Kunstmuseum Basel

Kunstmuseum Basel is Switzerland’s premier art museum spread across three venues in the city centre. Its core is the municipal collection originating with the 1661 purchase of the Amerbach Cabinet, widely regarded as the world’s oldest public art collection.

• Three sites: Hauptbau opened 1936, Gegenwart 1980, Neubau 2016 (by Christ & Gantenbein) – a clear split between historical art, modern/contemporary and major temporary shows.
• Holdings >300,000 works, including about 4,000 paintings/sculptures – one of Europe’s great prints-and-drawings collections.
• Signature works: Hans Holbein the Younger’s 1521–1522 “Dead Christ in the Tomb” and Arnold Böcklin’s first 1880 “Isle of the Dead”.
• The 1967 “Picasso in Basel” referendum secured two Picassos; the artist then gifted four more works to the city.
• Free collection hours: Tue/Thu/Fri 5–6pm, Wed 5–8pm, plus every first Sunday – easy access to the core displays.

• Hauptbau: Upper Rhine painting 1400–1600, Holbeins, and art up to mid-20th century.
• Neubau: large temporary exhibitions and post-1950s displays; underground link to Hauptbau.
• Gegenwart: contemporary art since 1980 with the Emanuel Hoffmann Foundation (check current operating status).

The museum traces back to 1661, when the city and university acquired the Amerbach Cabinet and opened it to the public – a landmark in civic access to art. The growing collection prompted successive relocations.

A purpose-built Hauptbau by Rudolf Christ and Paul Bonatz opened in 1936; extensions followed with Gegenwart 1980 and Neubau 2016 (Christ & Gantenbein). Pivotal moments include Georg Schmidt’s 1939 purchases of works branded “degenerate art” at Lucerne and the 1967 Picasso referendum that galvanised public support for the museum.

Location: St. Alban-Graben 8 (Hauptbau & Neubau), 4010 Basel; Gegenwart at St. Alban-Rheinweg 60, ~10-minute walk.

Getting there: From Basel SBB take tram 1 (to Badischer Bahnhof) or tram 2 (to Eglisee/Badischer Bahnhof) to Kunstmuseum; from EuroAirport bus 50 to Basel SBB, then tram.

Access: Step-free main entrances; underground passage between Hauptbau and Neubau; shop and bistro accessible without a ticket.

Visiting hours: Tue, Thu–Sun 10:00–18:00; Wed 10:00–20:00; Mon closed. Special holiday hours apply.

Visit duration: 1.5–3 hours for the core displays; half-day with a temporary show.

Best time: Wed after 17:00 or the first Sunday for free collection entry; weekday mornings are quieter.

Notes: Free collection slots Tue/Thu/Fri 17:00–18:00, Wed 17:00–20:00, first Sunday; combined “Collection & exhibitions” ticket approx. CHF 25 adult. Check the current status of Gegenwart and any special arrangements on the museum site.