Advent here centers on the old town, where stalls go up around the Barfüsserkirche and the Münster in late November. On December 6, Swiss kids wait for Samichlaus, who brings nuts, mandarins and gingerbread. We picked the markets with something for kids to do, plus one just over the German border. Here's what we checked, from candle dipping in the Märchenwald to the carousel in Lörrach.
Basel's Christmas market fills the city center with stalls of tree ornaments, gifts and food, around the Barfüsserkirche and in front of the Münster, where the trees are hung with glowing snow globes.
For kids, the main draw is the Märchenwald on Münsterplatz: a forest of fir trees run by the Robi-Spiel-Aktionen association, full of hands-on crafts and with its own puppet theater.
A Christmas village for kids, decorated with fir trees, set up by the Robi-Spiel-Aktionen inside the Basel Christmas market on Münsterplatz. Kids go from house to house to dip candles, decorate gingerbread, make Christmas presents, try tin pouring or blacksmithing, and ride the kids' train. A marionette theater performs a Christmas story.
Kids warm up with hot chocolate in the fire room while adults get mulled wine at the bar.
Basel's newest Christmas market, a village of huts at Theaterplatz that spreads into the nearby squares. Around 40 huts sell local design and crafts, plus food from the region and around the world.
Kids get their own areas, and the program promises stilt walkers in costume, fairy-tale storytelling, craft afternoons and a carousel. It suits families who want browsing, snacks and Christmas lights in one outing.
Lörrach's Christmas market turns the Alter Marktplatz into a village of huts and lights. Stalls sell crafts, gift ideas and snacks like crêpes, roasted almonds and chocolate-dipped fruit, with alcohol-free punch alongside the mulled wine.
Younger kids head for the children's carousel, and a culture program brings acts like the town's music school and the Motettenchor choir. It suits a relaxed stroll more than a full day out.
Advent here centers on the old town, where stalls go up around the Barfüsserkirche and the Münster in late November. On December 6, Swiss kids wait for Samichlaus, who brings nuts, mandarins and gingerbread. We picked the markets with something for kids to do, plus one just over the German border. Here's what we checked, from candle dipping in the Märchenwald to the carousel in Lörrach.
Basel's Christmas market fills the city center with stalls of tree ornaments, gifts and food, around the Barfüsserkirche and in front of the Münster, where the trees are hung with glowing snow globes.
For kids, the main draw is the Märchenwald on Münsterplatz: a forest of fir trees run by the Robi-Spiel-Aktionen association, full of hands-on crafts and with its own puppet theater.
A Christmas village for kids, decorated with fir trees, set up by the Robi-Spiel-Aktionen inside the Basel Christmas market on Münsterplatz. Kids go from house to house to dip candles, decorate gingerbread, make Christmas presents, try tin pouring or blacksmithing, and ride the kids' train. A marionette theater performs a Christmas story.
Kids warm up with hot chocolate in the fire room while adults get mulled wine at the bar.
Basel's newest Christmas market, a village of huts at Theaterplatz that spreads into the nearby squares. Around 40 huts sell local design and crafts, plus food from the region and around the world.
Kids get their own areas, and the program promises stilt walkers in costume, fairy-tale storytelling, craft afternoons and a carousel. It suits families who want browsing, snacks and Christmas lights in one outing.
Lörrach's Christmas market turns the Alter Marktplatz into a village of huts and lights. Stalls sell crafts, gift ideas and snacks like crêpes, roasted almonds and chocolate-dipped fruit, with alcohol-free punch alongside the mulled wine.
Younger kids head for the children's carousel, and a culture program brings acts like the town's music school and the Motettenchor choir. It suits a relaxed stroll more than a full day out.
