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Min. time required: 0:30
Season: early April to late October
Recommended season: early April to mid October
Max. altitude: 261 m (856 ft)Boat and ferry prices, tickets and reservations 
Rhine boat prices and reservations
Ticket prices for boat rides range from about CHF 10 to CHF 60 per person. The exact price depends on the cruise you make. Advance reservation is recommended for culinary cruises.
Rhine ferries prices and reservations
A ferry crossing costs just CHF 2 per person. Reservation isn't required.
Get your tickets for Rhine cruises
Offered by GetYourGuide: www.getyourguide.com
- Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
- Best Price Matching: GetYourGuide will pay the difference if you find a lower price.
- Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.
Offered by Viator: www.viator.com
- Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
- Lowest Price Guarantee: Viator will refund the difference if you find a better price.
- Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.
Offered by Viator: www.viator.com
- Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
- Lowest Price Guarantee: Viator will refund the difference if you find a better price.
- Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.
Promotions
There are currently no promotions available.
Rail pass discounts for Basel boat rides
Travel passes usually don't offer a discount on the Rhine boats and ferries in Basel.
| Pass | Discount |
|---|---|
| Day Pass |
No discount:
|
| Saver Day Pass |
No discount:
|
| Swiss Half Fare Card |
No discount:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass |
No discount:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass Flex |
No discount:
|
How to reach the boat and ferry docks
How to reach the central boat dock for boat journeys
The main boat dock is called 'Schifflände'. It is located next to the bridge 'Mittlere Rheinbrücke' in the old town center. It can be reached in a 20-minute walk from the rail station Basel SBB, or in 10 minutes by tram.
Where to board the 4 ferries
The little ferries depart from 4 different locations in town. See their website for details.
Map: boat routes on the Rhine from Basel
Operation dates, schedules and timetables
Rhine boat schedules
From April to October, you'll have the widest choice. This is when nearly all boat rides are available.
There are usually just 1 or 2 rides per day, and each ride is made on fixed days. There are more cruises on Saturdays and Sundays.
The schedule is limited during the remaining months.
Rhine ferry schedules
The ferries cross the river on all days of the year, weather permitting. In the summer season, they're available until the early evening. In winter, the schedules are limited and ferries may operate in the afternoon only.
Best season
The best period for boat and ferry trips on the Rhine from Basel is early April to mid October.
During these months, both the ferries and the boats operate. Temperatures are usually quite pleasant in spring and late summer/early autumn. In July and August, a boat trip is a perfect way to escape the possible heat of Basel.
Weather advice and forecast
Boat rides can be made in most types of weather. There's plenty of room inside the boats, so rain is no problem. Services will only be suspended in case of extreme weather circumstances.
The ferries are small and have limited indoor space. If it's busy you may have to sit outside, so dry weather is preferable. The ferries won't operate if water levels in the Rhine are too high.
Take along sun glasses and suncreen in sunny weather. Make sure to dress warm enough if temperatures are low. If you're seated on the outer deck, wind can cool you down quickly.
Forecast for Basel
More info about the boat and ferry trips
Which types and durations of boat trips are available?
These are the boat and ferry trips in Basel:
- a quick Rhine crossing of 5 to 10 minutes with 1 of the 4 little pedestrian ferries;
- city and port cruises of about 50 minutes: round trips to the city, the harbor and the border with Germany and France;
- lock cruises or ‘Schleusenfahrten’: trips from Basel to Rheinfelden. During this trip, the ship needs to pass through a lock (‘Schleuse’) twice. You will see the pretty old town center of Basel, but also industrial activity, farmland and a few towns. A single trip takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours;
- 4-hour brunch and dinner cruises.
Can a boat trip be combined with a train journey?
A trip combining boat and train is possible if you travel between Basel and Rheinfelden:
- If you make a single boat trip from Basel, we recommend to get off the boat in either Kaiseraugst or Rheinfelden. In Kaiseraugst, it’s a 10-minute walk to the train station. It’s a 15-minute train ride back to Basel.
- You can also get off in Rheinfelden. Here it takes 8 minutes to reach the station on foot. Train rides back to Basel take about 15 minutes. Be sure to visit the historical town center of Rheinfelden before taking a train back.
How does the river Rhine define Basel?
The Rhine is of great economical importance to Basel. Many goods are transported by ship between northern and southern Europe. The large harbor of Basel plays a key role in these trade routes.
Geographically, Basel is split into two parts by the Rhine: ‘Kleinbasel’ (Lesser Basel) in the North and ‘Grossbasel’ (Greater Basel) in the South. There are five bridges connecting both parts of town. The middle one (‘Mittlere Rheinbrücke’) is the picturesque one, dating back to 1226, but replaced in 1905.
Outside of the city, the river marks the border of Switzerland and Germany.
Other websites of interest
Schedules
- www.basel.com: operation dates and schedules of boat trips on the Rhine
- www.faehri.ch: operation dates of the Rhine ferries
Prices
- www.basel.com: ticket prices of boat trips on the Rhine
- www.faehri.ch: ticket prices of the Rhine ferries
Other activities in and near Basel
Town walk Basel
