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

Should you visit Basel or Frankfurt?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Basel or Frankfurt, 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 easily accessible, beautiful, and vibrant city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a dynamic, diverse, and accessible city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Basel and Frankfurt: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Basel or Frankfurt?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Frankfurt than Basel, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Frankfurt is more popular for its food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Basel is known for its historical sights and impressive beauty. Basel is popular for its many museums and its nice old town. Frankfurt is popular for its financial industry, its popularity as a transportation hub, and its active nightlife. It is also home to The Old Town Center.

The Old Town Center

How is Basel different from Frankfurt?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Plenty of people visit the excellent sights and museums in both Basel and Frankfurt.

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 Frankfurt. Many sights are concentrated in the old town center. Highlights include the Historical Museum and St. Nicholas Church. Elsewhere, make sure you check out Maintower, the Städel Museum, and the Museum District.

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

Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt. In addition to a number of international restaurants, the city also has a strong regional cuisine. Some of the most interesting local dishes include Frankfurter Sausage, Rindwurst, Grüne Soße (an herb sauce), and Handkäse mit Musik (marinated sour milk cheese). Also make sure you sample the Apfelwein.

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 Frankfurt Better for Nightlife?

Frankfurt is notable for nightlife and partying. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Frankfurt has plenty to do after the sun goes down. It's a vibrant city with many trendy clubs, cocktail bars, music venues, and more. You can enjoy techno, hip hop, and almost any style of music. There are also festivals, beer halls, and classic pubs.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe 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.

Is Basel or Frankfurt Better for its Old Town?

Basel is an excellent place to visit for its historic old town charm. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its historic old town.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of 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.

Many visitors go to Frankfurt to see the historical old town. Many museums and cafes are concentrated in the old town area.

Is the Shopping Better in Basel or Frankfurt?

Both Basel and Frankfurt are excellent shopping destinations.

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.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Frankfurt. It's a financial capital in Europe, and as such there are plenty of high end shopping opportunities. MyZeil is a major shopping mall in the city and Kleinmarkthalle is a more classic market. Popular shopping neighborhoods and streets include Goethestrasse, Sachsenhausen and Berger Strasse.

Is Basel or Frankfurt Better for Families?

Basel and Frankfurt are both excellent destinations for the whole family.

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.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Frankfurt. In town there's a zoo, a children’s museum, a math and technology museum (EXPERIMINTA), and a number of parks, natural areas, and playgrounds. If you're willing to head out of town then you can visit Taunus Wunderland, which is an amusement park with about 50 rides and attractions.

Is Basel or Frankfurt Better for Couples?

Basel and Frankfurt are both good 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.

Frankfurt is a good city for couples to visit. The iconic spot of romance in the city is the Iron Footbridge, which is a traditional spot to attach a "love lock" and take a selfie. The city also offers river cruises, winery tours, and beautiful parks and natural areas.

Is Basel or Frankfurt Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Frankfurt is notable for backpackers. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Frankfurt is a great city to visit for backpackers. You'll find a number of hostels in town. The city is also a major transportation hub so many backpackers pass through the area at some point on their trip through Germany.

Basel is a good city to visit for backpackers. 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.

Is Basel or Frankfurt Better for Students?

Frankfurt is a world-class destination for students. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Frankfurt is a great destination for students. The city offers prestigious universities and a world class education. The economy offers many internships and job opportunities and you'll find students from around the world studying here. Frankfurt is also well connected to the rest of Europe, so it's easy to explore the region.

Students come from all over to stay in 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.

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

Frankfurt is a world-class destination for its public transit. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

With a huge network, the transit system in Frankfurt can get you around easily. It is a huge transportation hub with a major international airport and a number of international train connections. Locally, the city has a subway, trams, commuter trains and buses.

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

Is Basel or Frankfurt a more walkable city?

Basel is an unbeatable place for its ease of walking around. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

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

Frankfurt is very walkable. It has a compact city center that is generally pedestrian-friendly.

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

Should I spend more time in Frankfurt or Basel?

How long in Basel or Frankfurt?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Basel and Frankfurt. In our opinion, Frankfurt has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Frankfurt than Basel. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Frankfurt than Basel 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 Frankfurt.

One day in Basel or Frankfurt?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Basel. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Basel has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Each neighborhood in Frankfurt has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Basel or Frankfurt?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic destination of Basel. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Frankfurt. 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 Frankfurt?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the beautiful city of Basel. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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

A week in Basel or Frankfurt?

Basel is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

You'll find food and shopping around the diverse big city of Frankfurt. 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 Coach Bus Tours in Germany, and The Best Adventure Tours to Germany.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Basel or Frankfurt?

Frankfurt has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Basel. When comparing the sizes of Basel and Frankfurt, 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 Frankfurt?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Basel or Frankfurt in the Summer?

Both Frankfurt and Basel during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Basel for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Frankfurt because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Basel is around the same temperature as Frankfurt. Typically, the summer temperatures in Basel in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Frankfurt averages at about 19°C (67°F).

In Frankfurt, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Basel. In the summer, Basel often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Frankfurt. Basel gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Frankfurt receives 225 hours of full sun.

Basel usually gets more rain in July than Frankfurt. Basel gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Basel or Frankfurt in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Basel and Frankfurt. The autumn months attract visitors to Basel because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Frankfurt this time of year.

In October, Basel is generally a little warmer than Frankfurt. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 13°C (56°F), and Frankfurt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Basel usually receives more sunshine than Frankfurt during autumn. Basel gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while Frankfurt receives 103 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Basel usually receives more rain than Frankfurt. Basel gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Basel or Frankfurt in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Basel as well as Frankfurt. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Basel this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Frankfurt for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Frankfurt. It's quite cold in Basel in the winter. Basel is much warmer than Frankfurt in the winter. The daily temperature in Basel averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Frankfurt fluctuates around 1°C (34°F).

In the winter, Basel often gets more sunshine than Frankfurt. Basel gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Frankfurt receives 41 hours of full sun.

Basel usually gets more rain in January than Frankfurt. Basel gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Basel or Frankfurt in the Spring?

Both Frankfurt and Basel are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Basel for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Frankfurt in the spring for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Basel is a little warmer than Frankfurt. Typically, the spring temperatures in Basel in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Frankfurt averages at about 10°C (50°F).

Basel usually receives less sunshine than Frankfurt during spring. Basel gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Frankfurt receives 163 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Basel usually receives more rain than Frankfurt. Basel gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Frankfurt and Basel