Books Bider & Tanner, Aeschenvorstadt 2, have a large and diverse English-language section.

Car rental Avis, Hilton Hotel (061/206 95 45 or airport 325 28 40); Budget, airport only (061/325 47 35); Europcar, Hauptstrasse 35, Binningen (061/422 10 70 or airport 325 29 03); Hertz, Nauenstrasse 33 (061/205 92 22 or airport 325 27 80).

Changing money In the SBB train station (daily 6am–9pm).

Disabled access Taxi 22er (061/271 22 22) can take wheelchairs. Pro Infirmis (Birsigstrasse 45, CH-4054 Basel; 061/281 80 08) publishes a Stadtplan für Rollstuhlfahrer/innen (City Map for Wheelchair Users; also available from the tourist office), with information on wheelchair-accessible facilities, restaurants, museums and hotels.

Email and InternetDomino video arcade, Steinenvorstadt 52 (Mon–Thurs 9am–midnight, Fri & Sat 9am–1am, Sun 1pm–midnight; Fr.10/hr before 6pm, Fr.12/hr after 6pm).

Flights For all domestic and international flight enquiries from Basel-Mulhouse airport, call 061/325 31 11. MFG, at Basel airport (061/921 36 75) offers pricey sightseeing flights over the Jura, the Black Forest, Seeland, the Rhine or the Alps. Airport Helicopter (061/325 48 88) has a range of chopper flights, including one over the city for Fr.150 per person.

Gay and lesbian life You’ll generally find livelier scenes in nearby Freiburg and Mulhouse, but there are still a few places to check out. Kaserne, Klybeckstrasse 1, is the place to start, with its popular Tuesday evening gathering named Zisch. Rebgasse, near Claraplatz, has Dupf at no. 43, and Elle et Lui at no. 39 – both bars open nightly. HABS, Homosexuelle Arbeitsgruppen Basel, runs a helpline (Wed 8–10pm & Fri 3–9pm; 061/692 66 55). Libs is a local lesbian organization (061/681 33 45).

Lost property The city office is 061/267 70 34; the SBB office is 0512/292 467; the Deutsche Bahn office is 061/690 12 51.

Markets Basel’s main fruit and veg market is in Marktplatz (Mon–Sat mornings); otherwise, check out the flea markets in Barfüsserplatz (2nd & 4th Wed in month) and Petersplatz near the university (Sat).

Medical facilities 24-hour emergency room at Kantonsspital Basel Universitätsklinik, Hebelstrasse 30 (061/265 25 25). If you need a doctor, call 061/261 15 15.

Post Most central office (CH-4001) is on Rüdengasse. Near the station is another large office (CH-4002).

Travel agents Discount flight agents SSR Reisen are at Steinenberg 19 (Mon–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat 10am–2pm; 061/284 90 60).