Best of Basel: Guided Bike Tour on Both Banks of the Rhine

★★★★★ 5.0 (377 traveller reviews)

Bike tourBike and two tastingsStarts at St. Johanns-TorMax 6 guests

Both banks of the Rhine in one ride, with a local guide and six riders at most. You start at the old city gate of St. Johanns-Tor and ride upstream on the Kleinbasel side. You cross back at the power plant and stop in front of the Minster to taste two Basel specialities. The route is about 12 km and mostly flat, so you see far more than a walk allows.

Hours, prices and access verified by the Basel Switzerland Tours team — last checked 2026-09-21.

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Twelve kilometres, two banks, six riders

St. Johanns-Tor and tram 11

You meet opposite the St. Johanns-Tor tram stop, at the entrance to the park. Look for a guide in a white Basel Bike Adventures T-shirt. The gate is a medieval city gate, and the ride starts and ends beside it.

Tram 11 gets you there. Board it at Basel SBB, Barfüsserplatz or Marktplatz, in the direction of Saint-Louis Grenze, and get off at St. Johanns-Tor. Hotel guests ride it free with the BaselCard. All the meeting points in the city are on the Basel map.

The view from the Dreirosenbrücke

Your first stop is the Dreirosenbrücke over the Rhine. From here the view runs over the city on the river, and on a clear day as far as Germany and France.

Your guide explains the three borders here, before you turn upstream. If you want to stand at the point where the three countries meet, the bus stops at the Dreiländereck; it is on Basel city tours.

Upstream on the Kleinbasel bank

Next you cross to the Kleinbasel side and ride upstream along the river. This is the bank the Old Town walks leave out. You pass landmarks and quieter corners, with stops for photos and stories.

Elizabeth T, from Spain, called the pacing the best part: riding, stops and talk were balanced, so nothing felt rushed. Annette, from Germany, liked the mix of parks, neighbourhoods and the riverside.

Back across at the power plant

At the Rhine power plant you cross the river again, back into Grossbasel. From there the route runs through St. Alban, one of the smartest districts in the city, towards the Minster.

The ride stays gentle here. The whole route is mostly flat, which is why it suits most riders who can handle a bike. What else is in St. Alban is on the things to do page.

The tasting in front of the Minster

You stop in front of the Minster, the red sandstone church with two towers built between 1019 and 1500. Your guide tells you how it was built. Then you get a drink and two traditional Basel specialities, both in the fare.

Tanja, from Germany, had elderflower lemonade with the tasting, at a viewpoint over the river. It is the one long stop of the ride, so it is a good moment for questions.

Marktplatz, then the river home

From the Minster you ride along the shopping street to Marktplatz, where the Rathaus stands in red sandstone with painted decoration. Then you return to the riverbank and ride along the Rhine one last time, back to St. Johanns-Tor.

Diana, from the Netherlands, called it a strong start to a city stay, with good bikes and a small group. Ride it early in your trip, and use what you learn for the days after. Every other way to see the city in a few hours is on Basel city tours.

How your ride runs

1. Meet at St. Johanns-Tor. Opposite the tram stop, at the park entrance.
2. The Dreirosenbrücke. The view over the city towards Germany and France.
3. Upstream on the Kleinbasel bank. Along the river, with photo stops.
4. Back across at the power plant. Into Grossbasel and through St. Alban.
5. The Minster. A drink and two Basel specialities to taste.
6. Marktplatz and the Rathaus. Along the shopping street to the red town hall.
7. Along the Rhine to the start. Back at St. Johanns-Tor after 2.5 to 3 hours.

Who this suits: confident riders who want the whole city in an afternoon

What the fare covers

Meeting opposite the St. Johanns-Tor tram stop

The meeting point is opposite the St. Johanns-Tor tram stop, at the entrance to the park. Your guide wears a white T-shirt with the Basel Bike Adventures logo. The ride ends back at the same spot.

Take tram 11 towards Saint-Louis Grenze from Basel SBB, Barfüsserplatz or Marktplatz and get off at St. Johanns-Tor. Start times vary by day and are shown when you pick a date. The stop and the other meeting points are on the Basel map.

Know before you go

• You must ride a bike. The tour is not for children under 12 or anyone who cannot ride.
• Ask for a helmet. Helmets come on request and are cleaned after each use.
• Get the saddle set first. A few riders wanted a better fit; ask your guide before you start.
• English, German or both. A mixed group hears both languages.
• Dress for the weather. You ride in the open for up to three hours.
• Book ahead. Six places a departure, and the listing marks it as likely to sell out.

What riders say about the bike tour

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