Few would know that Bern is the capital of Switzerland. With two more well-known cities nearby, Geneva and Zürich, Bern is usually missed which is regrettable! What tourists should know is that Bern is one of the best preserved old cities in Europe and is a UNESCO world heritage site because of its remarkable placement above the River Aare. With European Medieval greatness, there should be no reason to pass this unique Swiss city up.

Meeting near the German and French regions of Switzerland, Bern is decidedly both and acts like Brussels in the sense that it’s a multilingual city. It is important to say that Switzerland actually has four languages spoken but German and French are by far the most dominant while English is rising in popularity (Romansh and Italian fall in the minority). Bern is located within a couple of hours train ride from Geneva or Zürich and is super easy to manage!

I arrived in Bern in January 2009, right after the New Year, Bern was freezing, and covered in ice and snow. Weather in Switzerland changes rapidly because of the mountains and it’s possible to have no snow in January to freezing blizzard conditions. But in whatever weather the city still shines through and there is a certain gravitating allure under gloomy conditions.

Luckily Bern is known for its covered 4 mile walkways which are known as arcades or “laubens” to the locals. The arcades of Bern are unique to Switzerland and offer cover from any elements, making walking, shopping, and touring around the city comfortable. Bern is walkable and should be seen on foot even though the city has excellent public transit. So what does Bern offer?

Bern Attractions

Bern is an 800 year old city and has always received raved reviews mostly because of its narrow cobbled stone streets, medieval architecture and its gorgeous surroundings. Not far from Bern lies the famous Swiss Alps and the city has always been a gateway for the mountains. If coming to the city from train I would first visit the tourist information connected to the train station to get a feel of the city and the surrounding area.

Bern is known to be laid-back and a relaxing city, which tourists love. The people are more inclined to take in their surroundings and actually enjoy the lovely Bernese life making this city very approachable from an outsider. Famous for Emmental cheese, what we know as Swiss cheese and Toblerone it’s easy to see this city loves nice things and knows how to have a good time.

One of the main shopping streets and with a great chance to see the famous covered arcades, my suggestion would be to walk down Marktgasse near the center of the Old City to Zytglogge Clock. This city clock from the 1530’s works every hour on the hour with a distinct Bernese clock show.

I would then head over to the House of Parliament to get stunning views of the Old City as well as look at where Swiss Government governs the rest of Switzerland.

Next you should head over to the Cathedral of Bern even if you’re no into churches. Like most of Bern this church dates from the 15th century and is the best surviving Swiss church from the late medieval period. From the top of the tower one can see the snow-capped peaks on a good day and much of the Bernese Mittelland.

With a connection to bears, Bern decided to install a permanent BearPark. When I traveled to Bern in 2009 the pen was quite small and I thought I was looking at some depressing zoo. But today the bear family has a new home on the slopes of the Aare River. Tourists can now watch the bears bath, and relax in a bigger space than before.

I would suggest the Town Hall of Bern as well. It has survived many wars including the Burgundian War, Reformation and Revolution. Although visitors can’t get inside the building the exterior dates from the 15th century and has a unique façade.

If you’re into museums and art than Bern is definitely the right city for you. Bern is home to some 9 major museums and has several public works of art. The most famous museums include, the Bernisches Historisches Museum, which tells the story of the surrounding region from the stone age to the present. The Bern Historical Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Zentrum Paul Klee, as well as the Einstein Museum.

Decidedly one of the best side trips in Bern is the Gurten, a local mountain just south from central Bern. At the highest point, 2,815 feet, there are commanding views of the Jura Mountains and the rest of the Alps. There is a hotel, restaurant and winter facilities but it’s perhaps most visited during the yearly festival every July. Escape to here from central Bern by bus or tram to Wabern and then take a funicular to the peak.

Other attractions to consider would be the Botanic Garden, Rose Garden, Prison Tower and the French Church of Bern.

Bernese Lifestyle

Like most Swiss cities, Bern is unique and distinct from the rest and there is much pride to say you’re from the Bern region. Citizens of Bern even has their own form of the German language called Bernese German!

The city dates back from 1191 and was once part of the Holy Roman Empire. By 1353 the Bern region decided to join the Swiss Confederation and after successful conquerors became one of the most important cities north of the Alps. During the French Revolution the city was occupied and was stripped from much of its land. It was only until 1848 that Bern became the Swiss capital!

Eating, Drinking and Sleeping

Bern is expensive like the rest of Switzerland, which can be a real problem for foreign tourists who want to stay. Eating in the Swiss capital can range from 10 Swiss Francs which is extremely cheap to well over 50 Swiss Francs when splurging. Ironically it is hard to find cheap Bern Swiss food since most of the population cooks at home and prefers to eat food from outside the country.

However it is possible to find some restaurants that serve authentic Swiss food which mostly includes cheeses, meats, and breads.

Drinking in the city is also expensive but Bern has some excellent bars and clubs to hang out and some great outdoors spaces when the weather is warm. My suggestion would be to head towards the neighborhood of Matte, the nightlife district of Bern.

Finding a cheap hotel that is decent is near impossible in a country like Switzerland. The city isn’t very big and hotels can be booked quite quickly so it’s better to find a hotel before you arrive. Deals? Well they don’t exist in places like Switzerland, but if you’re diligent and book in advance you can find a decent hotel for an ok price. Budget is considered anything under 150 Swiss Francs and splurging is anything over 300 Swiss Francs.

Why Bern?

Like anything in Switzerland, Bern is picture perfect, distinct, and has some of the best medieval architecture in all of Europe. Best of all it is not as visited as neighboring major cities Zürich and Geneva. And from Zürich and Geneva you can arrive in Bern in less than 2 hours. From there the Bern and Alp region is at your finger tips and should be considered with your time in Switzerland.

If you’re looking for a unique Swiss city than Bern is just small enough to grasp but not too big to conquer. It’s a great place to come relax, enjoy authentic Swiss lifestyle and experience perhaps the most dynamic European capital.

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