Basel has four small wooden ferries that cross the Rhine using only the river's current for power — no engine, no paddles. The ferryman angu the boat at an angle to the cable strung across the water and the current pushes it across. It costs almost nothing, takes about two minutes, and is one of the most pleasant ways to switch between the two halves of the city.
The ferries run from spring through autumn between roughly 7am and 7pm. Each crossing point offers a slightly different perspective on the old town and the Minster. Locals use them as practical transport; visitors tend to ride back and forth simply because the experience is so quietly wonderful. In summer, people float downriver from the Münsterfähre landing in waterproof bags — a Basel tradition worth watching if not joining.