A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Basel vs. Alesund for Attractions, Food, Families, and Nightlife

Should you visit Basel or Alesund?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Basel or Alesund, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Basel

Basel is a beautiful, vibrant, and historic city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Alesund

Alesund is a laid back, welcoming, and friendly city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Basel and Alesund: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Basel or Alesund?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Alesund. Although Basel and Alesund are popular destinations, Alesund has more sights and attractions for tourists. Alesund is very popular for its food and big city activities, while Basel attracts visitors for its museums, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Basel is famous for its many museums and its nice old town. Alesund is famous for its nouveau architecture, beautiful views, and access to the fjords. It is also well known for the Art Nouveau Center.

How is Basel different from Alesund?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Alesund and Basel. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Basel or Alesund?

Basel is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Basel offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is filled with history. Head to Minster Hill to see the beautiful historic church and Münsterplatz. There are also several unique museums around town including Jean Tinguely Museum, the Paper Mill Museum, the Historical Museum, and the Museum of Art.

Alesund offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Check out the Atlantic Sea-Park and the Sunnmøre Museum. Also visit the small but interesting Fisheries Museum & Ålesund Museum.

Is the Food Better in Basel or Alesund? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Alesund is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Alesund. As Norway's largest fishing port, you'll find plenty of seafood offerings around town. A favorite is bacalao de noruega (dried and salted clipfish), but also make sure you try the lobster soup.

Basel is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Food around town can be expensive, but there are some outdoor markets where you can buy fruit and a bratwurst for a reasonable price. The city is known for its breads, soups, and pastries, which are all delicious.

Is Basel or Alesund Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are nice in both Basel and Alesund.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Basel. The city's nightlife comes alive as the sun sets. There are bars, pubs, and dance clubs that stay active until the early morning hours.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Alesund. There are plenty of bars around town as well as nightclubs and live music venues.

Is Basel or Alesund Better for its Old Town?

Basel is a well-known place for its historic old town. However, Alesund does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Basel. The charming old town is fun to explore on foot with its quaint streets and meandering alleys. The beautiful architecture and ornate fountains give the area a unique personality. On the hottest days you may even see locals swimming in some of the fountains.

Alesund does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Basel or Alesund?

Basel is a well-known place for shopping. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Basel is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The old town is filled with shops that you can wander through as you explore. Popular shopping streets include Freie Strasse and the area around Marktplatz, where you'll find boutique shops and interesting trinkets. You can also head to the city's oldest department store - Manor.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Alesund. There are a number of shopping streets around town including the shopping areas in Aspøya, which are known for their homemade souvenirs.

Is Basel or Alesund Better for Families?

Basel is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Basel is a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has an impressive zoo, a really unique toy museum, as well as Aquabasilea with its pools and slides. It's also compact enough that little legs can explore and enjoy everything that it has to offer. If the weather's warm, head for the river to cool off.

Alesund is a family-friendly city. There's an aquarium and several great parks including Tueneset Naturlekeplass, which is near the aquarium. There's also hiking in the area and other outdoor adventures.

Is Basel or Alesund Better for Couples?

Basel and Alesund are both nice to visit as a couple.

Basel makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Nice restaurants, interesting museums, and several great spas make this a nice place for a romantic trip.

Alesund is a good city for couples to visit. It's a beautiful setting with spectacular views and fun restaurants. There are many great hikes in the area, and many visitors like to use this town as a base for exploring nearby places.

Is Basel or Alesund Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Basel is a popular place for backpackers. However, Alesund is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Basel. There are a few hostels and a really useful City Pass that make this city an option for backpackers and budget travelers. It's also a major transit center so accessibility is convenient. If you're traveling around Europe by train, you'll likely pass through Basel at some point.

Alesund is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a limited number of hostels in town so apartments may be the best option for backpackers. It's also hard to get around the region without a car.

Is Basel or Alesund Better for Students?

Basel is a well-known place for students. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Basel is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. The University of Basel brings in international students from around the world. The city makes a nice base for exploring Europe, but it's also a bit expensive which can be challenging on a student income.

Plenty of students visit Alesund. There's a small student population, which means that the group stays close and everyone is very welcoming. The town also makes a great base for exploring this part of Norway.

Is Basel or Alesund Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Basel is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Basel can move around easily with public transportation. Trams and buses make it easy to get around town.

Alesund has some public transit options. There is a public bus system around town.

Is Basel or Alesund a more walkable city?

Basel is a world-class destination for its walkability. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

It is easy to get around Basel on foot. The old town and most of the major attractions are easily accessible on foot.

Alesund is a somewhat walkable place. The city center can be explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Basel Worth Visiting? and Is Alesund Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Alesund or Basel?

How long in Basel or Alesund?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Basel and Alesund. In our opinion, Basel has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Basel than Alesund. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Basel, and 2-3 days is enough time in Alesund.

Families should spend more time in Basel than Alesund. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Basel, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Basel than Alesund. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Basel that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Basel than Alesund if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Basel.

One day in Basel or Alesund?

In Basel, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

In Alesund, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this welcoming destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Basel or Alesund?

In Basel, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Basel has to offer.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Alesund. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Basel or Alesund?

Basel is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Alesund is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Alesund. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Basel or Alesund?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Basel. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Basel. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

You'll find food and shopping around the welcoming destination of Alesund. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Switzerland, The Best Bicycle Tours in Switzerland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Norway, and The Best Contiki Tours to Norway.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basel and Alesund, we can see that Basel is more expensive. And not only is Alesund much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Alesund would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alesund and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Basel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basel than you might in Alesund.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Basel Expensive? and Is Alesund Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Basel or Alesund?

Basel has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Alesund. When comparing the sizes of Basel and Alesund, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Basel or Alesund?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Basel or Alesund in the Summer?

Both Alesund and Basel are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Basel in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Alesund for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Basel is generally much warmer than Alesund. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 21°C (70°F), and Alesund fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In July, Basel usually receives around the same amount of rain as Alesund. Basel gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Basel or Alesund in the Autumn?

Both Alesund and Basel during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Basel for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Alesund because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Basel is a little warmer than Alesund in the autumn. The daily temperature in Basel averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Alesund fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Alesund gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Basel usually gets less rain in October than Alesund. Basel gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Basel or Alesund in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Basel and Alesund. The winter months attract visitors to Basel because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Alesund this time of year.

It's quite cold in Alesund in the winter. The weather in Basel can be very cold. In the winter, Basel is a little warmer than Alesund. Typically, the winter temperatures in Basel in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Alesund averages at about 3°C (37°F).

Alesund receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Basel usually receives less rain than Alesund. Basel gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Basel or Alesund in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Basel as well as Alesund. The natural beauty are the main draw to Basel this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Alesund for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Alesund. In April, Basel is generally much warmer than Alesund. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 12°C (53°F), and Alesund fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

Basel usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Alesund. Basel gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Alesund and Basel