That's more than I pay per sqm in 4051, but it does have a white bathroom which seems to command at least 50% premium. Basel isn't Geneva.
Hi everyone, I came across some old posts about the so-called bad areas of Basel and apparently the center of Klein-Basel does not seem the best place to get a place (due to prostitutes, drug dealers and drunken people). The thing is, I have never been to Basel so far and I need to find a place within a month. Also, I am going to need to be quite close to Stucki Park, where I will be working. I have started looking around the area of Erlenmatt Park or Lange Erlen - do you think these are safer? I was also wondering if you think these are well connected and/or noisy due to the train station being so close. If you have any other recommendations it would be extremely useful, thank you so much in advance!!
There are better areas and worse areas to live in, but no really bad areas. You almost certainly do NOT need to be close to Stücki, as the Basel area has an extensive, regularly, frequent and reliable public transport system. You can even live in Baselland if you want to.
I agree with NotAllThere.
Also, you can get a temporary furnished apartment while you get to know the city.
Our first apartment here was at Rosental, an area that many people say is bad. We never had any issues at all, the neighbors were nice, the apartment too. We eventually moved out to a place with better schools, but if we did not have kids, we would not have minded staying at all.
Both Erlenmatt and around Lange Erlen are fine areas. Lots of expats at Erlenmatt.
I lived in Erlenmatt when I first moved to Basel, and lived there for 2 months whilst I found my permanent accommodation. I thought it was excellent. It's very much an expat-community but that can be a positive when you're adjusting to a new city.
As NotAllThere says, Basel has excellent transport links. You can basically get anywhere in the city (and further) easily and relatively quickly. I wish I'd fully understood this before I settled in my accommodation because I would quite like to live further out now.
Regarding the 'bad' areas of Kleinbasel... it's relative. Switzerland seems generally safe, I feel. I've walked around most of these areas at various times of day and night, and never really felt in danger.
I hope that helps, good luck with the move.
Hi! I know it has been a while since you posted this, I was wondering where did you finally look for a place to live and what has your experience been like since I am finding myself in the same position that you described in your post. Thank you in advance!!
We lived in Upper Kleinbasel for 2 years from 2016 -18, diagonally opposite the corner of the notorious Webergasse red light zone. The first year was fine, it never bothered us, then in the middle of 2017 loads of young E European girls arrived with very some dodgy looking pimps. There was also an older girl who seemed to be in charge of them all (she's still there). Added to that a local nightclub close down and all the drug dealers moved from there to the main street opposite out apartment building. The dealers made it feel very unsafe returning home late at night. It became sheer hell because of the racket during the night and we couldn't have the windows open. We didn't realise how exhausted we were until we moved to Breite which is very quiet.
Recently there have been complaints in the press about the park at Claramattweg, from the Kindergarten there. They say they're having to clean up used condoms and evidence of drug taking before the kids get there in the morning, but this was already going on when we were there - the neighbours to the rear of our building said they used to witness prostitution and all sorts going on from their balconies after dark.
It's been rumoured Webergasse is earmarked for being cleared out in the next 2 or 3 years, some of the hipster bars down there are alleged to be starting a campaign because their trade is being affected.
I will say it was an experience though - I would never have lived near an area like that in Britain. I used to work at Spitalfields in London, it had a very hip vibe during the day, but was a very scary hotbed of drugs and teenage prostitution at night so you didn't stick around late.
I lived in Wettsteinplatz which is technically Kleinbasel, and I absolutely loved it there. A short stroll to the river and my view... the majestic Grossbasel
Thank you all so much, you have been extremely useful. I think will get a temporary apartment and then figure it out when I get to know the city a little bit. Could I kindly ask you if you could recommend any website to search for a short term rent of a furnished apartment??
I used HitRental, and my experience was really good - I would recommend them