Architectural highlights day 2

Start the day by visiting what is possibly one of Basel's most exciting districts: Dreispitz.The city’s duty-free warehouse was once situated here, but these days you will find buildings by famous architects, including the Academy of Art and Design's building, designed by Morger + Dettli, the simple Oslo Nord building by ffbk Architekten, and the striking residential building “Helsinki Dreispitz” by Herzog & de Meuron.

A detour to the HeK – Haus der elektronischen Künste (House of Electronic Arts) is an absolute must in Dreispitz. Here you will gain exciting insights into the world of digital art The Genusswerk bistro, which is also housed in the museum, serves coffee, sandwiches and snacks.

After fuelling up, continue onwards to Schaulager. The building's breath-taking architecture is sure to delight – this is another masterpiece by Basel architects Herzog & de Meuron. The Schaulager is a special institution for art, as it is neither a museum nor a traditional storage space. Please note that the Schaulager is only open to the public during exhibitions.

After the Schaulager, take public transport from Dreispitz to Basel youth hostel – an architectural jewel in the St. Alban district. Fans of architecture are sure to be delighted by this “Design Youth Hostel”, constructed by Basel architects Buchner Bründler. The youth hostel is just a short walk away from the Rhine and the Le Rhin Bleu restaurant. Situated right above the water, the restaurant provides a Mediterranean atmosphere and summer dishes in the warmer months.

After that, relax for a few minutes as you take the St. Alban ferry across the river. When you arrive back at the banks of the Rhine at Kleinbasel, we recommend you take a walk along what is known as the “Riviera” back to Klybeck-Quai. During the summer months, you will pass by countless outdoor bars. When the weather is good, they open their counters and serve drinks and snacks, which makes for a nice break.

Directly opposite, on the other bank of the Rhine, is the architectural office of Herzog & de Meuron. Can you see the modern glass construction nestled between traditional, old town houses?

When you arrive at Klybeck-Quai, the first thing to catch your eye will surely be Holzpark Klybeck, a temporary home for culture, concerts, bars and events of all kinds. Whether in summer or winter – there's something alternative going on here!

We then recommend you enjoy a fresh draught beer in Volta Bräu to help you digest all the architecture you’ve just seen.To get there, simply cross the Dreirosenbrücke bridge, either on foot or by tram. The brewmaster brews three types of Volta Bräu beer in line with traditional methods in the cavernous industrial space of a former substation. The brewery also serves delicious burgers, snacks and aperitif plates for sharing. And if that’s not enough for you, Perron is just a few streets away. This restaurant, with its industrial charm, is situated in the former St. Johann station – a listed building that today houses 39 studios. The DAMPF°BAD spa oasis and the open-air bar Il Giardino URBANO round out the offering.