplatz, with its spectacular snow globes.
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The lights on Freie Strasse will be turned on in time for City Run Basel on 18 November 2023. Basel’s Christmas lights will be switched on officially on 23 November 2023 and will delight visitors daily from 3.00 pm to 10.30 pm until 7 January 2024.
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On the afternoon of Saturday, 9 December 2023, white-bearded Santa Clauses flit through the city centre on their motorcycles and collect donations for a good cause – an event very much in the Basel style: different, heartfelt and community-based.
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Advent calendar
Our digital Advent calendar is back, giving you a chance to win tickets, vouchers and other prizes every day from 1 to 24 December.
Enter now!