Free Museum Admission in Basel
- Valentina Peduzzi
- 17 hours ago
- 7 min read
No trip to Basel is complete without a visit to one of its over 40 museums! It's well known that the first Sunday of the month is free for many museums, but did you know that some museums have free admission at other times? This article provides a listing of when to go with descriptions of what you can see at each museum.
Ancient Artifacts
The Antikenmuseum Basel and the Sammlung Ludwig collections focus on Egypt, the Middle East, Greece and Italy from 4,000 BC to 400 AD. Their goal is to create connections that cross eras and cultures through dialogue.
St. Alban-Graben 5, 4010 Basel
Free Admission: Thursdays to Fridays, 5pm – 10pm
“The Antikenmuseum Basel holds the largest collection of ancient cultural artefacts in Switzerland, spanning over 5,000 years of culture and representing all the early civilizations of the Mediterranean region, from Greece to Rome and Etruria and from Egypt, via the Levant, to Mesopotamia and Iraq.” Excerpt from Antikenmuseum Basel.
Sammlung Ludwig, Skulpturhalle Basel
Mittler Strasse 17, 4056 Basel
Free Admission: Mondays, 12pm – 5pm, Wednesdays, 10am – 2pm
The Sammlung Ludwig collection showcases over 2,200 plaster casts of ancient sculptures and reliefs. The collection is the largest of its kind covering the period from the Archaic to the Late Roman era, and has a complete reconstruction of the sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens.
Electronic Art
Freilager-Platz 9, 4142 Münchenstein
Free Admission: 1st Sunday of the month, Wednesdays to Fridays, 12pm – 1pm
“HEK (House of Electronic Arts) in Basel is dedicated to digital culture and the new art forms of the Information Age. Since 2011, the institution has been central to the creative and critical discourse on the aesthetic, socio-political and economic effects of media technologies. As a platform for contemporary art that explores and employs new technologies, HEK promotes aesthetic practices related to information technologies.” Excerpt from HEK.
The HEK collection focuses on 'born digital' art and reflects on its media and use in relation to social themes. The education and outreach programme offers workshops for children, adolescents and adults, individuals and groups. These workshops aim to encourage open and critical discussions and increase knowledge of the digital field.
Basel History
Divided in three separate venues:
Barfüsserkirche (Barfüsserplatz 7, 4051 Basel)
Haus zum Kirschgarten (Elisabethenstrasse 27, 4051 Basel)
Musikmuseum (Im Lohnhof 9, 4051 Basel).
One admission allows you to visit all three venues for seven days.
Free Admission: 1st Sunday of the month (except public holidays)*, Thursdays to Saturdays*, 4pm – 5pm. *Doesn’t apply to the temporary exhibitions in the Barfüsserkirche
Each of the three venues is a museum with its own unique collection:
The Barfüsserkirche, initially a church, has been home to the Historisches Museum since 1894. It presents selected aspects of Basel’s history, from prehistoric times to the present day. The Haus zum Kirschgarten was built between 1775 and 1780 for Johann Rudolf Burckhardt, a silk ribbon manufacturer and army colonel. Since 1951, the mansion has been converted to museum of domestic culture. Much of the interior is dedicated to 18th- and 19th-century period rooms that were once occupied by Basel’s bourgeoisie. The Musikmuseum was initially a convent during the Middle Ages. It was used as a prison from 1835 to 1995, and today it has the largest collection of European musical instruments in Switzerland, with over 650 instruments on display.
Fine Art
The Kunstmuseum Basel opened in 1661 and is the oldest public art collection in the world.
Divided in three separate venues:
Hauptbau (St. Alban-Graben 16, 4051 Basel)
Gegenwart (St. Alban-Rheinweg 60, 4052 Basel)
Neubau (St. Alban-Graben 20, 4052 Basel)
Free Admission: Admission to the collection is free every 1st Sunday of the month, on Tuesdays and Thursdays-Fridays, 5pm – 6pm and on Wednesdays, 5pm – 8pm
Each of the three venues is a museum with its own unique collection:
The Hauptbau was completed in 1936. “The ground floor now showcases the collection of art from Basel; the mezzanine is reserved for the treasures of the Im Obersteg Collection. The collections of medieval and Renaissance art as well as works from the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries can be found on the second floor. The art of classic modernism and European postwar modernism is presented on the third floor.” Excerpt from Kunstmuseum Basel.
The Gegenwart was the Kunstmuseum’s first extension, and the world’s first museum dedicated to contemporary art, opening in 1980. “In addition to changing presentations of treasures from the collections, which are designed to enter into a dialogue with the temporary shows, the museum regularly hosts lectures and panel discussions on issues in contemporary art as well as discussions of selected works and guided tours.” Excerpt from Kunstmuseum Basel.
The latest venue, the Neubau, opened in 2016. It is connected to the Hauptbau via an underground passage, and it showcases special exhibitions and treasures from the post-1950 art collections.
The Kunstmuseum Basel has a summer music programme called YARD.music. On Wednesday evenings in July and August, aside being able to visit the collection free of charge between 5pm and 8pm, you can also enjoy concerts and DJ sets in the yard, and chat about the art you have just seen while dancing. For more event descriptions please click here.
Culture and Society
Münsterplatz 20, 4051 Basel
Free Admission: 1st Sunday of the month. Tuesdays to Saturdays, 4pm – 5pm, and on the first Wednesday of the month, 7pm – 8pm
“The Museum der Kulturen Basel (MKB) is one the leading anthropological museums in Europe. It collects and exhibits works and objects from around the world for the purpose of raising awareness and understanding for all cultures.” Excerpt from Museum der Kulturen.
Its collection comprises over 340,000 ethnographic artefacts, as well as more than 300,000 photographs, 400 films and sound recordings. These are displayed during the exhibitions, covering contemporary and everyday subjects.
The education programme at the Museum der Kulturen is very extensive and aims to facilitate an enriching exchange of views for all those involved. It offers guided tours, discussions and workshops for children, adults and families, as well as readings with their staff, curators and guests. For more event descriptions please click here.
Natural History
Augustinergasse 2, 4051 Basel
Free Admission:1st Sunday of the month. Tuesdays to Saturdays, 4pm – 5pm (Permanent exhibitions only), first Thursday of every month at After Hours Chill at the Museum.
“The collections of the Natural History Museum Basel comprise natural history objects from the fields of zoology, entomology, mineralogy, anthropology, osteology and palaeontology. These outstanding 'Archives of Life' have been looked after and researched for over 300 years. As unique witnesses of living and non-living nature, the museum's 12 million objects represent a stored memory for our planet.” Excerpt from Naturhistorisches Museum.
On the first Thursday evening of every month between December and May, After Hours – Chill at the Museum allows you to visit the special temporary exhibition for free, and the possibility to discuss what you have just seen over drinks at the bar with music until 11pm.
Next After Hours – Chill at the Museum in 2026: Thu 05.02 / Thu 05.03 / Thu 09.04 / Thu 07.05
A Basel Icon
Paul Sacher-Anlage 1, 4058 Basel
Free Admission: Thursdays, 6pm – 9pm
The Museum Tinguely displays the world’s largest collection of kinetic machines by the Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely (1925 – 1991). More than half of his 218 Métamatics are on permanent display, while the rest in restoration. These can also be seen at the Schauatelier, the centre of competence for the study and restoration of Tinguely’s oeuvre on the second floor of the museum.
The museum invites visitors to discover art and culture through all the senses. The experience starts outside in the Solitude Park with access to its own stretch of riverbank, and continues inside, initially at the Chez Jeannot bistro and then in the museum itself.
Aside visiting the exhibition, on the last Thursday of every month, the Tinguely Museum hosts free music events.
Vernissage
Most public museums open their exhibitions to the public free of charge during their vernissages (exhibition openings). Some may require prior online registration if attendance is limited. These are the best occasions to listen to artists talk and meet curators. Keep an eye on your favourite museum’s official website for details of the next event.
Museum Passes
If you love museums but don't want to be confined to the free offers, there are a couple different museum passes you can purchase for unlimited visits.
The Swiss Museum Pass gives you access to over 500 museums across Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein for CHF 177 a year. It can be purchased from many partner museums, post office counters, or online
To celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2026, the Swiss Museum Pass will be available with a CHF 30 discount. If purchased as a gift, aside the Classic Annual Passport for one person (CHF 147/year), you can get vouchers for an Annual Passport PLUS, which includes entry to the listed museums for one adult and up to three children under 16 years old (CHF 182/year), or a Family Pass for two adults and up to three children under 16 years old (CHF 283/year).
Alternatively, the Museums-PASS-Musées gives you access to over 350 museums, castles and gardens in the Basel region, and the surrounding areas of France and Germany for CHF 153 a year. This price is valid for one adult and up to five children under 18 years old. The Museums-PASS-Musées can also be purchased as a gift.
I hope this article encourages you to go and visit some of Basel's fantastic museums. These offer may change so please verify the official website of each museum for the most up-to-date information. If you are aware of any other museums with reduced or free admission, please leave a comment below.
Valentina Peduzzi
Originally from Ticino, the sunniest region of Switzerland, Valentina has lived in Basel since 2020. You can find her at vernissages and exhibitions, as well as architectural guided tours, a new interest since she moved to the city.
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