Travelers stay connected with what matters at this Basel City Centre property, where self check-in convenience meets the perfect location near the charming zoo
Merian Basel - Self Check-in sits right in Basel City Centre, offering travelers a practical home base with express check-in and check-out services. The property provides in-room WiFi for staying connected, and places guests just a short walk from the delightful Basel Zoo.
Basel City Centre, a neighbourhood in Basel, is home to Merian am Rhein. The Palantine and Basler Muenster are local landmarks, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit Rosentalanlage and Stuecki Shopping Center Basel. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's going on at St. Jakob-Park, or consider a night out at Musical Theater Basel. Take the opportunity to explore the area for outdoor excitement like hiking/biking trails. Visit our Basel travel guide
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; check-in end time: anytime
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age - 18
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Express check-out available
Special check-in instructions
There is no front desk at this property
Guests will receive an email within 24 hours before arrival with check-in instructions; access will be through a private entrance
Prior to arrival, you must complete online registration via a secure link
You will be asked to provide the property with a copy of your government-issued photo ID after booking
A virtual front desk provides assistance to guests
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Access methods
Private entrance
Pets
Pets are allowed for an extra charge of CHF 20 per pet, per night
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Payment types at the property
Important information
Optional extras
Pet fee: CHF 20 per pet, per night
Service animals are exempt from fees
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.
Property is also known as
Merian am Rhein Basel
Merian Basel Self Check in
Merian am Rhein Hostel/Backpacker accommodation
Merian am Rhein Hostel/Backpacker accommodation Basel
Frequently asked questions
Is Merian am Rhein pet-friendly?
Yes, dogs are allowed at this property. There's a fee of CHF 20 per pet, per night. Service animals are exempt from fees.
How much does it cost to stay at Merian am Rhein?
As of 11 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Merian am Rhein on 17 Mar 2026 start from €87, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Merian am Rhein?
This property doesn't offer parking.
What time is check-in at Merian am Rhein?
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; check-in end time: anytime.
What time is check-out at Merian am Rhein?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Merian am Rhein located?
Located in Basel City Centre, this hostel is within a 5-minute walk of Martinskirche and Basel University. White and Blue House and Rhine are also within 10 minutes. Marktplatz Tram Stop is only a 5-minute walk and University Tram Stop is 7 minutes.
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Reviews
Merian am Rhein Reviews
6.8
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
7.8
Cleanliness
5.2
Amenities
5.8
Staff & service
6.8
Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 11 out of 49 reviews
10 - Excellent
11
Rating 8 - Good. 15 out of 49 reviews
8 - Good
15
Rating 6 - Okay. 11 out of 49 reviews
6 - Okay
11
Rating 4 - Poor. 4 out of 49 reviews
4 - Poor
4
Rating 2 - Terrible. 8 out of 49 reviews
2 - Terrible
8
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
Edward
10 Dec 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Clean, central, great views over the river if you have a river view room.
Edward
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025
8/10 Good
Kassandra
26 Dec 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
This was a self check in hotel, it was clean. There was a bit of difficulty checking in, thankfully we got assistance from a local that stopped to check out the hotel for future accommodations.
Kassandra
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025
8/10 Good
David John
16 Jan 2026
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Location of property is in excellent position for transport, walking and shopping. I complained about noise but no reply. I was there for almost 3 weeks. Curtains in my room were broken. The corridor to my room had a disgusting smell. The cleaning staff were excellent and were very helpful. Coffee machine was not always working. Advertised fruit and croissants not always available even before 08:00am.
I have been there before, i don’t know what this new management is thinking by ruining what was otherwise a charming hotel in Basel, with a real breakfast by the river. Now it’s self checkin with no staff at some hours and a police station looking room that offers croissants for breakfast - and yet, the price stays the same if not higher!!!!!!! Forget about this hotel.
Balthazar
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024
6/10 Okay
John
27 May 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Amenities
Very functional, and only or a business trip or if you are poor - the room was relatively cheap. There is merely sleeping and washing provision, and a hot drinks machine and a croissant for breakfast all automatically dispensed from a sitting out area three floors below - there is no kettle in the room so no hot drinks on hand; there is no mini bar. - there is no reception staff on location.
The hotel is clean; the room was a single room, as it had a great view of Basel across the Rhine - I suspect I was given this room by accident, as it would have been good for a romantic stay had it had reception and in room facilities; perhaps I got this room in error, as checking in was all done remotely.;
The check in experiance was a trainwreck. I had to call the help voice line and it took time to find my reservation. The room refrigerator was broken. There was no bar soap. No in room coffee or tea. The bed was comfortable and the view was to die for! Mixed bag, caused alot of anxiety.
The property has NO staff. (except a maid) That was a bit confusing at first. Although at the time of booking it does state that there is no manned check-in, it is not clear how to check in until you actually arrive. We didn't know if you could even get into the building, but you can. (not sure of "after hours" because after a certain time of night, you must use your keycard to enter) There are 2 check in terminals that you enter your information into and then you load your keycards yourself. There are also good sized, lockable, luggage storage cabinets available in the lobby in case you arrive before your room is ready. We requested and received a river view room. It was a great view but was a bit noisy into the late night due to restaurants and foot traffic. Closing the window helped a lot. It was a great location-tram was just outside the building, old town area was very walkable and you can walk up and down the river on a great, paved sidewalk. I would recommend the property. I only gave "Staff and Service" a 3 star rating because there really is no one that you see!
My self checkin didn’t work. The code didn’t work, i couldn’t reach anyone by phone or email for hours and i have to check into a different hotel, now i’m struggling to get a refund for the room i paid in advance and they did not provide access too. Their costumer support is not being helpful.
The self-check in was a mess. Wouldn't accept our code. Luckily a German speaking man called the number and helped us. Having no staff on premisses made it difficult to ask questions about the area, restaurants and to call a taxi.
This hotel should be one of the most beautiful in the city — the view is truly stunning. And yet, the overall experience borders on unacceptable.
During the busy Art Basel week, while we are paying $700 per night, there wasn’t even a staff member to welcome us — just a screen at the entrance. Naturally, the system didn’t work, so we had to call someone just to check in.
But how is it possible that, in 2025, a hotel in the south doesn’t have air conditioning? Just a sad little fan? The room was stiflingly hot — completely inappropriate for the season.
The furniture and decor seem stuck in the 1980s or 1990s. There’s been no attempt to update or refresh anything. Even a few simple museum posters could have brought a touch of charm or cultural relevance — but clearly, no effort was made.
The mini-fridge barely worked, which made things worse given the heat in the room. The hairdryer was useless — more of a relic than a functional appliance.
The breakfast area was dreadful — dirty, depressing, and entirely uninviting.
And at check-out? No proper luggage storage. Only six lockers for the entire hotel, while most guests had large suitcases. Completely inadequate.
Hotels in Basel seem to take their guests for granted, assuming that Art Basel alone is enough to justify high prices and poor service. But they’ve already lost the watch fair — if things continue like this, the art fair could be next.
- Aucun service hormis le café/croissant du matin
- Oreille dans un mauvais état.
- Taille de la chambre correcte, mais salle de bain et douce très très petite
- Logiciel de check-in / check-out qui ne fonctionne pas bien et il n'y a pas de réception
- Trés moyen dans l'ensemble
- Bonne localisation
Jean
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
4/10 Poor
Cecelia
17 Sept 2025
Zu einer Aufenthalt kam es garnicht - wurde einfach nicht auf Email-Anfragen - weder von Expedia, noch von mir persönlich - reagiert.
Datumsänderung sollte vorgenommen werden gegen Gebühr, dazu kam es garnicht. Musste meiner Reise in die Schweiz deswegen abbrechen, aber bezahlen soll ich das Hotel, die ohne Rezeption ist am WE und nur mit Code zu betreten wäre. Das lasse ich so nicht stehen. Der Fehler lag nicht an mir - gab reichlich Zeit das Datum zu ändern, nur wenn keine Reaktion vom Personal kommt- wie hätte ich da reinkommen sollen an dem Sonntagabend. Eine Schande! Cecelia W.
Das einchecken war etwas unverständlich aber ging nach einigen Anläufen (Res. Nummer wurde nicht erkannt). Sehr saubere Zimmer und Badezimmer, liebevoll hergerichtet mit allem was man benötigt. Top ist der Kaffee to go mit Aussicht auf den Rhein, tolle Lounge mit frischen Früchten und Croissants zum Frühstück. Ich bin sehr überrascht, über die Sauberkeit und die Ausstattung und kann es sehr empfehlen, wenn man auf Schnickschnack verzichten kann.
Måske et af de dårligste hoteller jeg nogensinde har boet på, særligt til prisen. Hotellet fremstår meget gammelt og slidt. Der er absolut ingen service og det er umuligt at komme i kontakt med hotellet når man prøver at ringe. Der er ikke noget A/C på værelserne og den eneste måde at få kølet rummet er ved at åbne døren på den lille altan ud til en meget populært område med undeserving til klokken 1 om natten.
Verified traveller
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
8/10 Good
Joachim
1 Jul 2025
Liked: Property conditions & facilities
die Lage war sehr gut.
Das self check in war etwas gewöhnungsbedürftig aber funktionierte
Da wir mit den Rädern reisten war die Info diesbezüglich mit Abstellmöglichkeit weniger gut - hatten aber eine Platz gefunden.
muy limpio
miu bonito
jamas vimos a nadie que nos pudeira dar indicaciones, queriamos dejar las maletas y aprovecahr el dia y nos tuvimos que ir al aeropuerto 8 hroas antes porque el hotel es tan ingetlitenge que no hay nadie
RAFAEL
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
8/10 Good
Kerstin
26 May 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Self Service mit perfekter Lage für Basel
Das beste am Hotel ist seine Lage direkt am Rhein und nur wenige Fußminuten in die Innenstadt.
Wir hatten eine Junior Suite zu dritt, das Zimmer war leider sehr klein, aber der Blick war phantastisch!
Es ist ein Self Service Hotel, zum Frühstück gibt es nur Gipfeli, die aber super lecker sind! Außerdem kann man sich den ganzen Tag an Tee und Kaffee bedienen.
Also insgesamt doch ganz gut und Preis-/Leistungsverhältnis passt auch.