Conference City & Venue

Basel and Surroundings

Source: www.bvb.ch

City of Basel

Basel is a city that both values tradition and is open to innovation. Thus, along with the classical patrician residences and medieval churches in the well-preserved Old Town, one also finds numerous modern buildings by internationally renowned architects such as Richard Meier, Mario Botta, Renzo Piano or Herzog & de Meuron.

Basel is located at the junction of three countries. Proverbial Swiss quality meets a multicultural population in the border area with France and Germany, which gives the city its distinctively cosmopolitan, international and innovative flavor. The historic Old Town, with its quaint squares and winding streets, never fails to impress visitors with its charm. The sundrenched banks of the Rhine, dreamy narrow streets and countless outdoor cafés invite visitors and residents alike to stroll and savour the atmosphere.

One of the city’s highlights is the Fondation Beyeler, a museum built by architect Renzo Piano and idyllically situated in Berower Park. Another worldclass museum is the Kunstmuseum with paintings and drawings by Upper-Rhine and Flemish artists from 1400 to 1600 and international art of the 19th to 21st centuries. Basel is also well known for Art Basel, the world's premier international art show for modern and contemporary works. The event attracts more than 65,000 visitors yearly, from all over the world.

This city on the Rhine is a key international transportion hub, with an airport close to the city, a port on the Rhine, two central stations, a dense public transport network and a modern road system ensuring good connections to the rest of the world.

Climate

Its position in the Rhine Valley gives Basel an exceptionally mild climate. In September temperatures are in average at around 18 degrees Celsius or 64 Fahrenheit.

Conference Venue – Congress Center Basel (CCB)

ECM 2016 will take place at the Congress Center Basel which is one of the most modern congress centers in Switzerland. Equipped with the latest technology, it provides an excellent atmosphere for conferences and exhibitions. The Congress Center is located directly alongside Messe Basel in the heart of the city. The historic Old Town, the shopping areas and the many museums and parks can be reached comfortably by foot or by public transport.

Congress Center Basel
Messeplatz 21
4058 Basel / Schweiz
www.congress.ch

Currency

The currency in Switzerland is Swiss Francs (EUR 1 = CHF 1.09). All major credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops. For taxi rides we recommend to bring Swiss Francs in cash as not all taxis accept credit cards.

Language

The official language of Basel is Swiss-German. French and English are widely spoken.

Restaurants - Swiss Cuisine

Basel offers a wide range of international restaurants (Italian, Chinese, Japanese, French etc.) as well as typical Swiss cuisine (such as Roesti, Fondue and Raclette). People usually have lunch between 12:00 and 14:00 and dinner between 18:00 and 20:00.

Shopping

Shops in Basel are usually open Monday through Friday from 09:00 – 18:30, Saturday from 09:00 – 17:00. Several larger department stores are open until 20:00. On Thursdays most of the stores in the city center are open until 21:00. All major credit cards are accepted.