The Rhein is the heart of the city in Basel and the centre for all sorts of activities. This article will help you make the most of this beautiful river! Be sure to read our other article Rhein Life: Boats, Buvettes and the Harbour to learn more ways to enjoy the Rhein.
Water Sports
Rafting
Did you know that the Rhein is a hub for water sports enthusiasts?! If adventures are what you are looking for, Rheinraft offers various rafting tours including a Basel city tour as well as “Wild Rhein”, “Flowing Rhein” and the “Varied Rhein” tour to Rheinfelden. All tours offer options from six people or more as well as mini group tours for groups of 3-5 people (or for a family of up to 2 adults and 3 children). If you want an alternative to rafting and to get even closer to the water, Rheinraft also offers ChillYAK (an inflatable kayak) tours for small groups from 2 to 8 people.
Kayaking and Canoeing
For individuals wanting to get a first taste of traditional kayaking, the Kanuschule Basel runs free one hour trial sessions on Wednesdays at 17:00 from May to the end of August (pre-booking is required). They also offer individual intensive courses in kayaks, canoes and sea kayaks as well as a basic course for people wanting to learn how to kayak in a small group.
For advanced canoeists there are three courses, as well as courses for children and youth. Courses take place in Basel on the Rhein or in Hüningen just over the border in France on the man-made canoe canal at the Parc des Eaux Vives. If you are looking for a larger group outing, Kanuschule Basel also offers group trips with large canoes for groups of up to 27 people.
Wake Boarding and Waterskiing
If you are more of a surfer dude (or dudette!), water skier or wake boarder, then Basel has you covered. Wake Surf Basel (WSB) is a surf school offering surf lessons for beginners and advanced surfers on the Rhein, with lessons tailored to your needs and instructors ready to show you all the tricks of wakeboarding, wakeskating and wakesurfing. Choose from one session, one hour or a portion of a day. Basel Wake 2 Wake also offers wakesurfing and wakeboarding lessons.
Stand Up Paddle Boarding
If you prefer to cruise along at a more leisurely pace, then how about a stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) session. One of the fastest growing recreational sports on the planet, SUP is a cross between canoeing and surfing. Birs 73 and Kahula Basel Stand Up Paddle offer SUP tours and courses and with Kahula you can swap the mat for the paddle board and do an SUP Yoga session!
Clubs
Want to join a club? There are a number of possibilities to get involved!
Kanuclub Basel has trainings for beginners all the way up to kayak pros. Basilisk Paddler is a canoeing club that has different training groups in wild water kayaking, sea kayak and canoe polo as well as a youth kayak group (age 10-18). Rennpadler Basel practices various competitive disciplines (regatta, downhill, slalom, freestyle, dragon boat) as well as various recreational activities such as trips, courses and trainings.
If you are more into rowing and boat racing, the WFV Rhenania St. Johann Basel is a club that trains for internal events like club championships, endurance and technical training and excursions as well as regularly takes part in competitions, in both Waidlig (a traditional flat boat) and canoeing. The Drachenbootclub Beider Basel (Dragon Boat Club) takes team water sports to another level, offering team trainings for beginners to competitors. The Waterski Club Basel offers members all kinds of water skiing disciplines including slalom, trick ski, pair ski, wakeboard, wakesurf and barefoot. All clubs offer trial trainings or taster courses.
Rhein Swimming and Beaches
Swimming in the Rhein is a beloved summer activity in Basel. It is not for beginners or children and you must take special precautions if you decide to take the plunge (see our article below).
Designated swimming areas, like the popular stretch between the Tinguely Museum and the Johanniter Bridge, attract both locals and tourists. The city's unique Wickelfisch, a waterproof bag that keeps belongings dry, is a common and colourful sight as swimmers float down the river.
If you are a newbie to Rhein swimming, check out our article Rhein Swimming: A Basel Rite of Passage. The SLRG (Schweizerische Lebensrettungs-Gesellschaft) also provides Guidelines for Rhein Swimmers in English. If you aren’t the strongest swimmer and you would like some trained supervision to help you work on increasing your confidence in the water, the Basel-Stadt Sports Office organizes a weekly supervised swim in the Rhein on Tuesdays during the months of July and August. Their “Begleitetes Rheinschwimmen” programme is offered free of charge and is for swimmers of all ages. You must register online in advance, by latest 9:00 on the day of the event, to allow for the organization and provision of a sufficient number of supervising people.
Originally launched in 1980, the official "Basel Rhein Swim" organized by SLRG takes place once per year which turns the Rhein into a colourful Wickelfisch stream. The event has become world famous, being covered in world media such as the Guardian and even inspired the start of the 1st “Weserschwimmen” event in the German town of Minden, over 500km from Basel, now in its 3rd year! This year the Basel Rhein Swim is set to take place on Tuesday 13th August 2024.
Bathing Areas
Why not check out one of Basel’s two Rhein pools at Rheinbad St Johann and Rheinbad Breite, which offer a quiet place to relax and unwind. Summer season 2024 runs from mid-May to mid-September.
Swim and bathe in historic surroundings at the Rheinbad St Johann, also known as Rhybadhysli Santihans or Rhybeli, which opened in 1887 and includes a 24-metre long pool with room for 45 swimmers and around 90 bathers. Located below the Johanniterbrücke Bridge and open daily from 10:00-18:00, it has an adjoining Kiosk if you get thirsty or hungry. Note that swimming here is not suitable for small children as it is not supervised. Also keep in mind that if you take your children with you it is at your own risk and you will need to keep a close watch on them as any disturbance to the intended ‘calm oasis’ of the Rhybeli may get you a warning.
The Rheinbad Breite or Rhybadhusli Breite is open from 11:00-20:00 on weekdays and weekend days from 10:00. It offers two bathing platforms with sunbathing areas, seating, showers, toilets and changing rooms. An added bonus is the neighbouring restaurant Le Rhin Bleu and fantastic views.
Sunbathing Areas
For those who prefer to stay dry, there are a couple of riverbanks that offer sandy beaches and grassy areas perfect for sunbathing and picnicking, on both the Kleinbasel as well as the Grossbasel banks of the river.
Just in front of the Tinguely museum is the entry point for Rhein swimmers and it has a small beach area. Further down from the lower part of Schaffhauserreheinweg towards Wettsteinbrücke is the popular Wettstein Beach, where you will always find people sunbathing and chilling out.
If you are looking for a place to let everything hang out with like-minded people then head to Basel’s only Nudist Beach (Naturistenstrand FKK Basel-Stadt) which runs from under Solitude Park to the upper part of the Schaffhauserrheinweg. On the Grossbasel side of the river just a few hundred metres down from the Paper Museum you will find the Dog Beach (Hundestrand).
The best of both worlds can be found at the Birsköpfli area which has an expansive grassy area as well as a pebble beach. A great place for sunbathing, chilling with friends, BBQing, getting in the water and just enjoying the summer vibes. In case you get peckish or need to quench your thirst, just over the bridge is the Spatz Restaurant offering drinks, food and ice creams. Behind the café is a shallow kids pool. Another place to check out is the Kraftwerkinsel further up from the Birsköpfli.
I hope this article inspires you to take advantage of the water. For more ways to enjoy the Rhein check out Rhein Life: Boats, Buvettes and the Harbour and for tips to enjoy a little outdoor refreshment read our article Top Ten Outdoor Drinks Spots in Basel.
Alison Waterfield
Alison Waterfield is a Brit who has been in the Basel area for over a decade. She currently resides in Oberwil, where she enjoys having countryside on her doorstep as well as town being only a short tram ride away. She loves cooking, baking and anything food-related and is a beginner food stylist and photographer. She enjoys being in nature and relaxing doing anything wellness-related, as well as engaging in creative activities such as abstract and fluid art and crochet.
Comentários