The collection originated from the Amerbach Cabinet, which was saved from being sold abroad by the city of Basel in 1661.
It is the first museum in the world to have been opened to the public.
The museum holds the world's most significant collection of works by the Holbein family.
The Neubau building connects to the main museum across the street via an underground hall featuring a light installation.
During the 1930s, the museum acquired many 'degenerate' artworks sold by the Nazi regime, preserving pieces that might otherwise have been destroyed.
The museum complex is divided into three locations: the Main Building, the Neubau, and the Gegenwart, which focuses on contemporary art.
The Main Building was designed by Rudolf Christ and Paul Bonatz and opened in 1936.
The Kunstmuseum Basel houses the oldest public art collection in the world, tracing its origins to the purchase of the Amerbach Cabinet by the city and university in 1661. It is globally renowned for its extensive holdings of paintings by the Holbein family, particularly Hans Holbein the Younger. The museum occupies three distinct buildings: the Main Building, the Neubau, and the Gegenwart. Its collection spans from the early 15th century to the present day, covering periods from the Renaissance to Contemporary art. The museum features significant works by Old Masters, alongside Impressionist, Expressionist, and American Abstract Expressionist pieces. The complex connects the historic structure with a modern wing designed by architects Christ & Gantenbein via an underground passage. It maintains a primary focus on the Upper Rhine region’s artistic heritage while hosting international contemporary exhibitions.
The light-filled, subterranean passageway connecting the Main Building to the Neubau.
Start your visit at the Main Building to see the Renaissance collection, then walk underground to the Neubau for modern works.
Check the museum's website for rotating temporary exhibitions, as these occupy significant gallery space.
Use the museum's audio guide to better understand the provenance of the older works.
Attempting to see all three buildings in under two hours, as the scale of the collection is physically demanding.
Closed on Mondays.
Large bags and backpacks must be placed in lockers; photography is generally permitted without flash, provided it does not disturb others.
