A guide to attending Eurovision 2025 in Basel: Tips to make the most of your trip

Who is organizing Eurovision 2025?

Switzerland is officially hosting the 2025  Eurovision Song Contest — and it's all thanks to Nemo’s groundbreaking win in Malmö with their song The Code. That victory marked Switzerland’s third Eurovision triumph overall, and its first since Céline Dion famously took the crown for the country back in 1988.

As is tradition, the winning country gets the right to host the following year’s contest. Switzerland’s national broadcaster, SRG SSR, is organizing the event in collaboration with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Once the hosting duties were confirmed, several Swiss cities expressed interest in being the destination for this massive music celebration. In the end, Basel was chosen for its great event facilities, international accessibility, and cultural flair — a perfect fit for Eurovision's global stage.

Fun fact: Switzerland was one of the founding countries of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) and actually hosted the very first edition in 1956 in Lugano, where it also won.

When is Eurovision 2025?

Mark your calendars — Eurovision 2025 kicks off with a week full of live music from Sunday, May 11 to Saturday, May 17!

The main shows will unfold at the St. Jakobshalle arena, starting with the First Semi-Final on Tuesday, May 13, followed by the Second Semi-Final on Thursday, May 15, and the Grand Final on Saturday, May 17.

A total of 37 countries are competing in Eurovision 2025 — this year, Montenegro returns to the competition after last competing in 2022!

Thirty-one of the 37 participating countries will compete in the Semi-Finals on Tuesday, May 13, and Thursday, May 15. Based on public votes, the Top 10 from each country will qualify for the Grand Final on Saturday, May 17.

Meanwhile, six countries are already guaranteed a place in the final:

• The “Big Five” — France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom — which contribute the most financially to the contest.

• Switzerland, as the host country, following Nemo’s win in 2024.

However, these six countries don’t just sit out the semi-finals entirely — each one is also assigned to broadcast and vote in one of the two semi-finals. This ensures that viewers in those countries stay engaged throughout the full week of the contest, and their votes can influence which countries make it through to the final.

Tickets to Eurovision 2025

Missed out on the original ticket drops? You’re not alone — both waves of ticket sales for Eurovision 2025 sold out fast. But don’t give up on your Eurovision dream just yet!

The official resale platform, TicketCorner fanSALE, is now live. It’s the only legit way to buy tickets from fans who can no longer attend.

Tickets are only allowed to be resold at face value (plus any standard fees), so you won’t have to battle outrageous markups. Keep an eye on the site — new tickets can pop up anytime, and with a bit of luck and timing, you might just snag your ticket to the show!

How do you get to Basel?

Twelve points go to Basel — for being so easy to get to! Thanks to its unique spot on the border of Switzerland, France, and Germany, you have various travel options, because if all flights to one airport are completely booked, you can choose another one.

However, the most convenient choice is flying into EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg. Despite being located in France, it serves all three bordering countries and is just about 20 minutes from the city center via public transport or taxi.

Can’t find the right flight? Zurich and Strasbourg, France, are great alternatives. You can fly into either and take a direct train to Basel — Swiss Federal Railways (SBB/CFF), TGV, and ICE trains offer fast, scenic, and reliable routes. Travel time is around 50 minutes from Zurich and 1 hour 20 minutes from Strasbourg.

If you're driving, Basel is easily accessible via the A35 and A3 European motorways. And once you’re in the city, you’ll find Basel’s public transport network to be smooth, punctual, and incredibly easy to navigate — perfect for getting to the arena, Eurovision Village, and all the fan events without much struggle.

Where can you stay during your visit? 

It’s time to lock in your accommodation — the earlier, the better! Hotels and short-term rentals tend to book out fast because fans, delegations, media crews, and organizers all descend on the city during contest week. Unsurprisingly, prices also climb steeply the closer you get to the event, especially if you're eyeing a hotel in the city centre or near the main arena.

If you're having trouble finding a place to stay within Basel — or you’re just trying to keep things budget friendly — don't panic! Widening your search a little can open up some fantastic and more affordable options. Towns like Liestal (just 10 minutes by train), Rheinfelden (12 minutes), Olten (30 minutes), and even Mulhouse in France (19 minutes) are all charming spots with great rail connections to Basel.

Events in Basel during Eurovision week

The 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is set to transform Basel into a hub of music, culture, and celebration. The organizing committee has already announced several venues for festivities, celebrations, and meetings! 

Eurovision Village at Messe Basel

Located at Messe Basel, the Eurovision Village will be the heart of the celebration. Open daily from noon to midnight, attendees can enjoy live concerts, public screenings of the shows, and a variety of food and drink options.

The venue will feature multiple stages and collaborations with local organizations, ensuring a great program that includes performances by charitable groups, theatres, and schools. Best of all, entry is free, making it accessible for all fans to immerse themselves in the Eurovision spirit.

Dances at the EuroClub

The EuroClub is where the party keeps going after the shows! Located right across from the Eurovision Village at the Messe, this official after-hours party spot will be open every evening from 11 p.m. Organized by passionate Eurovision fan clubs, the EuroClub is where die-hard ESC lovers and even artists come together to celebrate Eurovision.

Look forward to performances by Eurovision artists, including appearances by past winners and fan favorites!

The EuroClub is a ticketed event and operates as a media-free zone to ensure a relaxed environment for all attendees.

A relaxing retreat at the EuroCafé

Not into dancing all night long? Outside the EuroClub, you'll find the EuroCafé, which is open daily from 4 p.m.

It’s a cozy environment with coffee, drinks, and snacks. It's an ideal spot to meet fellow fans, locals, and delegations, or simply to unwind before the evening's festivities. No ticket is required, making it an accessible gathering place for all. ​

Open-air fun at Eurovision Square 

From May 10 to 17, Barfüsserplatz, a large square in the center of Basel, will transform into Eurovision Square, an open-air festival celebrating musical diversity. Each day will spotlight a different genre, ranging from jazz and classical to hip-hop and, of course, Eurovision hits.

Local and regional artists, including acts from neighboring France and Germany, will go on stage, representing the contest's spirit of "crossing borders." Admission is free!

Eurovision boulevard and street

During Eurovision week, the city isn’t just hosting the contest — it’s living it. That’s why the stretch between Basel SBB and Basel Badischer Bahnhof railway stations will transform into Eurovision Boulevard, complete with interactive installations and vibrant decor. 

And if you’re wandering over to Steinenvorstadt, say hello to Eurovision Street — a lively area filled with street music, performances, and  decorations, engaging local businesses and visitors alike. ​It’s where the party spills into the streets, and everyone’s invited.

Glamour and glitter on the Turquoise Carpet

Don't miss one of the most glamorous moments of the entire week — the Turquoise Carpet event on May 11. It's the big kickoff where the 37 competing acts make their first major entrance, dressed and ready to impress. But this isn’t just any red (well, turquoise, technically) carpet moment  — it’s a full-on show.

This year, Basel will present the longest turquoise carpet in Eurovision history. It will stretch from the town hall across the River Rhine to the exhibition centre, and the individual country delegations will make the journey in vintage trams.

The grand finale on a big screen

If you don't have a ticket for the final, head to St. Jakob-Park, Switzerland’s biggest stadium, where the Eurovision Grand Final will be screened live on a giant screen, with thousands of fans cheering right along with you.

Expect live performances from Eurovision legends and that unbeatable thrill of watching the results unfold with a stadium full of die-hard ESC fans.

Just make sure to grab a ticket in advance — this one’s going to be packed!

Prepare to stay connected during Eurovision

While most of Europe enjoys free roaming across the EU, Switzerland is in a different situation — it's not in the EU, so standard EU roaming rules don't apply here. Translation — your phone bill could cost more than the LEDs during Sweden's musical performance if you're not careful.

So before you start your trip, double-check your mobile provider's roaming rates for Switzerland. If your provider allows it, consider setting a spending cap just in case you don’t have time to monitor your data usage.

eSIM apps, such as Saily, often offer more affordable and flexible data plans than traditional roaming, especially if you stay in a location for only a few days. 

Saily is an excellent choice for purchasing eSIM data plans for Switzerland. With seamless connectivity, flexible data plans, and security features, Saily will help you stay online during your Eurovision adventure.

It's easy to use, too — download the Saily app, choose your plan, and that's it! Your plan will activate automatically, and if you run out of data, you can top up your data when needed with one tap.

If you're traveling to Basel for Eurovision 2025, use the code "EU5" and get 5% off on Swiss data plans over 10 GB.