It is not always easy to entertain children during the whole day, but there some places that helps you a lot to make you and your children happy.

The City

The city does not only provide enjoyment for adults, there are varies opportunities to entertain your children.

Basel offers a special children’s town map, indicating all points of interest, like the Doll museum, the children's town (a holiday adventure playground), the Roby playgrounds (supervised playgrounds to meet other children and enjoy lots of events), natural museum, Roman town, and of course: the Zoo, called Ollie by the Brazilians. The Zoo Basel covers 11 hectares and you will find more than 6000 animals from 600 species. The concept of the Zoo turns you from a passive observer to an active explorer. Have lunch watching the elephants and take some time to see the monkeys solving problems for food in the Monkey House. This will be an unforgettable day for your family. But maybe you want to show your children a giant? Well, than you have to go to the Kannenfeld park and search for him!

There are also wacky and wonderful festivals that children and parents will love! It is the Vogel Gryff Festival in the second half of the January (according to a three year cycle between 13, 20 and 27 January) which is dedicated entirely to children. It is held in Kleinbasel, the part of Basel on the right bank of the Rhine River, the traditional rival of the richer area on the left bank. Three heraldic figures, "Vogel Gryff" (a griffin), "Wild Maa" (wild man) and "Leu" (lion) covered in wild costumes dance in the streets of the town. They are accompanied by three drummers, three standard-bearers and four "Ueli" (jesters), who collect money for the needy of Kleinbasel. It is one of the events which are so typical for lively fun.

The Baselland (Basel Countryside)

The Baselland is a green and gentle countryside with green meadows, a hilly landscape, good enough for outstanding views to the neighbouring regions like the Black Forrest, the Alsace and the Alps. A quiet region for outdoor activities. Sometimes it is not necessary to impress with superlatives, but with nice and interesting details. Go for fossils like shark teeth or ammonites, visit a castle or make a 2 horsepower round trip with a covered wagon. You also can have more thrilling activities like the solarbob run in Langenbruck or the scooter downhill in Reigoldswill, which convert to a tobbogan track in winter. Not only superlatives need to fill a child’s day, the details make it!

The River

Beach fun and culture pure! You don’t believe to find this within this region, where the only “water” is a gently flowing river. Enjoy a summerday along the Rhine promenades and in the Rhine baths in and around Basel. Smaller water fun can be found throughout Basel, in the countless fountains, children might enjoy and refresh, as for example the Fasnachtsbrunnen with its water moved figures. A pleasure for young and old.

Top act of water activities will be cruise on the Rhine, ranging from a 2 hours roundtrip to a whole day distance trip. The children eyes will follow the captain steering the ship into a lock, only some centimetres space on each side. It will also be a “time-slowing” and “stress-forgetting” experience for yourself.

Be prepared to relax!