Basel to Bonn train

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 kilometer, 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 travelers to nearby Freiburg, Germany. Basel also welcomes national and international train routes, and many European bus services stop in the city.

Located on the banks of the Rhine river, Bonn is known for being the birthplace of the legendary composer Ludwig van Beethoven. The city was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990, before the German Reunification moved the capital back to Berlin. Bonn is full of cultural landmarks and architectural marvels in line with its rich history and traditions.

The Old City Hall of Bonn is an architectural marvel with lavish Rococo style. The square in front of the building, Marktplatz, is the site of a local outdoor market with stalls selling fresh produce, bread, and other delicacies. Several restaurants and bars surround the plaza, so you can grab an outdoor table to people-watch in the center of Bonn.

The historical sights in Bonn are nearly endless, but you definitely shouldn't miss Drachenburg Castle, Catedral de Bonn, and Poppelsdorf Palace; the latter includes botanical gardens and a mineralogical museum! Or engage with more recent history at the Kunstmuseum Bonn, a modernist art museum focused on post-war German art.

Bonn shares an airport with its neighbor to the north, Cologne. Buses connect travelers from the city to the airport, but you can also take a bus to your next destination in Germany, or even farther. For example, FlixBus and Sindbad serve routes to Berlin, Prague, Paris, London, and more. The train network is similarly robust, and Deutsche Bahn provides the bulk of train trips to and from Bonn.