Mannheim to Basel train

Mannheim is located at the confluence of the Rhine and the Neckar Rivers in the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg. Some travellers are intimidated by the factories surrounding Mannheim, but don't overlook this unique destination. Mannheim is an excellent place to discover fantastic museums, amazing retail therapy, and scenic parks and squares.

Mannheim differs from most other German cities in its layout. The city is arranged in a grid pattern with individual quadrants. The unusual layout of the city originated in 1606, centring the Friedrichsburg fortress, now the Mannheim Palace, which is one of the largest palaces in Europe. This elaborate palace houses the University of Mannheim and treats students to royal surroundings.

Mannheim is known for its industry and innovation. For example, Mannheim is the city where Karl Drais built the world's first bicycle and where Karl Benz (as in, Mercedes-Benz) constructed the first automobile with an internal combustion engine. The Romanesque Wasserturm, or water tower, is another feat of German engineering, and visitors can walk through the surrounding rose gardens and discover the tower's many sculptures.

Mannheim can be accessed by train, road, or air. Frankfurt International Airport is easily accessible by a high-speed shuttle bus, while Mannheim Hauptbahnhof offers ICE, IC, and regional train access. Sindbad, FlixBus, and many more coach lines serve Mannheim with routes to cities including Munich, Essen, and Frankfurt.

Basel is bordered by France to the west and Germany to the east, with the river Rhine running directly through the city. This culture-centric destination is known for containing Switzerland's highest concentration of museums. With over 40 museums, roughly one per square kilometre, you're guaranteed to find at least one museum that fits your interests. Of course, it's got classic art museums like the Fine Arts Museum and the Jean Tinguely Museum, but you'll write home about the niche ones like Basel Paper Mill (a museum about paper and printing) and Toys Worlds Museum.

Basel's Old Town area will give you a taste of the city's history, with its cobblestoned streets and medieval churches, as well as several beautiful fountains. In the Marktplatz, or market square, check out the bold red City Hall, as well as even more museums, these ones devoted to Basel's history.

Basel is also home to Switzerland's oldest zoo, founded in 1874. Conveniently located in the heart of Basel, the zoo lets you get up close and personal with animals from the tiniest insects to the grandest elephants. Plus, you can learn more about the zoo's conservation projects.

Basel is well-situated for easy travel to other countries due to its proximity to France and Germany, as well as its transportation options. The world's only tri-national airport, EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, is only 4km from Basel. This unique airport is located on both French and Swiss territory but also serves travellers to nearby Freiburg, Germany. Basel also welcomes national and international train routes, and many European coach services stop in the city.