After Basel was announced at the end of August as the host city for Eurovision 2025, Switzerland is now reporting a sharp increase in prices for hotel bookings and Airbnb apartments in the area during the Eurovision period.
As Basel prepares to host Eurovision 2025, hotel prices are skyrocketing across Switzerland. Fans scramble for accommodations, with some rates tripling for the event weekend, impacting cities beyond the host.
The recent announcement of Basel as the host city for Eurovision 2025 has set off a dramatic surge in hotel prices across Switzerland. In recent days, it has become almost impossible to find accommodation in Basel, and the few remaining places are extremely overpriced. Accommodation costs in neighboring cities are soaring, with some hotels in Zurich more than doubling their rates for the event weekend.
In Zurich, located about an hour from Basel, the Züri by Fassbind hotel has increased its average price for May 17, 2025 – the night of the Eurovision final – from 283 to 704 Swiss francs (approximately  €300 to €750) for the same room type. Similarly, the Nani City Hotel saw its rates rise from 186 to 444 francs (about €198 to €473).
Eric Fassbind, owner of several hotels in Zurich, explained the phenomenon: “Rates are truly dynamic. When there’s high demand, prices automatically go up.” He noted that much of the initial surge came from bookings made on the night Nemo won the 2024 contest, rather than when Basel was announced as the host city.
While Basel itself is experiencing a severe shortage of available rooms, the price inflation is spreading to other Swiss cities. In Bern, the capital city also about an hour from Basel, a third of the 22 hotels surveyed reported price increases of over 10%, with some reaching up to 35%.
Airbnb Joins the Trend
The price hike isn’t limited to traditional hotels. An analysis of 175 Airbnb listings in Basel revealed that over 30 properties increased their rates by at least 10%, with some hosts doubling or tripling their prices for the Eurovision weekend.
As Eurovision 2025 approaches, fans and travelers are advised to book early and consider alternative accommodations or nearby cities with good transport links to Basel. While the event is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the region, it comes at a steep cost for attendees seeking a place to stay during the festivities.
Source: albin.ch
Eurovision 2025: The 69th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Basel, Switzerland, on May 13, 15, and 17, 2025. The St. Jakobshalle arena, which will host the competition, is expected to accommodate about 12,000 spectators for each show. The contest will take place in Switzerland following the country’s third historical win with the song “The Code”, performed by singer Nemo. This will be the third time the competition has been hosted in Switzerland, after the contest was held there in 1956 and 1989..
