Bern guide - must-sees, travel info and accommodation tips

Region: Jungfrau Region, Bernese Oberland

Recommended season: all year

Altitude: 540 m (1772 ft)

Town size: Big

Local language: German

There is a train station

What to see and do in Bern

Bern activity finder

RegioExpress Lötschberger between Lalden and Brig

Lötschberg Mountain Railway

Scenic train tripMin. time required: 2:00

The Lötschberger trains cross the Swiss Alps and connect Bern in the north to Brig in the south. It's an impressive route with many tunnels …

Fribourg Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour

GamingIndependent day tour

Discover Fribourg from a different perspective on a self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt of the city. Solve riddles and clues that lead to the next location, showing all the city highlights. - Solve interesting puzzles, have fun and learn new things about Fribourg - Explore the city and find …

Offered by Viator: www.viator.com

Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
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Bern Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour

GamingIndependent day tour

Discover Bern from a different perspective on a self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt of the city. Solve riddles and clues that lead to the next location, showing all the city highlights. - Solve interesting puzzles, have fun and learn new things about Bern - Explore the city and find …

Offered by Viator: www.viator.com

Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
Lowest Price Guarantee: Viator will refund the difference if you find a better price.
Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.

Bern Foxtrail granite

GamingIndependent day tour

A Foxtrail is a mixture of sightseeing, scavenger hunt and escape game where the trail of the virtual fox has puzzles and hidden messages for you that have to be found and solved so that you can find the next post. But watch out the fox is very cunning now …

Offered by Viator: www.viator.com

Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
Lowest Price Guarantee: Viator will refund the difference if you find a better price.
Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.

Bern: City Sightseeing Self-Guided Walking Tour Game

City tripIndependent day tour

Explore the beautiful old town of Bern on a self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt. Learn fascinating facts about the city, solve puzzles, and experience serene views of the city.

Offered by GetYourGuide: www.getyourguide.com

Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
Best Price Matching: GetYourGuide will pay the difference if you find a lower price.
Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.

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6 must-sees in Bern

We recommend these 6 highlights in the old town of Bern:

the Clock Tower or "Zytglogge" (www.bern.com)
the shopping streets full of arcades, which have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site (www.unesco.org)
the Bear Park (www.tierpark-bern.ch)
the House of Parliament or "Bundeshaus" (www.parlament.ch)
the Münster Cathedral and its views over the river Aare (www.bernermuenster.ch)
the Dalmaziquai on the southern Aare banks, from which you have a gorgeous view of the old houses and the cathedral.

Vantage points: the Gurten mountain and Rose Garden

For nice views over the city and its surroundings, we recommend:

the viewing point, restaurant and playground at the Gurten mountain (www.gurtenpark.ch)
the Rose Garden south of the river Aare (www.bern.com)

Sightseeing off the tourist trail

If you want to see more than just the main highlights of Bern, consider:

the Swiss Alpine Museum (www.alpinesmuseum.ch)
the Einstein House (www.einstein-bern.ch)
the Altes Tramdepot: a restaurant and brewery, right next to the Bear Park. The building is a former tram hall (www.altestramdepot.ch)
the Kornhauskeller: dining in a beautiful atmospheric former grain storage cellar (www.bindella.ch)
Bern Westside: modern shopping center, cinema and restaurants at 10 minutes by train from the town center (www.westside.ch)

Day trips to other Swiss regions

If you want to travel in multiple directions, Bern is a good choice to base yourself. You can make day trips into:

the Bernese Oberland
the Three Lake-area of Neuchâtel, Biel/Bienne and Murten/Moratt
the Fribourg region with Gruyères

Other larger cities such as Basel, Zurich and Lucerne can be reached in about an hour.

If you don't mind somewhat longer day trips, you could even visit Lake Geneva or the Valais.

Traveling to and in Bern, plus city map

How to reach Bern

Bern can be reached by train and by car. We recommend not to travel by car: the center is busy with traffic and parking space is limited.

There are quick, direct train connections from various Swiss cities to Bern. Examples:

from Neuchâtel (0h35)
from Fribourg (0h25)
from Zurich (0h55)
from Basel (1h00)
from Lucerne (1h00)
from Lausanne (1h05)
from Brig (1h05 by IC or EC trains, or 1h45 by Lötschberg Mountain Railway trains)
from Geneva (1h45)

You can also quickly reach Bern from the small nearby airport. Travel details are available here.

The rail station

The main rail station is simply called 'Bern' and is situated in the heart of the city, at the edge of the historical town center.

The station offers a shopping center that is open 7 days a week, and many train services to towns all over Switzerland.

Getting around in Bern: by foot, bus and tram

The old town center is the main tourist attraction. It is compact and can easily be explored on foot from the rail station.

There is a network of trams, buses and local trains (S-Bahnen) that allow for easy traveling all over town. A car is not needed to get around.

Free public transport for hotel and apartment guests

The Bern Ticket offers free traveling in the public transport zones 100 and 101, which is basically all of Bern. You will get a free Bern Ticket if you book a hotel, an apartment, a hostel, or any other accommodation in Bern.

After arrival in Bern, you can use your printed booking confirmation to travel from the rail station or airport to your accommodation for free. You will receive the Bern Ticket when you check-in.

Rail pass for a stay in Bern

Many of the Swiss rail passes include free traveling in Bern, plus benefits in a much larger area than provided by the Bern Ticket.

As Bern is located very centrally, we advise to make use of this and travel into several directions of the country. If you do so, a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card is mostly the best choice.

If you'll be in Bern between spring and fall, and if you plan to focus on the Bernese Oberland east of Bern, look into the Berner Oberland Pass.

Consult our rail pass comparison guide if you need help finding the right pass.

The city of Bern on a map

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When to visit Bern

Bern is suitable for a one-day visit, or as a base town, all year.

Bern in spring, summer and fall

From spring to fall, the city and its green hilly surroundings look very attractive.

You can make day trips to many Swiss regions, including the Alps. So if it gets hot in the town in summer, you can cool down at higher altitudes.

Bern in winter

Bern is not in the Alps, so don’t expect a snowy landscape in and around town. However, Bern is a nice winter city. You can make beautiful train journeys or visit other cities and their Christmas markets.

Winter fun in Bern is possible. There’s an ice rink in front of the Parliament Building. If there’s enough snow, you can enjoy tobogganing from the slopes of the nearby mountain Gurten. Or make day trips to ski resorts.

Bern weather info and forecast

Temperatures in Bern

Bern's location at about 500 m altitude means that it's usually slightly cooler than other larger cities such as Basel, Zurich and Geneva.

Still, it can get pretty warm in summer. Temperatures can range from 20°C to well over 25°C from June to September.

During winter, temperatures are typically above freezing point: about 4°C to 9°C.

Rain in Bern

Rain in Bern mostly occurs from spring to autumn. Winter months, such as January and February, are drier.

Snow does fall in town during winter, but it's not common. You can best travel to mountain villages further south for snow.

5-day weather forecast for Bern

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Where to spend the night in Bern

There are lots of centrally located hotels in Bern, in the old town center and within walking distance of the rail station. Find all options and tips in our Bern hotel guide.

Suggested hotels in Bern

Find hotels in and around the old town center of Bern, and within walking distance from the rail station. A …

More about accommodation

The pros and cons of Bern

These are reasons to visit Bern, or to use it as a base town for your day trips:

Bern is a pretty town. The historical city center is romantic.
There’s a lot to do and see within a small area. You can visit parks, museums and shops on foot.
The mountains can be reached within an hour by train. So Bern is a good base if you want to combine a city trip with occasional day trips to the Alps.
Bern is located centrally. You can reach several cities and regions of Switzerland for your day trips. Examples are Neuchâtel, Fribourg, Basel, Zurich, Lucerne, and the Bernese Oberland.

These are reasons to choose another base town:

If you want to visit the Alps on a daily basis we advise picking a base town closer to the mountains such as Thun, Interlaken, Lucerne, or one of the villages in the Jungfrau Region.
If you prefer peace and quiet, a village can be a better choice than the vibrant town center of Bern.

Bern FAQ

Is Bern worth visiting?

Yes, it absolutely is. The historic town center with its arcades is even a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Further pros are Bern’s location on the blue river Aare, the several parks, and the small-sized center that allows you to explore all shops, museums and restaurants on foot.

On clear days, you can see the Bernese Alps in the distance.

Where is Bern located?

Bern is situated on the relatively flat Swiss Plateau in the north of Switzerland. It is surrounded by hills and several forests. It’s at a 1-hour train ride from Zurich, Basel and Lucerne.

Is Bern in or near the Alps?

Bern is not in the Swiss mountains. But on clear days, you can see the Bernese Alps from the city.

Traveling from the city to the mountains (for example those near Lucerne or Interlaken) takes 1 to 2 hours by train.

How many days to spend in Bern?

One day in Bern is enough to quickly see all of its highlights, such as the Clock Tower, the Parliament Building, and the Münster Cathedral.

Allow 2 to 3 days if you really want to get to know the town. You can even spend your entire holiday in Bern, as it’s located centrally and allows you to explore several Swiss regions during your day trips.

What does the name “Bern” mean?

The name “Bern” could be derived from the German word “Bären”, which means “bears”. It refers to a local legend about the founder of the city, who named it after the first animal he encountered. But the exact etymology is unsure.

Bears are still the symbol on the flag of the canton Bern. And of course, there’s the Bear Park in the city.