Summer in Basel feels a bit like being freshly in love: Everything is prettier, things are getting hotter, you never get bored, and the opportunities for new discoveries seem endless. So I thought: The best thing to do is to date my way through Basel —and of course, I'll take you along to show you the best date spots in this city of culture, art and hearts.

Whether you're on a date with yourself, a friend, the one-and-only person in your life, someone you’ve just met, or anyone else — I've gathered my best tips for all possible occasions. Of course, you can combine them freely to suit your date situation best.

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This article was created in collaboration with Basel Tourismus.

Solo Dates

Do you want to celebrate self-love? Then Basel is the right place. The city offers so much beauty that your solo date can easily last an entire weekend. You could sit down with a good book at Café Finkmüller on Klybeckstrasse for example — the place is big enough for a bit of anonymity and small enough for a cozy vibe. If it's Saturday, head out on a treasure hunt at the flea market on Petersplatz.

If art makes your heart beat faster, I recommend a visit to the Kunstmuseum Basel, or you could simply take the art with you: with the «ARTour» app, you can go for a walk and discover digital artworks in the heart of the city. On warm days, lie down in St. Johanns Park right by the Rhine and recharge your batteries while basking in the sunshine. For a culinary treat, head to «Il Giardino Urbano» near Stellwerk, where you’ll not only find great pizzas and a beautiful sunset, but also a generous helping of Amore.

If you truly value independence, a visit to «Kultkino», the city's independent cinema, is the perfect choice. Afterwards, you can end the day at the «Herz» bar (=heart). It's great for a solo date not only because of its name, but also because they offer half cocktails — you can try several, and you don’t have to share them with anyone but yourself.

If your mind is all filled with love and you don't have any headspace left for weekend planning, Basel Tourismus will help you with the best ideas and offers.
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Friendship Dates

While there is self-love and romantic love, love for your friends should not be forgotten. Especially as Basel is perfect to explore with a friend or your entire crew. (Experimental) game and sports friends can hit balls at each other at Padelwerk in Stücki Park; if you prefer to have a leisurely cocktail accompanied by a card game, the Manabar is the right place, with a huge selection of board and card games to try out.

When hunger strikes, I would recommend not one, but four places to try in a row: the self-guided «FoodTour» takes you to four locations that are as legendary as the insider jokes in your friend group chat.

Just as friendships are essential for life, the Rhine is essential for Basel — so why not go there for a friendship date? Jump in and let yourself drift down or take a walk along the river and get on one of the Rhine ferries. Come evening time, a nice aperitif awaits you at one of the Kleinbasel buvettes right by the water — and by then you'll know for sure that no matter how much time passes or water flows by under the bridges of the Rhine, your friendship will last forever. To end the evening on a high note, head to the bar «Schall und Rauch» for its great music and cultural program.

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Friends-with-Benefits Dates

Sometimes, having a friends-with-benefits relationship can feel as refreshing as an island holiday, so my first tip for a friends-with-benefits date is: head to the island. Specifically, the Kraftwerkinsel, where there is plenty of space for a romantic picnic.

Since you've already crossed the «boundaries of your friendship», you might as well cross national borders. I’d recommend a trip across the German border to the Vitra Campus and Vitra Design Museum. There, you can visit the current exhibition “Transform! Designing the Future of Energy” — which is only fitting, as you are experimenting in future relationship forms and interpersonal energies. Just as unconventional as your friendship is the «B-Movie», perhaps Basel's quirkiest cinema. You can choose the film and have the cinema all to yourselves — the romance is guaranteed and if the rental costs are too high, you might have even more friends with benefits?

If you prefer football over cinema, I recommend a visit to «Didi offensive»: here, everything revolves around football culture — and since this isn't your first date, you’ll hopefully score after. And one last tip: A really cozy way to end the day (or start the night?) is to have a nightcap on the red velvet sofas at the bar «Derrière» (formerly a red-light district bar).

No matter what kind of relationships you have, Basel Tourismus will be happy to help you find spontaneous or planned accommodation.
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Dates for Lovers (and Those Who Want to Be)

Whether you're freshly in love, in a long-term relationship, or not yet in love, a walk in the «Langen Erlen» is perfect for all emotional states — and maybe a visit to the local zoo with its guaranteed «aww» effect will break the ice.

If your date is an architecture enthusiast, I recommend an architecture walk through the city — from the ultramodern Novartis Campus to the repurposed Warteck Brewery. Perhaps the diverse Basel architecture will already have you dreaming about your future dream house? Or the fantastic view from «Kulturbeiz 113» will make you feel like you're on cloud nine? And if by then the date still isn't going as smoothly as you’d hoped, there is another option: go in search of ecstasy at the exhibition «Rausch — Extase — Rush» at the Historical Museum Basel. And in keeping with the exhibition, you can go on a bike tour afterwards from Basel to Binningen. How does that relate to ecstasy, you ask? It follows the path of a legendary bike ride, as it’s on this route that Swiss chemist Albert Hoffmann experienced the world's first LSD trip in 1943. Groovy!

How about a litte stargazing to find out about your future? A visit to the St. Margerethen Observatory will provide the view. If you prefer liquids to starlight however, you could get to know each other's drink preferences better with a visit to the bar «Alchemist». There, you can mix your own love potions drinks or simply roll the dice and let fate decide whether you are destined for each other.

This article was created in collaboration with Basel Tourismus.

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Heartbeats in Basel