A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Basel vs. Beaune for Food, Old Town, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Basel or Beaune?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Basel or Beaune, 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 museum-filled, easily accessible, and beautiful city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Beaune

Beaune is a cultural, historic, and culinary town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Basel and Beaune: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Basel or Beaune?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Beaune than Basel, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Beaune is better known for its food, historical sights, and small town charm, while Basel is more popular for its shopping and impressive beauty. Beaune is more touristy than Basel and is known for its surrounding vineyards and world-renowned wines. Also, Beaune is famous for The Surrounding Vineyards. Basel is well known for its many museums and its nice old town.

How is Basel different from Beaune?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Beaune 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 Beaune?

Plenty of people visit the great sights and museums in both Basel and Beaune.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Basel can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Beaune. Top sights and museums around town include Hôtel-Dieu (a former hospital), Château de Savigny, and Château de la Rochepot.

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

Beaune is a world-class destination for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Beaune is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The restaurant scene is made up of small, narrow, local bistros that serve local dishes with regional ingredients. Many of the menus are focused on wine with the dishes designed specifically to compliment the wines. This is a tourist town, and you'll find many visitors come specifically to enjoy the French cuisine.

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 Beaune Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are notable in both Basel and Beaune.

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 Beaune. You'll find bars and pubs as well as many places to sip French wine and enjoy the evening.

Is Basel or Beaune Better for its Old Town?

Beaune is a world-class destination for its old town. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its historic old town charm.

The historic old town of Beaune is revered around the world. The old town is walled and compact. It is centered around the medieval hospital complex and it is filled with cobblestone streets and shops.

Basel is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. 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.

Is the Shopping Better in Basel or Beaune?

Basel is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Beaune is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Basel is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. 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.

Beaune has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Boutiques, wine shops, and independent vendors are fun to explore in town.

Is Basel or Beaune Better for Families?

Basel is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Beaune is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Basel is a very kid-friendly city. 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.

Beaune offers lots of family activities. The town has museums like Hospices de Beaune, Hotel-Dieu (a formal hospital), as well as vineyards that you can hike through. Many people enjoy taking a hot air balloon ride while they're in the region.

Is Basel or Beaune Better for Couples?

Beaune is a world-class destination for its romantic activities. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Beaune has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. Couples will enjoy exploring vineyards, sipping French wine, and wandering through the charming old town. There are breathtaking hot air balloon rides and wonderful French restaurants that make for a romantic trip.

Basel is a good city for couples to visit. Nice restaurants, interesting museums, and several great spas make this a nice place for a romantic trip.

Is Basel or Beaune Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Basel is a good destination for backpackers. However, Beaune is a town with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of backpackers 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.

Beaune is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's a charming town, but it's not on many backpacker's itineraries. There are also a limited number of hostels to choose from.

Is Basel or Beaune Better for Students?

Basel is a great destination for students. However, Beaune is not popular with students.

Many students visit Basel. 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.

Beaune is not popular with students.

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

Basel is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Beaune is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Basel can get you around easily. Trams and buses make it easy to get around town.

While Beaune offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. While you can walk around the historic center, it's possible to take a bus if you're traveling further.

Is Basel or Beaune a more walkable city?

Basel and Beaune both are world-class when exploring on foot.

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

It's very easy to get around on foot in Beaune. It's a walkable town that's perfect for taking a stroll.

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

Should I spend more time in Beaune or Basel?

How long in Basel or Beaune?

It's fun to spend time in either Basel or Beaune. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Beaune due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Basel, and 2-4 days is enough time in Beaune.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Basel than Beaune 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 Beaune?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Basel. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

In Beaune, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this culinary destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Lots of people come for the food. This town 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 Beaune?

Basel is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Beaune. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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 Beaune?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Basel. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Beaune is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Beaune. Lots of people come for the food. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Basel or Beaune?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the beautiful destination of Basel. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find food and shopping around the cultural destination of Beaune. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the food. 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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basel and Beaune, we can see that Basel is more expensive. And not only is Beaune much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Beaune would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beaune 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 Beaune.

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

Which is Bigger, Basel or Beaune?

Basel has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Beaune. When comparing the sizes of Basel and Beaune, 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 Beaune?

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 Beaune in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Basel and Beaune. Many travelers come to Basel for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Beaune in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Basel is around the same temperature as Beaune in the summer. The daily temperature in Basel averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Beaune fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beaune this time of the year. In Basel, it's very sunny this time of the year. Basel usually receives less sunshine than Beaune during summer. Basel gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Beaune receives 266 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Basel usually receives more rain than Beaune. Basel gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Basel or Beaune in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Basel as well as Beaune. Many visitors come to Basel in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Beaune for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere during these months.

In the autumn, Basel is around the same temperature as Beaune. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Basel in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Beaune averages at about 13°C (55°F).

In the autumn, Basel often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Beaune. Basel gets 120 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beaune receives 121 hours of full sun.

Basel usually gets more rain in October than Beaune. Basel gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Basel or Beaune in the Winter?

Both Beaune and Basel are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Basel for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Beaune because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Beaune can be very cold. Basel can be very cold during winter. In January, Basel is generally around the same temperature as Beaune. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 3°C (37°F), and Beaune fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Basel usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Beaune during winter. Basel gets 55 hours of sunny skies, while Beaune receives 53 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Basel usually receives more rain than Beaune. Basel gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Basel or Beaune in the Spring?

Both Beaune and Basel during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Basel because of the natural beauty. Furthermore, the small town charm are the main draw to Beaune this time of year.

Basel is around the same temperature as Beaune in the spring. The daily temperature in Basel averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Beaune fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

In the spring, Basel often gets less sunshine than Beaune. Basel gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beaune receives 178 hours of full sun.

Basel usually gets more rain in April than Beaune. Basel gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Beaune and Basel