Train Karlsruhe → Basel

Karlsruhe - become a fan of Benz’s birth city Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states. Gateway to the black forest and close to the Rhine, Karlsruhe was one of Europe’s first planned cities over 300 years ago. Its nickname “Fan-Shaped City” reflects the elegant design, with 32 streets radiating out from the palace like the rays of the sun. The town surrounding the palace became the seat of two of the highest courts in all of Germany, The Federal Constitutional Court and the Federal Court of Justice. Karlsruhe is considered the “house of justice” in all of Deutschland, a role taken over from Leipzig after 1945. Not to worry, the town isn’t teeming with criminal types. In fact, Karlsruhe is a relaxing sort of place, with some of the warmest weather in the entire country. Visitors enjoy more than 800 hectares of public parks and you’ll often see residents enjoying the sunshine or one of two beautiful botanic gardens. The municipal Botanischer Garten is part of the Palace complex, while the Botanischer Garten der Universitat is lovingly maintained by the local university. Learn more about Karlsruhe

The Olympics of the art World Located on the banks of the Rhine, at the border between Switzerland, France and Germany, Basel is Switzerland’s third largest city. It’s also world-renowned for THE premier international art show for modern and contemporary works. But more on that in just a pointillist dot. Basel should also be well known for its main train station, which is practically a city in its own right. You can enter through the “French” side, go through a winding hall and exit through the “Swiss” side. Up the stairs, you’ll find a bank, grocery store and wine shop (sure, get money, buy wine and cheese, and start living the Swiss way). Downstairs, you’ll find the oddly named McClean area. For a few Swiss Francs you can use these shower facilities that includes a towel, soap and shampoo. This is great for someone who arrives by overnight train and wants to freshen up before heading out into the city. Learn more about Basel