Basel Historical Museum

The Basel Historical Museum is the city's premier institution for understanding its past, housed in the former Franciscan church. Visitors can explore extensive collections that span from the Middle Ages to the present, with highlights including the magnificent Basel Cathedral treasure, which features goldsmith work, reliquaries, and liturgical objects. The museum's atmospheric setting within the historic church adds to the experience, with vaulted ceilings and stained glass creating a fitting backdrop for the exhibits. Beyond the treasure, you'll find artifacts related to trade, guilds, and daily life, as well as a notable collection of tapestries and sculptures. The museum offers a comprehensive journey through Basel's evolution from a medieval trading hub to a modern cultural center.

Don't miss

• The Basel Cathedral treasure, including gold reliquaries and liturgical objects
• Medieval tapestries and stained glass from Basel's churches
• The model of medieval Basel, showing the city's historical layout
• Exhibits on guilds and trade, reflecting Basel's mercantile past
• The former Franciscan church architecture itself, with its vaulted nave

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Basel Historical Museum

Cheapest way inThe Best of Basel’s Hidden Treasures: A Self-Guided Audio Tour4.4★ · 34 travelers1–2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$12 per personSee dates →Most bookedVenice's Best: Basilica, Doge's Palace, Gondola & History Gallery4.7★ · 3,176 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$115 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleSwiss Experience: Chocolate Tasting and City Tour of Basel5★ · 25 travelers2–3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$110 per personSee dates →