Motel One Basel
by the TopOfHotel team
Motel One is the best-value design hotel in Basel — a creative old-town base on Barfusserplatz where every landmark is a walk away, not a tram ride.
Motel One is the best-value design hotel in Basel — a creative old-town base on Barfusserplatz where every landmark is a walk away, not a tram ride.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Motel One Basel runs the chain's signature minimalist-chic look — clean, modern rooms that feel current rather than budget. Rates start around $140 a night, the lowest in the city centre, and the beds are good with linens changed daily. The rooms are not large, but they're laid out cleverly and have everything a traveller of 1-2 people needs, with free, fast Wi-Fi throughout. The one thing to know going in: there's no kettle, coffee or tea in the room. If you don't need caffeine the second you wake up that's a non-issue; if you do, plan around it.
Food and amenities
The standout — and the reason to pick this branch over similarly-priced beds — is the One Lounge. It's a generous, sofa-filled space wrapped in vivid graphics by Adrian Falkner, the Swiss street artist who tags as Smash 137, and it reads more like an artist's atelier than a hotel lobby. There's a bar for drinks, a mix of sofas and work tables, and plenty of room to sit and work, read, or recover after a day on your feet. Plenty of guests say they end up spending more time in the Lounge than in their rooms. It's also where you go for that morning coffee the room doesn't provide.
Location and getting there
Barfusserplatz is a major tram hub with several lines running through it, so Basel SBB is about 10 minutes away by tram. But the point of staying here is that you barely need it: the whole old town is on foot. Basel Minster is a 5-minute walk, Marktplatz another 5, the Kunstmuseum — one of the world's leading art museums — about 12, and the Rhine riverbank roughly 10. For travellers who want to explore Basel on foot rather than commute in from the station, this is the better base.
Things to know before booking
Three honest caveats. First, no in-room coffee or tea — you head down to the Lounge for it, which the early risers won't love. Second, some bathroom showers splash past the edge, especially the open versions without a screen or door, so the floor can get wet. Third, this is a 3-star built for sleeping and sightseeing: rooms are well-organised but compact, and there's no spa, gym or restaurant — if you want resort facilities, book a 4-star elsewhere.
Our take
Motel One Basel is for the design-minded city walker — the traveller who'd rather sit in the heart of the old town and reach every landmark on foot than wake up next to the train platforms. It's the best value in the centre for the quality you get, and a 9.1/10 on both Booking.com and Agoda backs that up. If you can live without an in-room coffee and an older-style shower, it's an easy, affordable base for exploring Basel.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Barfusserplatz puts you in the middle of the old town: Basel Minster is a 5-minute walk, Marktplatz another 5, and the Kunstmuseum about 12 — no tram needed to reach the sights, unlike the station-side hotels.
- Rooms start around $140 a night, meaningfully cheaper than the 4-stars by Basel SBB while holding a 9.1/10 score on both Booking.com and Agoda.
- The One Lounge is the standout: a big, sofa-filled space painted by Swiss street artist Adrian Falkner (Smash 137), with a bar and work tables that guests say they use more than their rooms.
- Rooms are clean and modern in Motel One's minimalist-chic style, with good-quality beds and linens changed daily — well-judged for 1-2 travellers even if the footprint is compact.
- Fast, free Wi-Fi throughout, and staff that reviews consistently call friendly and helpful.
- There's no kettle, coffee or tea in the rooms — if you want a cup the moment you wake, you'll have to head down to the Lounge for it.
- Several bathroom showers splash water beyond the tray, particularly the open versions without a screen or door, so the floor can get wet.
- This is a 3-star built for sleeping and sightseeing — rooms are smartly laid out but small, with no spa, gym or restaurant, so book elsewhere if you want resort facilities.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Basel
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Insider Tips
- Plan an evening drink in the One Lounge and look for Adrian Falkner's work — he tags as Smash 137, one of Switzerland's best-known street artists, and the murals are the reason to choose this branch.
- Skip the tram for sightseeing: Basel Minster, Marktplatz and the Rhine are all 5-10 minutes on foot, so you'll mostly walk and only need a tram for the 10-minute hop to Basel SBB.
- If a morning coffee in your room matters to you, buy a takeaway from a Marktplatz cafe the night before, since the room has no kettle and the Lounge bar keeps its own hours.