<img class="alignnone wp-image-76865 size-full" src="https://static.travelgay.com/media/68028/Basel-Guide-e1518957021876.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /><h2>Basel</h2>Switzerland's third largest city and located on the borders of both France and Germany. Basel is home to just under 200,000 people but has commuters living across the nearby borders.Historically a part of Roman Gaul, Basel became a Germanic city in the 5th Century AD. In 1459, Pope Pius II endowned the University of Basel and the print industry came to Basel around the same time from disciples of Gutenberg. Throughout history, it was known as a meeting place for international conventions and treaty signings.Today, Basel is known for its many museums with its Kunstmuseum, founded in 1661, being the first publicly accessible collection of art in the world. It is also known as an educational centre, with the University of Basel being the oldest in Switzerland. Like other Swiss Cities, Basel is rated highly in terms of its quality of life.&nbsp;<h2>Gay Rights in Switzerland</h2>For gay rights in Switzerland, please check our <a href="https://www.travelgay.com/essential-guide-to-zurich/">Gay Zurich City Guide page</a>.&nbsp;<h2>Gay Scene</h2>Although Zurich is the gay capital of Switzerland, Basel has a modest but welcoming gay scene, driven in part by its youthful student population. Despite there only being limited <a href="https://www.travelgay.com/basel-gay-saunas/">specifically gay venues</a> all bars and clubs are welcoming of gay customers.While the city does not have a pride festival of itself, the national gay pride festival rotates amongst the cities and in 2018 is being held in Basel. There is, however, the Queersicht Festival, an LGBTI film festival held every November.&nbsp;<h2>Getting There</h2>By planeEuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (MLH, BSL, EAP) is located 3.5km northwest of Basel but also serves Mulhouse in France and Freiburg in Germany. It is located in France but operated by Swiss and French authorities. It is well connected to airports in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East with a seasonal connection to Montreal.Bus Line 50 connects you to the Basel city centre and can be purchased from a machine at the Swiss arrivals area. You will need to purchase a 2 zone travel pass which should cost 3.80 CHF (you can pay the equivalent in Euros). Journeys take around 20 minutes and are valid on any connection you take to your final destination.Taxis can be taken from the Swiss arrivals area however they are a lot more expensive than taking public transport. A taxi will cost in the region of 50 CHF with the journey time taking around 20 minutes. Car hire is available from the airport.By trainBasel has two main train stations that are both well connected to destinations in Europe. While it is easy to connect at Mulhouse to destinations in France, there are direct connections to Berlin, Brussels, Frankfurt, Luxembourg and Milan. Night services operate to Prague, Copenhagen and Moscow via Warsaw and Minsk.By boatBern is on the Rhine and is a popular destination for riverboat cruises. Many start at Amsterdam and make their way down but these have a tendency to be quite expensive.&nbsp;<h2>Getting around Basel</h2>By footOld Basel itself is quite compact and mostly pedestrianised making travelling by foot a very good way of taking in the sights of Basel. Some of the streets, however, can be quite steep so it can become quite tiring navigating the city after a while.By public transportBasel has a good connection of both trams and buses that are clean, efficient and (almost always) on time. All hotels and hostels in Basel offer you a mobility pass which offers you free travel on the transport network for the duration of your stay. Otherwise, singles start at 3.40 CHF and day passes are 8 CHF.Services run between 5.30am and to midnight with limited night bus services operating between 1am and 4am. During the day services run every 7.5 minutes rising to 15 minutes in evenings (every 10 minutes on Sundays). Ticket inspectors operate on the network.By boatA popular way for tourists to cross the Rhine is by small boats known as Fähri. Single trips start at 1.60 CHF.&nbsp;<h2>Where to Stay in Basel</h2>For the latest hotel discounts in Basel, please check the <a href="https://www.travelgayhotels.com/Place/Basel.htm">Basel Hotels page</a>.&nbsp;<h2>Things to See &amp; Do</h2>Kunstmuseum - the oldest art gallery in the world and the largest and most significant public collection of art in Switzerland. Here you will find works stretching from the Renaissance up until the modern era with works by Andy Warhol sharing space with Rembrandt.Münster - one of the main heritage sites in Switzerland. This iconic sandstone minster is an impressive fusion of both gothic and romanesque architecture.Marktplatz - here local vendors will sell fresh produce, pastry and flowers everyday (more vendors on Saturdays) and is a great spot to grab a bite to eat or a souvenir.Cartoonmuseum - small museum dedicated to cartoons and cariactures of famous people and celebrities. You may find someone you recognise here.Theater Basel - the municipal theatre in Basel and a haven for the arts- ballet, opera, classical music and drama.Zoo Basel - the oldest zoo in Switzerland and the second most visited attraction in Switzerland. In autumn 2016 a brand new elephant enclosure opened and by 2019 the zoo should have its first oceanarium.&nbsp;<h2>When to Visit</h2>Basel is the warmest place in Switzerland meaning that winters are milder than in other parts of the country but summers can be unbearably hot. May is the wettest month but this gets better towards the end of May which combined with June and early fall are the best times weather wise to visit Basel.Basel has a good selection of events and festivals held throughout the year to interest visitors to the city. Its Christmas markets are the biggest in Switzerland and attract many locals as well as tourists. The Fasnacht festival is held every Ash Wednesday and has a Carnivalesque vibe.&nbsp;<h2>Visa</h2>Switzerland is within the Schengen visa area. If travelling from outside Europe, you should check to see if you require a Schengen visa.&nbsp;<h2>Money</h2>The Swiss currency is the Swiss Frank (CHF). Prices in Switzerland are generally far higher than in other parts of Europe.

Gay Basel · City Guide

First time visiting Basel? Then our Gay Basel City Guide is for you.

The new law of same sex marriage for Switzerland also guarantees adoption rights for same sex couples.

The ability for same-sex couples to legally adopt a child.

Step child and single options since 2018. Full legalization pending. It will become legal when gay marriage becomes legal.

Under the registered partnership act same sex couples are not able to adopt their partner’s child.

Consensual age is Switzerland is 16 years old, unless the difference in age between the persons involved is not more than 3 years.

The difference between legal age of consent for homosexual sex and heterosexual sex.

New blood donation rules are now based on an updated risk assessment of various sexual behaviours and are equally applied to all people regardless of sexual orientation.

The ability for MSMs (men who have sex with men) to donate blood or tissue for organ transplants. A deferral period refers to a waiting time before a man can donate after having sex.

In early May 2017, the National Council approved a motion calling on all restrictions on gay and bisexual men donating blood to be lifted. According to the National Council, only risky behaviour should be a factor for blood donation, not one's sexual orientation. The motion, introduced by the Conservative Democrats, was approved 97–89.[66] However, this was rejected by the Council of States on 29 November 2017.[67] The 1 year deferral period for gay and bisexual men donating blood therefore remains in place.

In Switzerland, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.

Censorship or prohibition of discussing, promoting, or teaching LGBTQ+ topics in media, schools, and in the general public.

Change of sex is legal though there are now specific laws concerning the matter. In 1993, the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland stated that a change of sex should be "irreversible"; many judges interpreted it as the person had to go under surgery. In 2012, the Federal Department of Justice and Police via its Federal Office for Civil Registration released a statement about how transsexualism should be handled by cantonal Register offices. The FOCR stated that the Judges and Authorities should cease to oblige a person to go through forced sterilisation in order to have their sex change recognised. Furthermore, a person is granted to choose his or her gender according to his or her social gender and not anymore according to his or her biological gender.

Legal recognition of sex reassignment by permitting a change of legal gender on an individual's birth certificate.

On this date, Neuchâtel banned conversion therapy. Neuchâtel is a canton of Switzerland, of which there are 26. In the other 25 member states of the Swiss Confederation, conversion therapy remains legal.

Legal status of conducting sexual orientation changing therapy ("ex-gay" therapy)

Since 2020, an amendment to Article 261 bis of the Criminal Code (1937) penalises discrimination based on "sexual orientation" in the provision of goods and services. Article 261 bis of the Criminal Code was amended to include “sexual orientation” in the provision that criminalises public denigration, discrimination, or incitement to those actions, as well as the public dissemination of ideologies that aim to systematically denigrate or defame members of a protected group.

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Laws in force in Switzerland do not offer protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment.

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity in employment, including hiring, promotion, termination, harassment, etc.

Homosexual acts were not mentioned anymore in the revision of the Penal Code of 1991. Therefore the age of consent was lowered to 16 years old for all consenting sexual intercourse.

Consensual sexual activity between individuals of the same sex.

The Swiss Penal Code introduced in 1942 allowed same sex acts between adults (above 20 years old), but punished homosexual intercourse with people between 16 and 20 years old (while allowing heterosexual acts)

Laws in force in Switzerland do not offer protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and “gender identity in housing.

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity when applying for housing or discrimination by landlords / property owners.

Switzerland approved same-sex marriage with a national referendum.

Marriage and marriage recognition between two people of the same biological sex and/or gender identity.

Swiss Registered Partnership is a Civil Union that grants equal rights to Marriage but differs on three points: access to Fertility treatment, Adoption and facilitated Swiss naturalisation.

Code pénal suisse. Code pénal militaire (Infraction contre l'intégrité sexuelle): Modification du 21 juin 1991 pp 63-78. Switzerland has yet to allow Trans people to serve in the military 

The ability for homosexuals to serve in the military and be open about their sexuality.

Switzerland does not currently legally recognize non-binary identities.

Legal recognition of non-binary, genderqueer, or third gender identities.

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