Hi Everyone,

I'm a newbie, moving to Basel with my dog in Feb/Mar.
I am relocating with Novartis, and they have a service to help me find a dog friendly apartment. But I want to do some research before I arrive.

Can anyone recommend a safe, nice part of town close to the Novartis Campus?

I am single, like city living and would also like to be close to a park where I can exercise with my dog. I like going out at night, and am invigorated by city life.

Many thanks for your help! I can't wait to get there.

Cheers to you!

Welcome to the forum


generally speaking most of switzerland is safe.

I find that in Basel, the old part of the city has a bit of a 'unsafe' feel compared to Neubasel, but a bit closer to Novartis.

Look at the forum for social event (Basel and Zurich!) so you can flex your outgoing muscle.

Have fun!

Hi,

Basel is not large especially by US standards and has a very efficient tram system that runs from 5 am to about midnight.

In terms of safe and unsafe areas of Basel. As a city Basel is safe and though there is crime it is quite low.

Basel is divided by the Rheine into Gross and Klein Basel where Klein Basel tends to be more industrial and has a more ethnically diverse population. It is also where there is a redlight district and you may also see drug dealers. However, it is also a place where many people live and enjoy the character of the place. What I love about Basel and I have lived here 20 years is people live and let live.

Gross Basel has more parks and only area in Gross Basel that I might avoid is around Voltaplatz.

There are lots of social events going in Basel so come and join us, be it for a curry, running or with the photography group.

Welcome to Basel

Have fun
Martin

Hi There,

Welcome to Basel & EF .

Keep an eye on the calendar for events in Basel. You will meet a lot of interesting people there.

Well I guess the discussion here Ideal location in Basel? might give you some idea about finding a place near Novartis campus.

Cheers.

Hi Martin,
Thank you for replying.
I am coming for a short visit in January, and intend to walk around a bit to see what feels good. I like the idea of more parks, because I have a dog.
I'm very happy to know that it is a safe place.
I'm a runner (really just a jogger), and love curry! Can't wait to meet people from the forum.
Happy Holidays to you and see you soon.
Charlene

Thank you! I will keep my eye on the forum. I've been reading the housing discussions weekly and am trying to get a gist for Basel from maps too. It's nice to hear Basel is safe.

Many thanks,
Charlene

Hi Charlene,

I live near the Johaniterbrucke and even though it is not the most pictoresque part of the city, it is nice and safe and has a park around the corner. It would take you 10 minutes to go walking to Novartis but you can also take the tram that is right outside, transport as Martin said is great and very reliable.
Also the appartments in this area are pretty big and many have been fully renovated...
>Good luck with the moving

Angela

The Basel tram and bus network is extensive, regular and reliable. I wouldn't choose to live near Novartis, if I had the choice! How about toward Basel Zoo? Or Gellert. As a city dweller, you'll have a yearly tram pass for you and your dog - you don't need to live right next to the campus.

These areas are very nice indeed, the one near the zoo even connects to tram 1 which wll take you to Novartis' door. I found an appartment in the Gellertstrasse that I loved but the bus connection was not really good (almost at the end of Gellertstrasse) and another one that was way too old. The area though is beautiful.

Definitely check out your tram/bus connections though. In some places, you'll have a great connection to get one place, but to get elsewhere it is terrible!

If you get the chance pop into a BKB bank and ask for a map - they give them out free and are clear. They show the main area as well the tram and bus lines which will help you get a sense of where potential flats might be.

Good luck

Red circle is where most of the night life starts, and the blue is your main campus.

I work quite late and sometimes walk from work to home which is similar distance.

The beauty of Basel is the size, its small!

Jov

Thank you for the map. It's very helpful.

I live in the center of Philadelphia right now where there is much to do. I think living somewhere near the blue circle would be most comparable.

What's it like along the Rhine? Is it a nice place to live for singles or it is mostly families in Grossbasel along the river?

Many thanks again for all the great advice on this forum. Hope to meet you all soon.

I live not far from Schützenmatt Park which is on the 8 and 1 trams - the 1 runs directly to Novartis (where I also work) but doesn't go into town. The 8 runs directly through town and out the other side to the new shopping centre. I live on the 8 tram and my commute in the mornings is about 15-20 mins with one change. The number 11 tram also runs to Novartis and goes through town.
Kannenfeld Park is really lovely and is a 5 minute walk from Novartis Campus - but if you're going to live near there I'd suggest living south of it as north is a bit industrial.
Pretty much anywhere you live in Basel you won't be further than 20 mins from work or town to be honest.

I live in the Kannenfeld Park area, I'd agree with Martin that heading closer to Voltaplatz has a bit of an unsafe (industrial) "feel" but as it is only 10min at the most from my apartment, I wonder how much that has to do with my residual American dislike of places that are barren after everyone goes home from work...

There is a brand new Coop (grocery) with a BKB (Basler Kantonalbank) branch in the building as well as a few shops along with (I believe) everything above the 2nd floor being brand new apartments. So, while that area has an old industrial feel, it may be an "up and coming" type spot.


Meanwhile, although I like my apartment just fine (interior is a lot more attractive than the exterior would suggest), I'd also offer that south and west of Kannenfeld is a bit more picturesque. Kannenfeld Park itself is a nice park with a path circling inside it which is great for laps at nearly a km per lap. Unfortunately no dogs are allowed in that park but it is a great spot for a picnic in the warmer seasons. There are plenty of places where you can bring your dog, including (unlike in the US) on the tram or bus and inside some (most?) restaurants.

The public transportation system in Basel is pretty fantastic, there really isn't anyplace that would be terribly inconvenient (some are "less convenient" than others but none too bad I think) to get from home to Novartis for work.

hello , its the end of january today!!!
....have you landed here?