Hi Paula, yes, wear good shoes for a good walk around the south part of Basel, start in the city centre, where shops are like Louis Vuitton, nearby is a great church where Erasmus is buried, this is so beautiful from both outside and inside, walk behind this church for a view over the river Rhine, get a drink at the oldest hotel Grand Hotel les Trois Rois watching over the river. Go for a typical cookie called Laekerli, these are so nice! And look for the Rathaus. Enjoy your short stay, it's a wonderful walk and will take about 1,5 hour.

I actually visited the Old town on my own with the tourist brochure. There are self-guided tours of oldtown walks on the official city website, as well as free walks by local guides for tips only.

Euros are fine most places in Switzerland including Basel. The fare depends on the distance you travel starts at just over 2€ or SFR. You might consider a day ticket. Fares paid at machines at stops, not always a fare box in the tram. Fare calculated from starting point to your end point. If buy single ticket or multifare ticket, must validate at stop or as soon as get on tram. There are spot fare inspectors - fined on the spot & it's very expensive. Board through any door.

It depend where you arrive in Basel. From the Airport you'll find a bus every 20 Minutes to the railway main station Basel SBB. From where you have a tram connection to the embarkation point of the cruiser. Or you take a taxi from the airport direct to this point. Taxis are very expensiv in Basel if you don't take Uber. After boarding you can walk direct to the old town in five minutes. Mostly of the old town is a pedestrian area. Go to the Mittlere Brücke and you'll have the hole old town on both sides of the Rhine river. Take the left bank, visit the market place with its Rathaus (have a look into its court-yard) and then go westwards into the old small lanes (Spalenberg) witch has some old restaurants, pups, bars and shops. Very special is the Andreasplatz, small and cosy with an old wood bakery a tea room a glass boutique and the famous Hasenburg an old carnival restaurant. You'll find a city map everywhere in all hotels, kiosk, main stations etc.. The local people are friendly and helpful and almost everybody speaks English.

Actually you can also pick up some very good deals in Basel now, just away from the city centre. Go to Booking.website. Walking and taking the tram is very convenient in Basel.

If you would like to stay in a flat: Andreasplatz, Spalenberg, Imbergässlein, all in the center of Greater Basel are the best. All close to the Market Place, the River Rhine and tramway stations. If you just like to stay for some nights: The Hotel Basel is ideal and cheaper then the Hotel Les Trois Rois.

Just dont call it "Carnival" please in Basel! It is Basler Fasnacht! Thanks