Bern

Due to its central location, Bern was chosen as the capital of federal Switzerland thanks to its central location between the German- and French-speaking parts of the country. Switzerland became a federal state in 1848.

More info about Bern.

The capital of Switzerland

Bern, the capital of Switzerland, blends medieval charm with modern ease. Its UNESCO-listed Old Town, wrapped in a loop of the Aare River, is full of cobbled streets, sandstone arcades, and centuries-old towers.

But Bern isn’t stuck in the past, there’s a lively arts scene, riverside bars, and efficient public transport that makes exploring simple.

Whether you’re watching the Zytglogge clock tower strike the hour or floating down the river with locals in summer, Bern offers a slower, more thoughtful pace of travel, rich in history, easy to navigate, and effortlessly scenic.

Bern City Guide: What to See, Do, and Know

Bern is the seat of the Swiss federal government, yet it feels more like a large, relaxed market town than a capital. Its medieval Old Town, wrapped in a tight loop of the turquoise Aare River, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983 and is one of the best preserved in Europe. Bern is compact, easy to explore on foot, and sits right between Zürich, Basel, Lucerne, Geneva, and the Bernese Oberland, which makes it an ideal base. One full day covers the highlights; two lets you slow down.

Top Things to See in Bern

The Old Town Arcades

Bern’s Old Town is lined with around six kilometres of covered arcades (Lauben), which make it one of the longest covered shopping promenades in Europe and a good place to be on a rainy day. Look down as you walk: many of the old cellars open onto the street through slanted doors and now house bars, galleries, and small shops.

The Zytglogge

The Zytglogge clock tower was once the city’s western gate and is now its best-known landmark. A few minutes before each hour, its mechanical figures (a crowing rooster, a parade of bears, and a jester) put on a short show. Guided tours of the clockwork inside the tower run in the warmer months.

The Fountains

The Old Town has a series of colourful 16th-century fountains topped with painted figures. The most famous, and the strangest, is the Kindlifresserbrunnen (Child Eater Fountain), which shows an ogre eating a child. The fountains still run with drinkable water.

Bern Minster

The Gothic Minster has the tallest church tower in Switzerland, at around 100 metres. The climb is long but rewards you with a view over the Old Town rooftops and, on clear days, the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Above the main door, the carved Last Judgement portal is one of the finest in Europe. The Münsterplattform terrace beside the church is a peaceful spot above the river.

The Federal Palace

The domed Bundeshaus is home to the Swiss Parliament and government. Free guided tours run when Parliament is not in session, and when it is, you can watch debates from the public gallery. The square in front, the Bundesplatz, has a fountain of water jets that children play in all summer.

The Bear Park and the Rose Garden

Bears have been Bern’s symbol for centuries, and the BärenPark on the riverbank at the end of the Old Town gives the city’s bears a large, natural enclosure. From there, a short uphill walk leads to the Rosengarten, a park with hundreds of rose varieties and the classic postcard view over the Old Town and the Aare bend.

Museums in Bern

Einstein House, at Kramgasse 49, is the flat where Albert Einstein lived while he worked at the Bern patent office and developed his special theory of relativity in 1905. The Bern Historical Museum houses a larger Einstein Museum as well as its historical collections. The Zentrum Paul Klee, in a wave-shaped building by Renzo Piano on the edge of the city, holds the world’s largest collection of Klee’s work, and the Kunstmuseum Bern covers everything from medieval art to the modern era.

Swimming in the Aare

Bern’s great summer tradition is to walk upstream along the Aare, jump in, and let the fast current carry you back down to the Marzili, the free open-air pool complex below the Federal Palace. It is exhilarating but not for beginners: the water is cold and the current is strong. Watch where locals get in and out, use the handrails at the exit points, and only swim if you are confident in moving water.

Gurten, Bern’s Local Mountain

A funicular from the southern edge of the city climbs to the Gurten, a broad hilltop park with walking paths, a playground, restaurants, and a panoramic view of the Alps. It is a favourite spot for a relaxed afternoon and hosts the Gurtenfestival music festival every July.

Events Worth Planning Around

The Zibelemärit (onion market), held on the fourth Monday of November, is Bern’s most famous festival. From early morning, the Old Town fills with stalls selling decorative onion braids, onion tarts, and mulled wine, and the day ends with a good-natured confetti battle. In December, the Christmas markets on the Waisenhausplatz and around the Minster are among the most atmospheric in Switzerland.

What to Eat in Bern

The local classic is the Berner Platte, a hearty platter of smoked and cured meats and sausages served with sauerkraut, beans, and potatoes. For dessert, look for meringues with double cream, a speciality of the wider Bernese region. Many of the Old Town’s cellar restaurants and bars are worth visiting for the vaulted rooms alone.

Getting to and Around Bern

Bern is one of the best-connected cities in the Swiss rail network: direct trains reach Zürich, Basel, and Lucerne in about an hour, Interlaken in under an hour, and Geneva in under two hours. Most international visitors fly into Zürich or Geneva and continue by train.

The Old Town is best explored on foot, and trams and buses cover the rest. Hotel guests receive the Bern Ticket, which gives free use of public transport in the city zones for the length of the stay, including the Gurten funicular. For intercity travel, see our getting around Switzerland guide and the Swiss Travel Pass guide.

Where to Stay in Bern

Staying in the Old Town is the most atmospheric choice and puts everything within walking distance. The area around the main station, at the western edge of the Old Town, is the most practical for day trips. The Länggasse district, behind the university, is a quieter residential option. Bern is generally a little cheaper than Zürich and Geneva for accommodation.

Day Trips from Bern

Thun, with its castle and lake, is less than half an hour away by train. Interlaken and the Jungfrau region are under an hour, which makes Bern a realistic base for mountain day trips; see our Jungfrau region hiking guide. The Emmental valley, home of the famous cheese, and the bilingual medieval town of Fribourg are other easy trips.

How Many Days in Bern?

One day is enough for the Old Town, the Zytglogge, the Minster, the Federal Palace, and the bears. Two days lets you add a museum, the Gurten, or an Aare swim. Because it is so central, Bern also works well as a base for three or four days of day trips. See our Switzerland itineraries for ideas.

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