Basel, Switzerland

Basel locals have a unique summer tradition of swimming *down* the Rhine River with a waterproof 'Wickelfisch' bag, which keeps clothes dry and doubles as a buoy, essentially turning the city's powerful river into a public aquatic park.

Founded in 1460, the University of Basel is Switzerland's oldest university, boasting a storied alumni list that includes Erasmus, Paracelsus, and even philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.

The world-renowned Art Basel fair, now with sister events in Miami Beach and Hong Kong, didn't just happen; it was founded in Basel in 1970 by local gallerists, cementing the city's pivotal role in the global contemporary art market.

Basel holds the surprising distinction of having Switzerland's highest concentration of museums, with nearly 40 institutions packed into its compact area, making it a cultural powerhouse for its size.

Basel's Fasnacht (Carnival) kicks off precisely at 4:00 AM on the Monday after Ash Wednesday with the 'Morgestraich,' where all city lights are extinguished, and marching cliques parade through the dark streets lit only by their intricately painted lanterns.

The Dreiländerbrücke (Three Countries Bridge) in Basel is Europe's longest arch bridge that uniquely connects three nations – Switzerland, Germany, and France – making it possible to walk or cycle between countries in minutes.

The Kunstmuseum Basel houses Hans Holbein the Younger's chillingly realistic 'The Body of the Dead Christ in the Tomb' (1521), a painting so disturbingly vivid that it reportedly left Fyodor Dostoevsky utterly horrified.

Perched above the Mittlere Brücke (Middle Bridge) is the 'Lällenkönig' (Tongue King), a mechanical head that periodically sticks out its long, red tongue to mock travelers and ward off evil spirits, adding a quirky medieval touch to the modern cityscape.