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Vibrant scene of a historic street in Bern, Switzerland, showcasing beautiful architecture and lively atmosphere.
Photo by ILOVESwitzerland via Pexels

Bern

UNESCO old town, arcades, and river views in Swiss capital

Bernese Oberland region

Bern, founded in 1191 on a peninsula formed by a loop of the Aare River, is a city where medieval heritage and modern culture sit side by side. The old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a maze of narrow lanes, covered arcades and historic fountains, all framed by the ochre sandstone of the buildings. The Zytglogge, Bern’s medieval clock tower, has marked the hours for centuries and is a must-see for visitors, who can watch its animated figures perform just before each hour; its astronomical clock dates from the 16th century. The city is the seat of the Swiss federal government, although officially Switzerland has no capital, and Bern is called the federal city.

History and Heritage

Bern’s history is woven into the history of Switzerland. The city was founded by Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen and soon grew into a centre of trade and government; the Zähringen Fountain recalls the founder. Its arcades, which stretch for more than six kilometres, are among the longest covered shopping promenades in Europe and have sheltered residents and visitors for centuries. The Bern Cathedral (Münster), with its tall spire and intricate stained glass, has the highest tower of any church in Switzerland and gives wide views from its upper platform. The old bear pit, now a modern Bear Park beside the river, reflects Bern’s ancient link with its namesake animal, which appears on the city’s coat of arms, and the Kindlifresserbrunnen, a fountain with a child-eating ogre, is one of its stranger sights.

Main Attractions

Bern’s old town is full of sights. The Rosengarten (Rose Garden) gives sweeping views of the city and is a favourite for picnics and photography. The Federal Palace (Bundeshaus) is the seat of the Swiss government and offers guided tours. The Einstein Museum, part of the Bern Historical Museum, follows the life of the physicist who developed his early theories while working here as a patent clerk, and the museum covers the wider history of the region. The Kunstmuseum (Museum of Fine Arts) and Zentrum Paul Klee, a wave-shaped building on the edge of the city, show masterpieces by Swiss and international artists, and the Alpine Museum explains the mountains.

The Aare River is central to life in Bern, and locals and visitors enjoy summer swims, riverside walks and boat rides. The Nydeggbrücke and Kornhausbrücke bridges offer views of the old town and the surrounding hills. The city’s markets, street cafés and boutiques create a welcoming mood in every season, and the Münsterplattform terrace beside the cathedral is a favourite place to sit.

Activities

Bern is a city for exploring on foot. Walking tours of the old town reveal hidden courtyards, craft workshops and centuries-old cellars. Cycling along the river or through the city’s parks is popular, and the Gurten hill, reached by funicular, has hiking trails and wide views. The cultural calendar is full of festivals, concerts and open-air events, including the Bern Jazz Festival and the Onion Market (Zibelemärit), a busy autumn market when the old town fills with stalls of onions, confetti and street food.

Getting There

Bern is easily reached by train, with direct links from Zurich, Geneva, Basel and other Swiss cities. The compact centre is best explored on foot, while trams and buses give efficient public transport. Bern’s airport has flights to major European destinations, and the city is a convenient base for day trips to the Bernese Oberland, the Emmental and the Jura.

Seasonal Advice

Early July to mid-September is the best period, when the weather is warm, the river is inviting for swimming and the city’s outdoor cafés and gardens are at their liveliest. Spring and autumn offer milder temperatures, colourful foliage and fewer visitors, while winter brings festive markets and a cosy mood in the old town. In every season Bern’s mix of history, culture and natural beauty makes a memorable Swiss visit.

Best time to visit

Early July to mid-September offers warm weather, lively markets, and ideal conditions for exploring Bern’s old town, river, and outdoor attractions.

What to see in Bern

Our picks first.

Close-up of a historic clock tower with Roman numerals in Bern, Switzerland.

Zytglogge (Clock Tower)

Medieval clock tower with hourly mechanical show

Cultural Experiences · History & Heritage

AI-generated illustration of Wander Through The Old Town (Bern Old Town)

Wander Through The Old Town (Bern Old Town)

UNESCO-listed medieval city with sandstone arcades

Cultural Experiences · History & Heritage

AI-generated illustration of Gurten (visit The Gurten Hill)

Gurten (visit The Gurten Hill)

Bern’s local mountain with panoramic views

Activities & Adventure · Natural Wonders

A brown bear standing in profile on a grassy slope next to a tall, smooth concrete retaining wall.

BärenPark (Bear Park)

Historic bear habitat with riverfront park

Activities & Adventure · Natural Wonders

Bern Kaefigturm

Käfigturm

Medieval prison tower turned political forum

History & Heritage · Urban Exploration

AI-generated illustration of Rosengarten (drink At Rosengarten With Awesome Views)

Rosengarten (drink At Rosengarten With Awesome Views)

Rose garden with panoramic views of Bern

Natural Wonders · Gardens

A panoramic view of the city of Bern, Switzerland, showing the Aare River winding through the old town with the Zytglogge tower and the Münster cathedral visible, taken from an elevated position.

Walk Along The Aare River

Scenic riverbanks with cultural sights in Bern

Natural Wonders · Lakes & Rivers

A close-up photograph of a painted stone statue depicting a grotesque figure with a pointed hat eating a small child, while holding other children, mounted on an ornate fountain column with a classical building facade in the background.

Kindlifresserbrunnen (Child-Eater Fountain)

16th-century Bern fountain depicting a child-eater

Cultural Experiences · History & Heritage

A high-angle view of the Aare river in Bern, Switzerland, showing the Freibad Marzili swimming area with its pools and grassy banks, surrounded by trees and residential buildings, with the city and hills in the background.

Freibad Marzili (Bern)

Historic open-air pool with Aare river access

Activities & Adventure

A stone fountain with a statue of a knight holding a bear and a flag, situated in a cobblestone street with Swiss flags and a clock tower in the background.

Zähringen Fountain

16th-century fountain with armored bear statue

History & Heritage · Monuments

The Breitenrain quarter of Bern from above

Hidden Garden Cafés In Breitenrain

Secluded café nestled in Breitenrain’s green oasis

Cultural Experiences · Food & Gastronomy

View from the Kleine Schanze park towards the Federal Palace in Bern

Kleine Schanze

Hilltop park with city, river, and Alps views

Urban Exploration · Walking Trails

A large, ornate neoclassical government building with a prominent central dome and pediment inscription reading 'CURIA CONFŒDERATIONIS HELVETICAE', situated in a wide paved plaza under an overcast sky.

Bundeshaus (Parliament Building)

Swiss Federal Assembly seat blending history and culture

Cultural Experiences · History & Heritage

The image shows the exterior of a modern, multi-story building with a large banner advertising an exhibition titled "Schöne Berge" and prominent black lettering on the facade reading "ALPINES MUSEUM".

Alpine Museum (Alpenmuseum)

Swiss Alpine culture and mountain environment museum

Cultural Experiences · History & Heritage

St

Marktgasse

Medieval street in Bern’s historic Old City

Urban Exploration · Local Markets

A grassy park area with a row of green benches under trees, with the stone tower of a large Gothic cathedral visible in the background.

Münsterplattform Café

Historic terrace café with panoramic Bern views

Food & Gastronomy

The Zytglogge clock tower

Clock Tower (Zytglogge)

Medieval clock tower with hourly figurine show

Cultural Experiences · History & Heritage

A panoramic view of a historic European city center situated on a peninsula formed by a river, featuring a prominent cathedral spire, a stone arch bridge, and a modern truss bridge in the distance, viewed from an elevated park with trees in the foreg

Old Town (Altstadt)

Medieval sandstone city with UNESCO heritage

Cultural Experiences · Urban Exploration

A two-page spread of a medieval manuscript written in Gothic script on aged parchment, with visible text columns and marginalia.

Cheese & Chocolate Tasting (Bern)

Cheese aging and chocolate tasting in Gruyères

Food & Gastronomy · Cheese Making

A panoramic view of a European city with a prominent cathedral spire, a river curving through the center, and multiple bridges, taken from an elevated park-like vantage point.

Architecture, Museums, Picturesque Streets (Bern)

UNESCO Old Town with medieval streets & museums

Cultural Experiences · Urban Exploration

A large, two-story building with a traditional Swiss architectural style, featuring a prominent sign above the entrance that reads "RESTAURANT ALTES TRAMDEPOT", with people and bicycles in the foreground.

Tramdepot

Former tram depot with brewery and city views

Urban Exploration

A view of the Aare River in Bern, Switzerland, featuring the historic Nydeggbrücke bridge and the distinctive red-tiled roofs of the Old Town buildings along the riverbank.

Aare River Scenic Views

Scenic river views with summer swimming spots

Natural Wonders · Lakes & Rivers

A view of the Aare River in Bern, Switzerland, featuring the historic Nydeggbrücke bridge and traditional buildings with terracotta roofs along the riverbank.

Explore The Matte (Matte Neighborhood In Bern)

Historic riverside district with sandstone houses

Urban Exploration · Districts

The giant chess boards on Bärenplatz, Bern

Barenplatz (Bern)

Historic bear square transformed into modern park

Cultural Experiences · Historic Districts

The Nydeggbrücke arching over the Aare in Bern's old town

Nydeggbrücke Bridge

Historic pedestrian bridge with panoramic Aare views

Urban Exploration · Viewpoints

A low-angle shot of a distinctive white cylindrical tower with a projecting upper story featuring timber framing and flower boxes, situated between other buildings in an urban setting.

Hollanderturm (Bern)

Medieval tower with historic Bernese architecture

History & Heritage · Urban Exploration

AI-generated illustration of Aare Jump (Aare River, Bern)

Aare Jump (Aare River, Bern)

Natural river swim and jump spot in Bern

Activities & Adventure · Lakes & Rivers

A high-angle view of the red-tiled rooftops of Bern's Old City, dominated by the Gothic spire of the Bern Minster on the left and the Zytglogge clock tower in the foreground.

Bern Cathedral (climb The Tower For Epic Views!)

Tallest church spire in Switzerland with panoramic views

History & Heritage · Churches

A brown bear stands on a stone-paved enclosure featuring a grid of large rectangular blocks and scattered driftwood, surrounded by green vegetation and a high stone wall.

Bear Pit

Historic bear enclosure and modern riverside park

Natural Wonders

A panoramic cityscape view of Bern, Switzerland, showing the Aare river, the Zytglogge tower, the Münster cathedral, and the Rosengarten park in the foreground.

Outdoor Arcades Of The Old Town

Covered sandstone arcades sheltering Bern’s Old Town

Activities & Adventure · Urban Exploration

Bern by interest

The same sights, grouped by what you came for.

Cultural Experiences
Zytglogge (Clock Tower) Wander Through The Old Town (Bern Old Town) Kindlifresserbrunnen (Child-Eater Fountain) Hidden Garden Cafés In Breitenrain Bundeshaus (Parliament Building) Alpine Museum (Alpenmuseum) Clock Tower (Zytglogge) Old Town (Altstadt) Architecture, Museums, Picturesque Streets (Bern) Barenplatz (Bern)
History & Heritage
Zytglogge (Clock Tower) Wander Through The Old Town (Bern Old Town) Käfigturm Kindlifresserbrunnen (Child-Eater Fountain) Zähringen Fountain Bundeshaus (Parliament Building) Alpine Museum (Alpenmuseum) Clock Tower (Zytglogge) Hollanderturm (Bern) Bern Cathedral (climb The Tower For Epic Views!)
Urban Exploration
Zytglogge (Clock Tower) Wander Through The Old Town (Bern Old Town) Käfigturm Kindlifresserbrunnen (Child-Eater Fountain) Hidden Garden Cafés In Breitenrain Kleine Schanze Bundeshaus (Parliament Building) Marktgasse Clock Tower (Zytglogge) Old Town (Altstadt) Architecture, Museums, Picturesque Streets (Bern) Tramdepot Explore The Matte (Matte Neighborhood In Bern) Nydeggbrücke Bridge Hollanderturm (Bern) Outdoor Arcades Of The Old Town
Activities & Adventure
Gurten (visit The Gurten Hill) BärenPark (Bear Park) Freibad Marzili (Bern) Aare Jump (Aare River, Bern) Outdoor Arcades Of The Old Town
Natural Wonders
Gurten (visit The Gurten Hill) BärenPark (Bear Park) Rosengarten (drink At Rosengarten With Awesome Views) Walk Along The Aare River Aare River Scenic Views Bear Pit
Walking Trails
Gurten (visit The Gurten Hill) Walk Along The Aare River Kleine Schanze
Monuments
Käfigturm Zähringen Fountain
Gardens
Rosengarten (drink At Rosengarten With Awesome Views)

Did you know?

Checked facts about Bern, each with its source.

  • Notable Person

    Einstein Worked in Bern

    Albert Einstein worked at the Swiss patent office in Bern during the period when he published his 1905 papers.

    Source: Annus mirabilis papers - Wikipedia

  • Notable Person

    Einstein Reinvented Physics From a Bern Apartment

    From 1903 to 1905, Albert Einstein lived with his wife Mileva in a modest second-floor flat at Kramgasse 49, in the heart of Bern's Old Town — their son Hans Albert was born in May 1904, midway through their stay — while Einstein worked as a technical expert at the Swiss patent office, then officially the Federal Office for Intellectual Property. It was during these years, largely in this flat, that he produced his 1905 "annus mirabilis" papers, including the theory of special relativity that transformed modern physics. The apartment is now the Einsteinhaus museum, restored in period style and open to visitors just steps from the famous Zytglogge clock tower.

    Source: Wikipedia (Einsteinhaus)

Planning a visit to Bern

Full trip planning guide

Good to know

Currency
CHF
Language
German, French, Italian and Romansh

Quick Facts

Region Bernese Oberland
Population 146,000
Location View on Map

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