Basler Weihnachtsmarkt am Barfüsserplatz

My fourth Christmas market after Baden-Baden, Colmar and Mulhouse, Basel's Weihnachtsmarkt is the largest and most extensive. Taking up a number of large squares in the city center, you'll find kiosks with all sorts of things. Spices, candy, chocolates, trinkets, gloves and scarves, carved wood, Christmas tree ornaments, cookies and more than I can possibly list.

Dipping into the single digits (Celsius), one of our first stops was a mulled wine kiosk (and I don't know if the Swiss call it vin chaud or glühwein) that was one of the better hot wines on this trip. And with it, we stood in a "feuerstube" (warming shed) that had a fire going. Toasty!

Quite busy at most of the vendors despite the light but cold drizzle and lots of folks at the marshmallow toasting pit. I bought a few more things to fill the suitcase and enjoyed my first visit!

[Review 21206 overall - 56 in Switzerland - 170 of 2024.]

I so enjoyed exploring the Basel Christmas Markets - they were charming and approachable; not too spread out or so large that you didn't have a chance to feel like you saw it all. Lots of friendly vendors excited to share their offerings. The booths themselves are also impressive in their decor - take time to look up at the roofs to see how different vendors celebrate the season. All of this, of course, is made better with a hot drink and snack in hand!

Christmas Market in Basel

Located in various points throughout the city center, stands of holiday crafts and foodie treats await you

We enjoyed the various crafts booths and the food selections were fantastic. One molten cheese selection in particular was phenomenal.... they hollowed out a small baguette and poured a cheese sauce inside. It oozed and squished all of the place upon each bite. Very messy but very tasty. Pair it with some glüwein and you're all set.

The decorations were lovely, the lights very festive and the event is not to be missed

My first time at this Christmas Market. There is a lot to entertain your 6 senses - arts/crafts, food, glühwine (hot mulled wine) an amusement ride for the kids, and beautiful decorative lights.

Attending this uplifted my Christmas spirit.

The Basler Weihnachtsmarkt was all that and a bag of chips! I rolled into town assuming (only partially correct) that the Xmas Markt was being held at Barfüsserplatz, so I headed there straight away (15 min. on foot from the HB, five minutes or less via tram).

As with other Xmas Markets, the Basler one features crafts, winter garments, food/drink, kiddie rides, stalls from various vendors around town (Fair-trade shop, local coffee roaster...), etc. All was cosy and fairly hustle-bustle.

Signage let me know that there was, indeed, another area of the market across the street and up a wee incline at the Münsterplatz. It was there that the market really shined. A wide, open space is the Münsterplatz and there both the vendors and the visitors seem to have more space in which to co-exist. This area of the market is split up into two sections: one is a repeat of what is to be had at Barfüsserplatz and the other, the Märchenwald, is a hodge-podge of artisans (glass blower, wood turner), food stalls and a small tree lot. It was there that one could cook and eat Schlangenbrot while sitting around an open fire, ride a wee train--adults allowed if accompanied by children, and drink hot mugs of Glühwein while lounging in front of a large wood-burning oven housed under an open-sided hut.

Snow-flake shaped lights hung high above the Münsterplatz Markt in the trees. A few carolers were plying their trade in front of the church. A large, ornamented tree stood nearby around which folk posed for Xmas snaps. The whole scene was quite lovely and very Christmas-y.

I would encourage lovers of the Xmas Market to make the trek to Basel. It will not disappoint!

It is probably a good job that you don't realise how big the Christmas market is when you first arrive. You tell yourself that it's all on this little square; that's quite manageable. Nope - it's huge. Every time you think you must be at the end of it, you turn a corner and there's ten more stalls.

The variety of products was pretty good, but all in all, I just thought that this side was far too hectic and preferred the stalls at Munsterplatz. But I was pleased to come as this was that authentic crazy German market feeling I had a couple of years ago in Cologne.

This is much cozier and relaxing Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market) than one at Barfusserplatz in Basel.

It has everything you look for at Xmas market. Raclette, Gluhwein, crepes, sauges of course, hand-made artsy stuff, toys, music and waffle and kids play place and a seating area with fireplace.

Check this place out when winter comes around..