PlsComment on the noise level living in downtown Basel by the Rhein..is it as loud as some people say?

We are trying to decide whether to live downtown or in the suburbs. We have heard a few horror stories about people being loud along the river after midnight and the church bells ringing through the night, but don’t know if that is still the current situation/law.
Thanks

Yes....although with COVID lifestyle I think it's probably a lot quieter than usual.


And yes, it's usually not a great idea to live right next to a church with a big bell in Switzerland...

We lived directly on the Rhine in the St Alban neighborhood for many years. It used to be quite pleasant, but we had to move due to the noise that got worse over time. (We moved all the way to Bern hehe) Many teens partying in the Summer months & we had a youth hostel just behind us that didn’t help. On the Klein Basel side, I would imagine the noise level would be much much worse.

Downtown will also be noisy, especially during Fasnacht (but you can escape that). Spalentor & up near the music museum would be nice to live in.

You can’t escape the church bells, they are in the suburbs too. If it bothers you (I love them), don’t live directly across from one.

We live in Klein basel near claramattpark. It can get noisy but I don't find it so bad that I'd move. Yes, the church bells go all night. Sometimes there are concerts in the park but they usually end by 11pm. During fasnacht there is music all the time. I think there is a clique on the corner and they practice in the months beforehand so we get music a lot then, too.


If I had to do it over again, I'd still choose the city and live with the noise.

That genuinely sounds like my idea of hell, as far as noise levels go. I'd never live somewhere that was subject to that kind of all-day-and-night ambient noise.

Sorry for the ignorant question, but what's considered 'downtown' in Basel?

Is it the Altstadt Kleinbasel side, or the Altstadt Grossbasel side? Or is it the whole area?

I'm looking at renting an apartment in Erlenmatt Park, that seems like it would be a long way from any noise

I would say busy/noise wise - it is the area starting on the Grossbasel side - from SBB to over the Rhine up to Messeplatz.

Erlenmatt Park will be noisy with children and nothing else. It used to be a great rave / outdoor bar spot until the residences were built up ... those were the days hehe.