National park · Switzerland
Augusta Raurica
Give Augusta Raurica half a day from Basel: S1 train to Kaiseraugst, 15 min on foot, museum CHF 8 (2026 estimate), amphitheatre free, open daily 10:00–17:00; come on a weekday morning, or the last weekend of August for the Römerfest.Give Augusta Raurica half a day from Basel: S1 train to Kaiseraugst, 15 min on foot, museum CHF 8 (2026 estimate), amphitheatre free, open daily 10:00 AM–5:00 PM; come on a weekday morning, or the last weekend of August for the Römerfest.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
approximate
Established
1955
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Central Europe ↗Six of the nine countries here — Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia — charge a time-based motorway vignette, mostly digital and linked to the number plate; buy it before the first motorway past the border, because cameras, not toll booths, do the checking.
- Central Europe ↗Temporary police checks at internal Schengen borders are common in this region in 2026 (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia among others — check): keep your passport on you on every cross-border train, bus and road even though there is no fixed control post.
- Switzerland ↗Switzerland is in the Schengen area but not the EU: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
- Switzerland ↗Switzerland is outside the EU customs area: allowances on meat, alcohol and tobacco are strict and checked at borders.
- Switzerland ↗Motorways need a vignette (sticker or e-vignette) before you drive on them.
At a glance
- Country
- Switzerland
- Area
- 1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
- Area of the protected archaeological zone is not confirmed; treat the site as a compact walkable area between Augst and Kaiseraugst (check).
- Established
- 1955
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Basel
Augusta Raurica is the best-preserved Roman town north of the Alps, and the reason is simple: after the Romans left, nobody built over it. The street grid, theatre, amphitheatre, temple foundations and a heated-floor house still sit in open ground between the villages of Augst and Kaiseraugst, about 15 minutes on foot from a suburban train station on Basel's S1 line. It is an open-air museum rather than a national park: there are no mountains, no long trails and no ticket gate on the monuments themselves. The museum charges a small fee and holds the finds, including a silver treasure; the ruins outside are free to walk. Half a day from Basel covers it well, and the last weekend of August brings Römerfest, the largest Roman festival in Switzerland, with the crowds to match.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1955.
Size and age
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²) · national park since 1955
Area of the protected archaeological zone is not confirmed; treat the site as a compact walkable area between Augst and Kaiseraugst (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Basel.
Why go
- The best-preserved Roman city north of the Alps, left unbuilt after the Romans left, so the street plan still reads on the ground.
- Theatre, amphitheatre, temple foundations and a heated-floor house sit within a 15-minute walk of a suburban train station.
- The museum holds the silver treasure and everyday finds from the site, and entry is cheap.
- Römerfest, the largest Roman festival in Switzerland, fills the ruins on the last weekend of August.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanOpen, but cold and often grey; short daylight (check)
- FebCold; paths may be icy (check)
- MarMild spells; few visitors (check)
- AprBlossom, longer days (check)
- MayWarm and green; quiet weekdays (check)
- JunLong days; school groups on weekdays (check)
- JulHot at midday; go early (check)
- AugBusiest around Römerfest, last weekend (check)
- SepWarm, clear, thinner crowds (check)
- OctAutumn colour on the site (check)
- NovDamp and grey; museum is the draw (check)
- DecClosed 24, 25, 31 Dec and 1 Jan
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birds and insects around the open ruins and the Rhine bankApr–Sep · This is an archaeological site, not a nature reserve; wildlife is incidental. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Basel SBB
S1 suburban train to Kaiseraugst (not 'Salina Raurica'), then about 15 min on foot to the museum and main sights.
check
Open the page →
From Basel-Aeschenplatz or Liestal
Bus 81 to the Augst stop, then a similar 15-minute walk.
check
From Zurich
Train to Basel, then the S1.
check
Open the page →
From Northwestern Switzerland plan
How Augusta Raurica fits with Basel, Baden and Solothurn.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Museum and Roman House | Indoor exhibition of finds from the site, including the silver treasure, plus the reconstructed Roman House next door. | Ticket; daily 10:00–17:00, closed 24, 25, 31 Dec and 1 Jan.Ticket; daily 10:00 AM–5:00 PM, closed 24, 25, 31 Dec and 1 Jan. |
| Theatre and temple area | The main theatre, temple foundations and the centre of the Roman town. | Free; open-air, walk in. |
| Amphitheatre | The arena on the eastern edge of the site, used for events. | Free; daily 10:00–17:00, closed 24, 25, 31 Dec and 1 Jan.Free; daily 10:00 AM–5:00 PM, closed 24, 25, 31 Dec and 1 Jan. |
| Hypocaust and residential quarter | Excavated underfloor heating of a large Roman house. | Free; open-air. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions from the station to the amphitheatre, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta Raurica Museum (includes the Roman House) | CHF 8 (≈ US$10) | adult | 2026 estimate; children 6–17 and students CHF 6 (check). |
| Roman Theatre, amphitheatre and open-air site | Free | person | Free entry to the monuments. |
| Römerfest day ticket | CHF 18 (≈ US$25) | person | 2026 estimate; last weekend of August (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Museum ticket permit or guide
Römerfest entry permit or guide
Guided tour no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- CHF 8≈ US$10
- CHF 18≈ US$25
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Augusta Raurica — official site before you go.
Park rules
- Stay off the excavated walls
- Climbing on the ruins damages them; use the paths.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs on a lead and out of the museum (check).check
- Drones
- Not allowed over the site without permission (check).check
- Opening hours
- Museum and amphitheatre daily 10:00–17:00; closed 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.Museum and amphitheatre daily 10:00 AM–5:00 PM; closed 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.
Where to stay
Near the park
Cedro Römerhof, Augst
Simple hotel a few minutes from the ruins; from about CHF 90 (2026 estimate).
Near the park
Basel
Full range of hotels and hostels; the S1 makes a day trip easy.
Near the park
Kaiseraugst and Augst guesthouses
A handful of small options; book ahead in August.
Safety
Uneven ground and low walls low
Heat and sun on the open site medium
Crowds at Römerfest medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The museum is wheelchair accessible with assistance.
- The open-air monuments are on grass and gravel paths; some are reachable by car with short walks.
- The walk from Kaiseraugst station is about 15 minutes on pavements and paths.
Visiting lightly
- Take the S1 or bus 81 instead of driving; the site sits inside the Basel transport network.
- Buy lunch in Augst or Kaiseraugst so the villages around the ruins benefit.
- Stay on marked paths to keep erosion off the archaeology.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Augusta Raurica?
The open-air monuments — theatre, amphitheatre, temple foundations and hypocaust — are free. The museum costs CHF 8 for adults and CHF 6 for children 6–17 and students, and includes the Roman House (2026 estimate; check).
What are the best hikes in Augusta Raurica?
There are no mountain hikes here. The best walk is the flat 2 km loop linking the museum, theatre, hypocaust and amphitheatre, about 1.5–2 hours at an easy pace. Longer riverside walks along the Rhine start from Augst.
When is the best time to visit Augusta Raurica?
May, June, September and October give the best mix of weather and quiet. Come on a weekday morning to avoid school groups. The last weekend of August is Römerfest, the busiest time of the year.
How do I get to Augusta Raurica from Basel?
Take the S1 suburban train from Basel SBB to Kaiseraugst (not 'Salina Raurica'), then walk about 15 minutes. Bus 81 from Basel-Aeschenplatz or Liestal stops at Augst, with a similar walk.
Is Augusta Raurica open every day?
The museum and amphitheatre are open daily 10:00–17:00, closed on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. The open-air monuments can be viewed outside those hours, but check before a winter trip.
How long do I need at Augusta Raurica?
Half a day covers the museum and the main monuments at an easy pace. A quick stop of 1.5 hours is enough if you skip the museum.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go