1. A good place where i can hike for a day using public transportation(not more than an hour away); it would be appreciated if the place has a hiking route so that i don't get lost
2. A travel guide or a map that would help me to know basel on my own faster
3. Transportation seems to be very expensive here; is there any way that i can get cheaper deals than the usual?
For a plan of the city, try a kiosk. (ask for a Stadtplan)
For guides etc. check out bookstores. Use this link to look for pretty well anything in Switzerland - add details of what you are looking for.
Hiking in Switzerland . If you don't know how the routes are marked etc. take a few minutes to look through the relevant threads. There is enough here to keep you going until it stops raining.
When we lived in Basel, we did the Belchenflue each spring as a start to the season. Click on the Google translate top right to get the English version.
Blauen was the first hill I saw from our flat window in Basel, when I arrived in Switzerland 45 years ago!
Public Transport in Switzerland
Please take the trouble to open these links and read some of the information before asking other questions which are answered therein.
Have fun and enjoy the hiking.
In addition to Longbyt's good information, here is a little more to help you.
There are plenty of places just outside of Basel to hike. I suggest you use the following link to explore some of the many options around Basel and across Switzerland.
http://www.wanderland.ch/en/kundengr...d=1®ion=005
Regarding the cost of transportation, I have two quick answers: 1) buy a Half-Fare travelcard from SBB, and you will get a discount on all trams and busses in Basel, as well as half price on all the Swiss trains. 2) if you are a student you may qualify for some money saving options. For example, if you're under 25, look into the Track 7 pass and see if it would benefit you.
For an excellent guide to living cheaply in Basel, I suggest you read this post: How to Survive in Basel on the Cheap . You may find even more useful information than what you've asked.
For some easy hands-on information, take a walk down to Barfusserplatz and find the Information Center. There are several pamphlets and maps to take from there which will keep you busy for hours learning about Basel.
Enjoy Basel!
One that I enjoy is part of the JUra walkway - take the train to Baden and do a day walk from there. ( get the info from the Baden info centre)
Coser to Basel, walk from the centre of town , up the Rhine to the dam/lock. Cross to the "German side" of the river, turn right, turn left at the border crossing, then turn right into the little lane. from there, you can follow the border stones and walking trail signs to the top of the hill that has the telecomunications tower ( farm ore open that what you can see from Basel) and end up dropping back to the end of the number 6 tram line in Rheine. At this time of year, it s a good afternoon walk - 3-4 hours, some uphill and soe on the flat.
Or there is a lovely walk fro the Brudderholtz, to MUttenz and back to Basel - 18km. If you buy a Basel walking map, it willl give you lots of routtes and ideas - jus start out, and generally follow signs and you will be fine.
Mussie, are you just passing through Basel, or are you going to be studying here for a while? If the latter, then yes there is a cheaper way to travel - you need to get a halbtax card from the main SBB train station.
If just here a short time, check out the day travel cards, which will sometimes be cheaper for you , instead of return ordinary train travel.
For regional travel, there are also monthly tickets for Baselstadt transport, if you have a local address.
I didn't just post and disappear; i have come back to read what you have posted.
Cheap fares - you might find something here. Railpasses Travelcards
http://www.wandersite.ch/Jubilaeumsweg.html
The route is very well marked and was created to celebrate 500 years of Basel being part of the Swiss Confederation. Each of the 5 stages is 4-5 hours walking - going through countryside as well as urban areas - and it's a good way to get to know the region. All the stages have a watering hole or two en-route so you have a "reward" waiting for you.
Cheers,
Nick
Cheers,
Nick