The city of Basel is home to the oldest university in Switzerland. Founded upon the initiative of local citizens in 1460, the University of Basel is a modern and attractive centre of teaching, learning, and research situated in the heart of the historic old town.

BioMed Central has secured exclusive discounted rates at several hotels close to the conference centre in Basel. The hotels available can be viewed in the attached map here. Reservations can be made via the accommodation page of Basel Tourismus. book online  

Located on both sides of the Rhine, in the three-country-corner of Switzerland, Germany and France, Basel is the third largest city in Switzerland. Not only diverse cultures, but also a multifaceted history, modern art and architecture converge here.

Basel is Switzerland's oldest university city. Historic landmarks of the city include the large market square with its richly decorated red sandstone town hall and the late Romanesque-Gothic cathedral. During a walk through the old town, past small boutiques, antique book shops but also shops of modern designers, a visit to the "Läckerli Huus" to try the traditional Basel honey cake is well worth your while. Basel is tradition-conscious and open-minded at the same time, a fact born out by several modern buildings designed by renowned architects such as Herzog & de Meuron, Mario Botta, Diener & Diener and Richard Meyer.

Almost 40 museums make Basel the city with the highest density of museums in the country. Internationally known museums, such as the Basel Art Museum, the museum devoted to the iron sculptor Jean Tinguely, the Fondation Beyeler and the Museum of Cultures attract a great many visitors, as do several galleries and playhouses. Basel is among other things home to the symphony orchestra and the chamber orchestra as well as the musical theatre featuring international productions. And a wide range of classical and contemporary productions are shown on the stages of the Basel Theatre and the Playhouse.

Basel is a green city. The Botanical Gardens, several parks and the banks of the Rhine are perfect places to relax and linger for a while. And the Etoscha House at the biggest zoo in Switzerland offers spectacular insights into the Namibian Savannah.

By Air

The international EuroAirport links Basel to the rest of Europe. The EuroAirport is served by a number of international airlines, such as easyJet, Air France, Swiss and many others. Travellers arriving by air can benefit from the straightforward service and proximity to the city centre. The city (Swiss/French railway station) is to be reached within 15 mins by bus no. 50 which runs four times an hour.
EuroAirport.

 By Rail

The Swiss SBB train station, the French SNCF station and the German Badischer station are all in the immediate vicinity of the city centre.
Frequent, modern trains link the three Basel stations with locations in Switzerland and all parts of Europe. For information on the best connections click here:SBB, SNCF, DB
Information on the CityNightLine Hoteltrain.
Information on the new TGVconnection Basel-Paris

Trains from France and Switzerland arrive in the city at the SBB train station, the Basel Central Station. The SNCF station (arrivals from France) is in the immediate vicinity of the SBB station.

Travellers arriving by train from Germany can also alight at the Badischer Station, in the immediate vicinity of Messe Schweiz. The station is in Switzerland, but is German national territory.

Public Transport

The comprehensive system has over 384 stops, and carries guests to their destination quickly and comfortably by tram and bus – even over the border to Germany and France.
You can find all the regional timetables for Basel and the region here:
Timetable for public transport
Timetable for BLT Baselland Transport

Ferries
Cross the Rhine as it was done150 years ago: Four ferries ply from one bank of the Rhine to the other between the Rhine bridges. The ferries are powered solely by the natural current of the Rhine.
www.faehri.ch

By Foot

Orientation points with city maps are located at Basel SBB Railway Station, the Badischer Bahnhof station, the market square (Marktplatz), the trade fair centre (Messeplatz), Münsterplatz, Aeschenplatz, Schifflände, and at the zoo.

Five signposted tours of the Old Town begin at the market square (Marktplatz). Each of the tours is named after a world-famous citizen of Basel, and following the signposted tours is a popular way of strolling through the city. These routes are also marked in blue.
Old Town walks