Wave good-bye as ships leave the shore. Let this unique, young-at-heart city kindle a yearning for far away places within you, and revel in its rich history and natural surroundings. The lanes and alley of the older quarter. But art and culture alone do not define Basel. Fairs and congresses, scientific institutes and world commerce have also left their mark on the metropolis on the River Rhine, at the heart of Europe. Nearby hills, forests, peaceful valleys and the peaks of the Jura mountains invite you to make an excursion, on foot or by bike, by rail or by tram. The winter ambience of Basel, art and culture metropolis on the Upper Rhine, meeting point of three nations, is truly unique. At the open-air market, local specialities tempt the palate, while store windows in the lanes of the old part of the city and special shopping areas, decorated with art and originality, awaken long-held dreams and make you want to window shop. Time seems to stand still in Basel's unique Christmas House on Spalenberg. The river Rhine mirrors endless chains of light. A cheery Christmas tram takes children through the centre of the city. Thirty museums offer encounters with art, Basel’s culture, antiquity and the future. Sociable people meet in cafés, bistros and excellent restaurants - also ideal places to start an evening at the theatre, a concert or a musical. Classical, gospel and Christmas music are featured at Münster Cathedral; or opera, dance, cabarets. Basel, it can truly be said, is a cultural city par excellence.