What to expect: The hotel shares its bright white façade with Basel's convention center in the Messe (trade fair) district. The broad reception area is punctuated by thick pillars and flanked by the reception and business center on the left. A mainly business clientele occasionally mixes it with international sports and entertainment stars.

Amenity highlights: The hotel's Le Plaza Restaurant, offering modern Swiss cuisine and a range of seasonal specialities, features a contemporary environment designed by Iria Degen and photographic artwork by Peter Hebeisen. Along with exercise machines, guests enjoy the steam bath, and massage room. For a different style of relaxation, guests get complimentary entry to the Plaza Dancing Club in the same building. The hotel guest entrance is also in the basement.

Insider tip: Crossing the Rhine is easy enough on foot or by tram but far more curious are the sampan-shaped wooden ferries that drift across the river, dragged along by a cable. One shuttles from Klein (Little) Basel to a spot on the riverbank immediately below the Münster, Basel's grand Gothic cathedral.