Trinational Shopping
It can only happen in the three-country triangle: Within just one hour, you can buy a sausage in Germany, a bottle of wine in France, and your favourite chocolate in Switzerland. Shopping is fun!
City centre
Most of the retail stores are concentrated in the picturesque city centre, between the Aeschenplatz in Grossbasel and the Claraplatz in Kleinbasel. There are also more shops along the Spalenberg up to Lyss. There is basically a Y-shaped shopping area within the city centre that crosses the Rhine The longest shopping street is ‘the Freie Strasse’, Basel’s top retail address. It starts at historic Marktplatz, where Basel’s Town Hall - which is Basel’s government and parliament building - stands. You can also pay with the so called “Pro Innerstadt Cheques” in most shops.
Border location as a shopping advantage
One of the key advantages of shopping in the border region is the price differences between the three countries. Each country has its own price benefits – which add to the fun of shopping in the region! For this reason, the major shopping centres on the other side of the border in France and Germany are also very popular with the residents of Basel. But remember: certain customs restrictions remain in force regarding the import of consumer goods from France and Germany.