🇨🇭 Basel, Switzerland
Rheinfelder Hof
📍 61, Hammerstrasse, Basel, 4058
Your stay — Rheinfelder Hof
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Basel.
The Property — Rheinfelder Hof
Rheinfelder Hof is a solid, no-frills base in Basel's old town. The lobby feels like a time capsule from the 1970s — wood-panelled, quiet, with an old key rack behind reception. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a clean, central room and don't mind worn carpets or thin walls. The saving grace is the location: steps from the Rhine, the Münster and the Marktplatz tram stop.
Chronicles of Basel
Basel grew wealthy from Rhine trade and, from 1501, as a university city and printing hub. Erasmus lived here, and the 1500s humanist legacy still shapes its museum-heavy culture. The medieval core survived WWII largely intact, giving it dense, winding streets of redstone and half-timbered houses. Modern Basel is a three-country city — it sits where Switzerland, France and Germany meet — and its identity is split between the conservative red-sandstone Altstadt and the glass-and-steel pharma district around Novartis and Roche. Carnival (Basler Fasnacht) and the June Art Basel fair define its global calendar.
Best Time to Visit
Full Basel guide →Best months
May to June, early September — warm (20–25°C), less rain than high summer, outdoor café culture at its peak
Peak / festival surge
June for Art Basel (hotels triple prices, booked a year ahead); also Fasnacht (March with wild weather); also December Christmas markets drive mid-range prices up 40%
Budget shoulder season
April and October — 15°C average, crisp air, museum queues short, room rates drop 30–40% compared to summer
Weather & packing
Basel gets sudden downpours even in July — pack a waterproof jacket that packs small. Quirk: the Rhine carries a constant 5–10°C breeze from the Alps even on 30°C days, so a light sweater is essential for evenings by the river.
Live City Briefing — Basel
- Trams 2 and 15 are rerouted through July 2026 due to track works on Claraplatz — check BVB.ch before moving
- The new 'Rhyboge' riverside path from Wettsteinbrücke to Dreirosenbrücke opened June 2025, giving a car-free walk along the right bank
- Centralbahnplatz is being pedestrianised through summer 2026, which may cause minor taxi disruptions at the main station
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Rheinfelder Hof, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Floors 3 or 4 at the back (courtyard side) are quietest and get good daylight. Request 'back-facing room' at check-in.
Rooms to avoid
Any room on the first or second floor facing Hammerstrasse – this is a major traffic artery with tram lines, so noise can carry up to floor 2. Also avoid rooms directly above the restaurant/bar (ground floor front) if open late.
Best views
Evening city roofscape from upper back rooms (floors 4–5). Street-side views are just a busy road and tram stops – not worth the noise.
Quietest floors
Floors 3–5 (top floor) away from the street side.
🔊 Noise notes
Trams run along Hammerstrasse from 5 am to midnight, with a moderate hum. The hotel's own restaurant has a bar that may get lively till 11 pm on weekends.
Insider tips
1. Parking is scarce – use the 'Parking Bahnhof SBB' garage 10 minutes on foot, or the outdoor lot behind the hotel (request permit at check-in). 2. The restaurant serves solid Swiss-German food until 9.30 pm – decent for a quick dinner after arrival.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Rheinfelder Hof
Free WiFi for all guests; speed around 30–50 Mbps (good for streaming). Login via a voucher code given at check-in, no duration limit.
One lift serves all 5 floors; no stairs-only sections in the main building.
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstands. The hotel is in a converted 19th-century office building; original stairwell and industrial metalwork remain in the lobby.
Check-in from 15:00; bag drop allowed after 12:00 at front desk. Late check-out until 14:00 for CHF 35, or until 18:00 for CHF 50 (subject to availability).
Free luggage storage in a locked room behind reception; no charge but no locker security.
Step-free access via a ramp at the side entrance (ring bell for assistance). No wheelchair-accessible lifts; lift door width 70 cm, tight for standard wheelchairs. In-room grab bars can be requested.
No on-site parking. Public car park ‘Parkhaus Margarethen’ at Margarethenstrasse 82 (5-min walk) costs CHF 22 per night (24h). No EV charging on site; nearest public charger at Bahnhof St. Johann (300 m).
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: Mandatory CHF 4.00 per person per night (Basel city tourist tax, covering free local public transport card).
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit required; a CHF 50–100 hold on a credit card is taken at check-in for incidentals.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Clarakirche (315 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Theodorskirche (424 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Kartäuserkirche / Waisenhauskirche (521 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinde Basel (533 m · ~7 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Bâleo Erlenmatt — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Claramatte — 362 m · ~5 min walk
Rappaz Museum — 691 m · ~9 min walk
Häbse -Theater — 453 m · ~6 min walk
Spielestrich Kaserne — 804 m · ~10 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 339 m · ~4 min walk
Coop Vitality — 179 m · ~2 min walk
Clarshop — 143 m · ~2 min walk
Basel Badischer Bahnhof — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Swiss Franc, CHF
You can withdraw cash from any ATM with a bank card; avoid exchange counters at the airport or main train station as they have poor rates.
Debit and credit cards are widely accepted, including contactless and Apple Pay/Google Pay, even at markets and kiosks.
Tipping is not expected but rounding up to the nearest franc or leaving 5–10% for good service is appreciated in restaurants; taxis and hotel staff typically get nothing extra.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A standard espresso or filter coffee at a café (standing) costs about 4-5 CHF.
A lunch menu at a takeaway pizzeria or kebab shop costs around 12-15 CHF.
A main course at a mid-range restaurant typically costs 25-35 CHF.
Look for food stalls at the Saturday market on Petersplatz or at the weekly farmers' market on Barfüsserplatz, where you can get sausages or sandwiches for under 10 CHF.
Denner, Migros, and Coop are the most common budget supermarkets in this area.
Affordable chain stores like H&M and C&A are found on the main shopping streets around the central station.
A single-zone day pass for Basel city is 9.70 CHF; the cheapest way from EuroAirport is the bus 50 to the main station (single ticket 4.60 CHF).
1. Buy a BaselCard (free with hotel booking) for free city-wide transport and 50% off museums. 2. Use supermarkets for packed lunches instead of eating out. 3. Refill your water bottle at public fountains—tap water is excellent and free.
Good to know — Basel
Type C/J · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ CHF0.81 · CHF
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Basel, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Rheinfelder Hof
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 339 m · ~4 min walk — pharmacy · Coop Vitality — 179 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →EuroAirport taxi rank → Hotel Merian, Basel (Rheingasse 2, 4058)
💡 Flat rate from airport to city centre is around 35–40 CHF. Ask driver to take the A3 motorway exit at Dreirosenbrücke to avoid city-centre traffic—saves 5 minutes during peak.
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL) → Basel SBB station
💡 Buy tickets from the SBB machine at the airport; avoid the at-platform validator confusion by validating before boarding if using a paper ticket.
EuroAirport bus stop (exit arrivals) → Basel SBB station
💡 Bus 50 is cheaper than a taxi and runs late—last bus around 1am. From Basel SBB, take tram 6 towards Allschwil and get off at Paulusstrasse; your hotel (Merian) is a 3-minute walk east.
Basel SBB station (tram stop) → Paulusstrasse tram stop
💡 From the stop, walk east along Rheingasse for 150m—Hotel Merian is on the right. Buy a day pass (9 CHF) if you plan multiple trips; Basel's trams are efficient but cash only on board—use the BVB app for contactless.
About Basel
Wikipedia ↗
Basel is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine, at the transition from the High Rhine to the Upper Rhine. Basel is Switzerland’s third most populous city (after Zurich and Geneva), with 177,595 inhabitants within the city municipality limits. It is the centre of a trinational metropo...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Rheinfelder Hof?
Floors 3 or 4 at the back (courtyard side) are quietest and get good daylight. Request 'back-facing room' at check-in.
Which rooms should I avoid at Rheinfelder Hof?
Any room on the first or second floor facing Hammerstrasse – this is a major traffic artery with tram lines, so noise can carry up to floor 2. Also avoid rooms directly above the restaurant/bar (ground floor front) if open late.
Is Rheinfelder Hof noisy?
Trams run along Hammerstrasse from 5 am to midnight, with a moderate hum. The hotel's own restaurant has a bar that may get lively till 11 pm on weekends.
Which rooms have the best views at Rheinfelder Hof?
Evening city roofscape from upper back rooms (floors 4–5). Street-side views are just a busy road and tram stops – not worth the noise.
What are insider tips for staying at Rheinfelder Hof?
1. Parking is scarce – use the 'Parking Bahnhof SBB' garage 10 minutes on foot, or the outdoor lot behind the hotel (request permit at check-in). 2. The restaurant serves solid Swiss-German food until 9.30 pm – decent for a quick dinner after arrival.
What time is check-in at Rheinfelder Hof?
Check-in at Rheinfelder Hof is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Rheinfelder Hof have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi for all guests; speed around 30–50 Mbps (good for streaming). Login via a voucher code given at check-in, no duration limit.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Rheinfelder Hof?
Mandatory CHF 4.00 per person per night (Basel city tourist tax, covering free local public transport card).
Where can I eat cheaply near Rheinfelder Hof?
A lunch menu at a takeaway pizzeria or kebab shop costs around 12-15 CHF.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Rheinfelder Hof?
A single-zone day pass for Basel city is 9.70 CHF; the cheapest way from EuroAirport is the bus 50 to the main station (single ticket 4.60 CHF).
When is the best time to visit Basel?
May to June, early September — warm (20–25°C), less rain than high summer, outdoor café culture at its peak
Top Attractions in Basel
💡 The bridge itself is free—cross it around sunset for the best light. Bring a swimsuit in summer: locals float down the Rhine on 'Wickelfisch' bags; the bridge steps are a popular entry point.
💡 The tower climb costs a small fee (around CHF 5) but the cathedral interior and the terrace overlooking the Rhine are free. Go on a weekday morning to avoid crowds.
💡 Arrive 15 minutes before opening to join the queue for free Sunday entry. The museum also has a free outdoor sculpture garden—combine it with a walk through St. Alban quarter for a full afternoon.
💡 Take the No. 6 tram to 'Riehen Dorf' stop—the park entrance is a 5-minute walk. Bring a picnic and a blanket; the hill near the vineyard has the best views. No dogs allowed in the main meadow.
💡 Free entry every first Wednesday of the month (from 11:00 to closing). Otherwise, entry is CHF 18—still good value for a two-hour visit. Combine with a walk along the Solitude Park riverbank.