Bern

Bern wraps around a sharp, elevated loop of the turquoise Aare River. Six kilometers of covered sandstone arcades keep pedestrians dry while navigating the medieval Old Town. The city moves at a deliberately calmer pace than Zurich or Geneva. You come here to float the river, inspect national parliament, and explore quiet alleyways.

Bernese tradition centers on heavy, hearty comfort food built for farm work. The hallmark traditional dish is the Berner Platte, featuring boiled meats, smoked bacon, sausages, sauerkraut, and green beans served together. Bakeries across the city bake meitschibei, a sweet hazelnut-filled pastry shaped like a horseshoe. Modern dining clusters along the elevated streets, while craft breweries sit directly along the river bank.

• Berner Platte context

  Order this traditional boiled meat and sauerkraut platter at historic spots like Kornhauskeller for a full classic feast.

• Meitschibei pastry

  Grab this local hazelnut pastry from local bakeries like Bäckerei Sterchi for an afternoon coffee snack.

• Altes Tramdepot beer

  Drink house-brewed beers next to the BärenPark while overlooking the Old Town river curve.

Bern was established on a high sandstone peninsula to capitalize on the natural defense provided by the Aare River loop. A devastating fire swept through in 1405, forcing residents to replace wooden structures with local grey sandstone. The city later grew into a dominant regional power before securing its place as the permanent seat of Swiss federal government.

1. 1191

   City Founded

   Duke Berthold V of Zähringen establishes the settlement on a defensible peninsula surrounded by the Aare River.

2. 1405

   Great Fire Rebuild

   A massive fire destroys wooden buildings, prompting rebuilding in distinct grey-green local sandstone.

3. 1905

   Einstein's Miracle Year

   Albert Einstein formulates the Special Theory of Relativity while working at the Swiss Patent Office on Speichergasse.

4. 1848

   Federal Capital Chosen

   Bern is chosen as the federal seat over Zurich and Lucerne, solidifying its role as the national capital.

Choose your stay based on vertical position and proximity to the water. The upper Old Town puts you under covered arcades near major transit options, while lower Matte keeps you on the quiet river edge.

• First-time visitorsAltstadt — Walkable access to landmarks and sandstone shops.
• Summer swimmersMatte — Steps from river swimming with lower night rates.

Bern is exceptionally easy to navigate on foot. Trams and buses operated by BERNMOBIL run with clockwork precision through the main corridors. The city offers the Bern Ticket to anyone staying in official accommodation, rendering local urban transport entirely free for the duration of your trip.

• Get your transport pass sent to your phone upon checking into any hotel, hostel, or campsite.

• Ride Europe's shortest funicular from Bundeshaus down to the Marzili riverbank in under two minutes.

• Walk inside the covered arcades during heavy rain or intense mid-afternoon heat.

Swiss cities carry high prices, but Bern softens the impact by eliminating transit expenses through the Bern Ticket. Tap water from street fountains is clean and drinkable throughout the Old Town.

• Midday lunch set: CHF 20–30

  Daily lunch specials (Mittagsmenü) save significant money compared to evening dinner service.

• Espresso at specialty cafe: CHF 4.50–5.50

  Expect standard prices for high-end coffee around Länggasse and the station arcade.

• Local craft beer (0.5L): CHF 7–9

  Draft beers at brewpubs like Altes Tramdepot run higher than standard supermarket bottles.

• Museum admission: CHF 15–24

  Major cultural venues like Zentrum Paul Klee charge standard adult tickets within this band.

• Aare river safety exits

  Grab the handrails and red poles installed along the concrete walls before passing the Marzili pool area.

• Public street fountains

  Every public stone fountain delivers drinkable tap water unless a specific sign states non-potable.

• Sunday shop closures

  Old Town retail shops close completely on Sundays; only shops inside the main station remain open.

• Parliament house tours

  Reserve free tickets online several days in advance and bring official photo identification.

• Gurten funicular inclusion

  Use your Bern Ticket to ride the funicular railway up the Gurten mountain without buying extra tickets.