Our family recently had the pleasure of attending the Basler Herbstmesse in Basel, Switzerland, a delightful autumn festival that runs from October 26 to November 10. Celebrating its rich history as the oldest and largest fair in the region, this event attracts over 1 million visitors each year, showcasing more than 100 rides, diverse food stalls, and unique artisan crafts across various locations in the city. For our trip, we visited the Rosentalange and Messeplatz fair grounds. There are more fairgrounds to explore, but we unfortunately did not have time to visit them all.
Our kids were very excited to explore all the different amusement rides. The rides cater to all ages, from thrilling attractions to gentler options for younger children. My son enjoyed the rides “Swing Up” (fast paced carousel) and “Lion Tower”(dropping from a large tower). In contrast, our daughter enjoyed the classic carousel and swings. For each attraction, you must buy a ticket, and most rides only accept cash. We explored all the options prior to selecting the few rides the kids wanted to experience.
Food is a highlight of the Herbstmesse, with an array of options that reflect Swiss culinary traditions. We indulged in delicious churros, but other offerings included grilled sausages, cheese fondue, and sweet treats like Magenbrot (spiced biscuits). When ordering drinks, we received a token for a deposit; returning the container earned us back our 2 CHF deposit—an eco-friendly touch that we appreciated!
In addition to rides and food, there are numerous arcade games like fishing for ducks and knocking down cans. However, our kids were more captivated by the rides than by gaming.
For those driving to the fair, there’s parking available at Parkhaus Messe Basel, conveniently located next to the fairgrounds. We visited on a weekday afternoon, and by 3 PM, we noticed a long line of cars waiting to enter. Alternatively, public transit is an excellent option since many tram lines run close to the event locations.
