Rhine Ferries (Fähren)
Rhine Ferries (Fähren) features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Basel. Give it roughly ~30 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type bridge
- Suggested visit ~30 min
- Basel Basel guide
About Rhine Ferries (Fähren)
Four ancient cable ferries crossing the Rhine between Grossbasel and Kleinbasel, propelled only by the river's current with no motor, a unique and beloved Basel institution since the Middle Ages.
Basel's four Rhine cable ferries, the Fähren, are one of the most charming and historically authentic aspects of city life in Basel, and they are completely unique in a city of this size. These flat-bottomed wooden ferry boats connect the Grossbasel (Greater Basel) side with the Kleinbasel (Lesser Basel) side at four different points along the city's central Rhine stretch, and they are propelled entirely by the current of the Rhine, using no motor whatsoever. The ferries work by attaching to a long cable stretched across the river, and the ferryman angles the flat hull against the current so that the water's force pushes the boat sideways across the river. It is an entirely ingenious, entirely ancient technology, and watching it work, the boat moving smoothly and silently across the current, with no mechanical noise, just the sound of the water, is genuinely magical. The four ferries have individual names: Leu, Wild Maa, Vogel Gryff, and Ueli. They operate throughout the warmer months (spring to autumn) and provide a genuine working crossing for local residents, cyclists, shoppers, students, workers, as well as being one of the most enjoyable activities for visitors to Basel. The fare is a few francs each way.
Did you know? Basel's four Rhine cable ferries are propelled by the river's current alone with no engine, the boat is angled against the cable so the water pushes it sideways across the river.
How long is a visit to Rhine Ferries (Fähren)?
Set aside roughly ~30 min for Rhine Ferries (Fähren). That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Rhine Ferries (Fähren) worth your time?
Rhine Ferries (Fähren) is among the 22 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Basel, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Basel
Hear the story of Rhine Ferries (Fähren)
Preview the Basel tour free in the Gingerguide app.