Handsome trading houses built at the turn of the century still stand and the liveliest parts of the town are the market and the waterfront.
An excellent place to visit is Traditions, a boutique housed in an old warehouse selling locally produced goods: Pottery, calabashes and a wide variety of clothes, mats and wall-hangings in vibrant colours.
One of the main reasons tourists come to Basse is the Egyptian Plover. A rare species which is quite often seen along the river banks here and Basse is one of the best places in The Gambia to spot one.