Basel Hotels

One of the oldest city hotels in Europe, Les Trois Rois is Basel's grandest residence. Over the years, its luxurious rooms and suites on the banks of the Rhine in the Old Town have accommodated such luminaries as Napoleon, Charles Dickens, Pablo Picasso, Thomas Mann and Queen Elizabeth II. It also has a fitness centre and various top-notch restaurants and bars.

An upscale chain hotel with a convenient location for the Old Town. It's a sizeable property – there are 141 rooms – and it's popular with business groups thanks to its half-dozen meeting rooms. Other selling points include a fitness lounge and the gourmet Les Quatre Saisons restaurant.

The Swissotel Le Plaza, graded as four-star superior, is a stylish option a few minutes' walk from the Rhine and the Old Town. The hotel has 238 rooms and offers 24-hour room service, as well as a gym with a sauna and steam room. Its Grill25 restaurant serves up the classics in smart surroundings.

This charming hotel is located in a converted prison at the heart of the Old Town. The 14 French-style rooms are grouped around a peaceful inner courtyard. There is also an excellent brasserie (situated in the former police station), with al fresco dining in summer.

Part of the Marriott Group – and consequently a reliable if rather vanilla option for an overnight stay – the Courtyard Basel Hotel is set on the southern outskirts of the city and has 175 rooms and suites with the usual amenities and plenty of meeting space.

Situated in the heart of the old city for the past four decades, this 4-star hotel has 70 rooms and three suites, all comfortably furnished and equipped with the standard mod cons. There are three restaurants, including a brasserie, and a couple of small meeting rooms.

A few minutes' walk from the city centre (and even closer to the Messe Basel trade fair venue), this is a well-priced hotel with almost 50 rooms. It's nothing fancy but has all the basics covered, from free wifi to satellite TV. There's a traditional restaurant on site.

Located near the Spalentor city gate in the Old Town, this friendly four-star hotel has 40 comfortable, modern rooms, internet access, fitness equipment, toys and games for kids, DVD rental, a bar and a garden. Another perk: the hotel offers free bike rental for guests.

This enjoyably quirky establishment comprises two hotels: the Kunsthotel (Art Hotel), with nine rooms each designed by a local artist, and the larger Galeriehotel (Gallery Hotel), in which both the rooms and public spaces function as exhibition spaces for artists. Prices can vary greatly according to demand.