Bern was a real surprise and turned out to be an absolute highlight our Swiss road trip. We knew it was the country's capital, (not Geneva or Zurich) but not much else and for some reason assumed it would be quite administrative and dry... how wrong we were! Bern is absolutely gorgeous, vibrant, supremely walkable and we would definitely recommend it for a Switzerland city break.
Here are our top 8 things to do in Bern:
1. Wander the Medieval Old Town - Bern's Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. With quaint red roofed buildings, the River Aare, cobbled streets and quiet squares, you can easily spend an afternoon exploring.
2. Visit the Münster - Bern's cathedral can be seen from all over town - it has the highest steeple in Switzerland! You can climb the 254 steps for a small fee for great views over Bern, and the rest of the Cathedral's interior is stunning.
3. Walk up to the Rosengarten for gorgeous panoramic sunset views over the city's red rooftops. The gardens contain over 200 kinds of roses in summer and there is also a restaurant with a big sun terrace. Don't miss the Einstein bench where you can take a photo with the famous physicist.
4. Learn about Einstein - Speaking of Albert, down on Kramgasse you can visit the Einsteinhaus, the apartment that Einstein was living in when he realised that E=MC². For a much more in depth visit, you can visit the Einstein Museum, part of the Bernisches Historisches Museum on Helvetiaplatz.
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5. Head up a mountain - Just to the south of the centre, a red funicular runs up to the top of the Gurten, where on a clear day you can look out all the way to the Alps. There is a summer rodelbahn, an observation tower, a playground and lots of lovely walking trails.
6. Admire the Zytglogge - this 800 year old clock tower on Marktgasse puts on a show every hour with moving characters including a hilarious squawking rooster!
7. Take a tour of parliament - The Swiss Federal Assembly is one of the oldest democracies in the world and the Bundeshaus, Bern's Parliament building, is spectacular both inside and out. Outside on the Bundesplatz (Parliament Square) is a fountain with 26 jets shooting out of the concrete slabs, symbolizing the 26 cantons of Switzerland. When parliament isn't in session, you can take a free 60 minute guided tour - be sure to book in advance as they are very popular! More info here, English tours are on Saturdays at 4pm.
8. A day trip to Gruyeres - Ok so it's not in Bern, but only 45 minutes drive away is Gruyeres, a tiny Medieval town that feels like you've stumbled onto the set of Beauty and the Beast. As well as a 13th century fortress, there are the juxtaposed Tibet and HR Giger museums - the former, a display of Tibetan Buddhist art displayed in a former chapel, the latter, a collection of the Oscar winning artist's "biomechanical" artworks. The bar just opposite is absolutely surreal- If you've seen the film Alien then you'll be familiar with HR Giger's style, and the seats, ceiling and tables all look like they are constructed from futuristic skeletons. For more things to do, we've written an itinerary blog about spending a day in Gruyeres.
How to get to Bern
By plane - Geneva, Zurich and Basel airports all have connecting trains to Bern.
By Car - Bern is easily accessible from several of the Swiss main highways, like the A12 from Geneva/Valai, the A1 from Zurich/Basel and the A6 from the Bernese Oberland. Please note, if you're bringing a car, driving through the lower part of the Old Town is only for residents or suppliers.
By Train - Bern's train station is right in the centre of town. It is easily reachable in under an hour by train from other major cities like Zurich, Basel, Interlaken and Lucerne, and in under two hours from Geneva.
What currency do I need in Bern?
No euros here! The currency in Switzerland is the Swiss Franc, shortened as CHF.
What language do they speak in Bern?
The official language of Bern is German, but as one of three bilingual cantons in Switzerland, many people also speak French
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